The broad ax., 1915-12-25
TWO THOUSAND PEOPLE ATTEND
GREAT ESSAY CONTEST.
Persons Of National and Local Promi-
nence Among the Number.
Essays are Literary Gems.
olivet Baptist Church Packed to the
Doors.
City Federations of Women's Clubs and
University Society Capture Prizes.

Two thousand persons made up o
all walks of life attended the Grea
Sixth Annual Essay Contest, held a
Olivet Baptist Church, 9th and Deal
born streets, Sunday afternoon, De-
18th, at 2:30 o'clock under the auspice
of the Standard Literary Club.
Never before in the history of Chi
cago has so much interest been show
in literary events as that shown OF
last Sunday. Every person of an,
prominence of the race was in tn
audience. Doctors, lawyers, preachers
school teachers, newspaper men, bust
ness men and our only alderman, Hon
Oscar De Priest and two representa-
tives in the legislature, Hons. S. 3
Turner and Robt. R. Jackson.
The subject of the Essays was
"What is the Greatest Hinderance to
the Advancement of the Negro in the
United States of America"
The following are the names of clubs
and contestants represented:
Miss S. Matte Fisher and Mr.. w. E.
King, Standard Literary Society; Miss
Leonora T. Curtis, Jolly Twenty Club;
Miss Gladys McAlister and Mr.. John
w. FELTON,, University Society; Miss
Marie Goings and Mr.. William Powell,
Star Literary of Ebenezer; and Miss
Leonora Webster, st. Mark Lyceum;
City Federation of Colored Women IS
Clubs, Mrs. Duncan P. Webster.
The participants handled the subject
in mastery manner and all of them
deserves great praise for the sound logic
and good advice given the race through
their essays.
The winners of the contest are:
Mrs. Duncan P. Webster, represent
ing the City Federation of Colored
Women's Clubs and Mr. John W. Eel
ton, representing the University Society.
The prizes a diamond ring and a
gold watch and chain to the lady and
gentleman who wrote the best essay.
The following persons acted as judges |
and deserves great credit for their
fairness in rating the essays
Atty. Albert B. George, Mr.. P. A. |
Glanton, Mr.. James A. Criss, Mrs. Fan
ME Barrier Williams, Mrs. Bessie Ma
son Boyd, Mr.. ]. P. Faulkner.
The prizes was donated by DR.. Louie
Usselmann, $3.50 So. State St., who has
donated them for the past years.
The race should remember DR.. Ussel-
mann for his generosity and call to see
him when in need of anything in the
line of jewelry or optical work, as he
is considered fine in that line.
The musical part of the program was
The choir under the leader
ship of that expert organist, Prof. W.
Alfonso Johnston, rendered several Sc
lections and he played one of the
classics on the pipe organ that cap
tivated the audience. The "Rosary"
by that beautiful contralto Miss Edna
E. Jackson completely carried the au-
dience by storm and the soprano solo
by our noted singer Mrs. Clara Hutch
ison finished one of the best musical
programs in the history of Chicago.
Too much praise cannot be given the
originator of these contests Mr.. B. W.
Fits and his assistant Mr.. J. E.
for the manner in which they
handled this mammoth affair.
The officers of the Standard Literary
Club and officers of Olivet Baptist
Church deserves great praise for their
broadness in allowing this big affair
to be held in the church.
1t is the intention of the promoters
Mr.. Fits and Mitchem to hold these
contests yearly.
The easy manner in which Sergt.
John II. Hightower who was chief
Usher handled the large crowd has
.aused favorable comment Also the
'ther ushers assisting him.
L. D. Robinson was the official time
Keeper and Prof. A. ]. Bowling fur
lished the praying.-E.