Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-11-27
NEGRO BETTERMENT
DISCUSSED BY LEAGUE
Opening Proceedings of an Inter
csting Two-Day Session Now
in Progress at Dover.
Special Correspondence to Every Evening

Sp~Nal Correspondence to Every Evening
Dover, Nov. 27.-The two days session
Of the Delaware Negro Civic League,
which was postponed from date set
before the election, opened yesterday NJ
Whatcoat (colore y Nj. T.. Church, with
Rev. w. G. Jason, ID. D., president, pre-
sldlng The morning session was taken
up with the meeting of committees
The report of Field Secretary I. Mil
burn smith was a lengthy one, having
10 10 with the work of the year. the
\ organization of auxiliarics throughout the
state and the creating and awakening OF
Interest in education of the colored race
IN keeping with T. 5. du Fonts gift OF
5000. 900 for schools for Colorcd children
of Delaware
The major efforts of the field secretary
have been in matters pertaining To orea'ii-
rstion work in communities. the perfect
ing of the .chcme of building up n State
wide organization 10y bringing comnuni-
ties into complete and parable organiza-
tion. and ON such common plan that
they in turn would recognize the present
body and become an active part ol the
same. Elements III the field needed 70 ne
overcome constituted the following :,
Sentiment that was not essentially
onnoscd Ia the Community Centre move
ment but which had never been
thoroughly or rightly informed about
IT thus making it appear IN cases where
this idea was held that the movement
was to augment personal, or political or
.ectarisn influences when all OF these
wrrc forbidden hv the constitution OF the
State organization.
That the organization WAS thought
to he, 10y some. n political organization
and not essentially civic organization.
3-The absence Of correct information
concerning the school laws Of 1919 and
the practical benefits to he derived hy
each community
1 Uncertain travelling conditions and
the weather
Among the concrete community projects
launched bv the field secretary, after the
organization Of the League and the
nuxiliarles throughout the state. are men
toned the following
Tho establishment and malntenance ot
+. night school. with an attendance of 81
r,~rs,ps and a corps OF three teachers ~
the Milford auxiliary.
The carving out Of plans for lighting
bv electricity two school buildings, the
r,c,,,nO places of the Hockessln and
Seaford auxiIarles.
The offering Of piano lessons free to the
school children Of Lewea attaining certain
standards by the Iewes Auxiliary. special
drve for the purchase Of q piano by the
RndSeville AUXILIARY
The recommending Of new school sites
10 the Delaware School Auxiliary Asso-
cation and the procuring of the same by
auxiliarics AT Newport. and Nliddietown
others IN process of negotiation are tor the
communities Of Wilhamsville- bethesda
Lincoln City and New Castle.
The establishment OF an American
Legion Post by the Milford sunhary
numerous lectures on the new cchool
Avs OF 1919; playground equipment IN
process by Scaford auxiliary successlui
conducting Of Community lhrift cam
pAisn by tbs Laurel auxiliary, with
record II having saved sl5l IN tour
months: conducting a successful survey
Of the oolored population of the town OF
Milford. conducting school attendance
campaign by Newport auxiliary; re-
csivine. recording and fling Of AUXILIARY
financial reports from 10 OF the - auNli-
lsrie. Of the League.
The report of the field secretary also
showed the "a auxiliarles established under
hi. direction TO have had the following
enrolment September 10, 1920: Present
enrollment. 300, an increase 81 lis over
the initial enrolment.
The report of the Health Survey, by
Blanche ". Stubbs, showed the proposed
survey in the sending out Of question
naires. inquiring into every detail Of
health and sanitation of the several com
munit,es. She advocated the activity OF
the Community Centers If the work O
the League is 10 be successful
President Jason IN recalling the dlttl-
GUILTY encountered IN securing suitable
place in which TO hold their meeting in
Dover suggested the need OF the Negroes
having a place of their own where such
public gatherings could be held, and also
suggested the owning Of a printing plant
where publications in the interests OF the
Negro and his upllft and bettcrment
might be had. In this correction he spoke
Of the great advancement among the
Negroes of the South over the Negroes OF
the North in doing things worth whiie,
gerera discussion followed Dr
Jason 5 remarks. some advocating hls sug
gestiOns. while others advanced the
plnion that possibly 1t might be better to
talk and act ON such things when tbs
League should become stronger IN mem
bershiD and finances