Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1910-12-02
day evening at the Mt. Zion Baptist
c.lurch.
WESTERN NEGRO PRESS ASSO-
CIATION.
Fourteenth Annual session A Great
Success. Editors Like MuskO-
gee. Okla.

gee, Okla.
The 14th annual session Of the
Western Negro Press association
held the best and most largely at
tended session ever held, with more
real wor kand more enthusiasm.
Some editors came 10 miles to be
present. Fully 20 editors or news.
paper men were present. The meet
ing was called to order by the presi-
dent John l.. Thompson Of Iowa at
II o'clock. After invocation by Rev.
T. D. Lee of Muskogee the president
stated the object of the meeting and
read the official cau. He then ap,
pointed the committee on creden-
tials, on finance, ON resolutions and
an address to the country and then
adjournei until 1880 O'Clock. The
meeting was held in the First Bap-
tist church and dinner being served
by the good ladies of the church the
press force dined there. The after
noon sessions were taken up In read
ing papers as published In pre-
vous issue. In the evening the well
come program ana tue annual ad-
dress Of the president was delivered
as the crowd was the largest and 1t
would reach more people. Ahe an
nual address was masterpiece and
ell cited great cheers and all present
requested that Lne Presidents ad-
dress be published. Prof. Harry r.
Graham Of Quniaro, Kans., father
OF the association give complete
history Of the organization. s. T.
Virgins, editor of - Lantern of
Wagner, Okla, reau very fine pa
per on the Political Status Of the
Negro Then the party retired to
the banquet room of this large
church where ,abou. zU0 plates we're
laid and an experienced waiter with
20 young high scnool girls all dress
ed in white with an orchestra play
ing sweet music Lne scene was great
but the event greater and will never
be forgotten by those present. The
pastor Of this fine church who has
been Dispensing the gospel truth to
this congregation for nearly a quar-
ter OF a century involved the bless
ings of heaven upon the banaueters.
Lawyer Stewart acted as toastmast-
er and well did he perform that duty
and tcasts were made by several
present.
ire Saturday morning session was
a busy one. After the automobile
ride, manv fine paners, good speeches
and much informa ton concerning
the race and its primarysneeds OF to-
day resolutions were passed creating
q bureau to solicit foreign ads that
do not 70 into ur papers, also to
seek, out the true facts about the
race before these wrong or misie4d-
ing ref orts are sent out broadcast.
The address 10 the country Is 9
fine. timely and wise document and
we will publish it next issue. The
states represented In this meeting
were Iowa, Wisconsin, Missouri,
Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas
and O.lahcma. The next meeting
place for 1911 is topeka, Kans.
IRE newly elecleu officers are:
President. A. J. Smitherman of the
Cemeter, Muskogee, Okla; vice
president, L. G. Griffith, Topeka,
kans.: corresponding secretary, 8.
T.Wiggins of the Lantern, Wag-
ner, Okla; recording secretary, }.
y. Cook, OF the Defender, MliWau-
Zee, Wis: treasurer, Hlck Cbflds,
of the Plaindealer, Topeka, Kans.;
historian and statistician, Prof.
Harry r. Graham Of the Western
Univ, Quindaro. Kans.; chairman OF
the executive committee, John l..
Thompson Of lue Bystander, Des
Moines, Iowa. -
The address entitled "Helping the
Race" by DR.. S. Douglas Russell,
editor of Western Age of Taft, Okla,
was perbars the best delivered or
ally. The paper by Mrs. Myrtle r:
Todd entitled The Negro Press as
a Power" was indeed the best heard
in the convention. She is q very
scholarly and talented young woman.
She is teacher in the public schools
formerly from Am Arbor, Mlcn.'
University. 1t s. masterpiece.
+. ~. : 81 q ~ St