The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1919-05-03
M onster Mass Meeting
Rockford BranchN. A.A.C.P.
Lieut.. VIM. Dawson, Georgia. Sways Larg.
Audiences; Rev. C. w. Dudley,
ID. D. Optomistic
The Rockford Branch

ne NoCkIofu GFanCh
The Rockford Branch of y. a. A. c. 4
held its first authorized mass meeting
tsince receiving its authorization chart
er) in Allen Chapel ON April "A. 1919.
Col. Chas Young one OF the Directors
of the National Association had been
scheduled to speak and at the appoint
ed hour, the building was packed to its
capacity all available chairs had been
taken up and standing room was at n
premium.
All were anXiously and impatiently
awaiting the arrival OF the noted COL
onei who had consented to speak on
The n. a. a. G. L. what il is and what
ii Stands For"
The hour being past for the time TO
begin the program AIr. s. Leo. Lester.
chairman OF the meetings committee
and Master of Ceremonies. made the
disappointing announcement that Col
Young was either in Oberlin ohio. or
ON his way having been called away
Unexpectedly.
The audience was then spell bound
With disappointment all having come
for the sole purpose OF hearing our
great Colonel 1t was now squarcly up
TO MIR. Lester to produce something
that would In II measure compensate
the audience for their failure to hear
lieve the association OF the emharrass-
ing predicament in which the associa
ton had been placed.
Just what process Mr.. Lester went
through TO accomplish this miracle |
do not thoroughly understand. neither
will | take the trouble to explain but
do know that Rev. Geo ". Dudley
who was to speak in addition 10 Colonel
Young. became the principal speaker
his subject was The Negro Race Prob
lem and its solution" ! also know that
one Lieutenant William Dawson had
also consented to speak "Raudomly' in
the absence of our principal speaker
Mr.. Lester had done his bit" and il
was now up to. these two gentlemen to
bridge over this chasm of disappoiut
meut" and land us safely ON the other
side.
Rev. Dudley spoke very interestingly
and at length giving his views AS to the
best solution of the Race problem
briefly summed mp he advocated that
all the Negroes i'm America should ap-
ply to Government for permission TO
purchase Texas move there aud these
including the Philippine and Cubaus
thus making up population OF 10000.
600 people being permitted to purchase
! Texas for about $4,000. 900 900. with loo
years to pay for it, the Negroes could
then establish business of all kinds, mp
10 a good Army and Navy. develop the
country to its highest point OF efficiency
just as any other country in the world
Have their own President him pre-
ferahly) and then join the League OF
Nations" II Is to this extent that he
believes in segregation in as much as
! Texas can produce every variety of food
necessary for man owing to the excel
lency of the climate and soil even to
the jack rabbit
Lieutenant William Dawson of Chi
cago followed Rev. Dudley contradict
ing and agreeing to many of his state
ments. Lieutenant Dawson being a
member of the ". A A. c. i. handled
the subject with great credit that Col
onel Young had chosen and advocated
that the Negroes greatest salvation lay
in unity and education.
He felt that instead of isolating them
selves in Texas or else where. the
Negro should remain right here being
free to go any where IN this country
that any other man could go in the
name of Democracy In as much as the
Negro has made as great sacrifice AS
any other nation in the world to make
America safe for Democracy"
Whether these two gentlemen sue
ceeded In accomplishing all that de =
sired of them can be CLEANED from the
fact that when we opened our doors we
had only 70 members. at the close OF
the meeting we were l0i strong.
In addition TO the speakers the pro
gram was nterspersed with some eX-
cellent musical selections. solos were
rendered by Misses Ethel Blake, Alyce
Holt and Mrs. Louise Tucker quar-
tette composed of Mr. Jack Wells ana
the three Holt Boys. Messers Miller,
Paul and Lester. The excellency with
which all these selections were render
ed need no further comment as they
were fully proven by the unanimous
approval OF all who were privileged to
hear them.
Reverand George Holt also spoke
briefly. announcing that regular meet
ing OF the branch would be held sun
day, Refreshments in the form Of
doughnuts and coffee were served free
TO all after tho program. What pllr RI
ported to be sad dissappointment
turned out to be IA grand success and
all who came out went away rejoicing
because they came out. Thirty -one
joined and many others siRnfied their
intention TO become members very soon.
Committee and Master Of Ceremonies
Owing to the lateness OF the hour the
officers were not publicly installed as
previously planned. however President
II. H. Blake, Vice Pres. Mrs Fila Har
rs Sec'y r.. a. Johnson and Treas. Geo.
/. Holt were introduced to the audience.
The remaining officers are: Member
ship CONF. NJ. Anderson, Frank
shelton. Mrs. Lizzie Blake, Finance
Cons Leo Lester Miss Ethel Blake,
Chas w Taylor; Pres Conn.,. A
johnson. Geo. w McEwen; Legal Red
ress ana Legislation Com Rev. Geo. ]
Holt J. n. Kemp. >. Leo Lester; Grie
vance Conn. H. Kemp, p. r Blake
ley r. G. Andrews; Education and
Amusement Conn, G. Williamson
Mrs. Ella Harris and Miss Glars
Danyus.
III. II. BLAKE.
President.
T.. A JOHNSON,
Secretary.
s. LEO LESTER.
Chairman Of Meetings.