Phoenix tribune., 1920-06-26
Big CELEBRATION
At EAST LAKE PARK
WAS GRAND AFFAIR

uOWh III hlStSly dS lne greatest VI ali
days in the lives of the colored people
of Maricopa county. The Phoenix
Protective League, through the man
ner in which its members handled the
Emancipation celebration Saturday at
East Lake Park, has placed itself on
record as the most powerful, most in
fluential organization among our peo-
pie in the state of Arizona Fully two
thousand people attended this great
celebration, and the perfect manner in
which this crowd was handled reflect
ed credit not alone upon the manage
ment but the race as well.
Early Saturday morning people be-
gan to arrive at the park and by IL
O'Clock great throngs had gathered
Mr.. Steve Howard, who had charge
of the barbecue, and together with
his assistant, Mr.. Richard Rosser, had
spent Friday night watching the bar
becue pit, announced that the big
steer was done to a turn. Mr. G. T.
Tinsley, with assistants, rolled the
lemonade barrel into position and
filled it with this satisfying drink
Another barrel was filled with ice
water, and then service began. All
were given a liberal portion of barbe-
cue, with trimmings, and permitted
to drink their fill Of ice water and
lemonade Next came the ice cream
which was served in abundance to all.
| The lemonade barrel had to be re-
filled time after time as it was 10 in
the shade and but little shade to he
found.
BY 2:3O dinner was over and the
ball game was called The Red Sox
and Phoenix Cubs crossed bats and
for while things looked real interest
ing. Then, to our surprise, the Cubs
complained Of the heat and let the
Red Sox walk away with the game.
After the game lemonade was in or
der and a few condescended to take
a sip of ice water. 1t was now 4
o'clock and the speaking program was
next in order.
Rev. T. ]. Sanford, master of cere-
monies, after a few preliminary re-
marks, introduced Rev. S. E. Newell
of Prescott, who spoke at length on
the significance of the day and he re-
ceived rounds of applause. Rev New
ell struck responsive chord and held
his audience at rapt attention through
out his discourse The next speaker
/ was Prof. p Landry, who in a plain,
! straightforward way drove home some
fundamental truths that caused seri-
Gus thought on the part of many. The
! professor said that he believed the
time had come when we as race
! should launch out in commercial lines.
! His was a heart-to-heart talk and an
appeal to common sense and reason
Rev. Sanford then introduced the prin-
cipal speaker of the day, Mr. William
p Crump, who addressed us on the
subject of 1.-THE Negro and His Views
of the League of Nations" Mr. Crump
, is an orator Of national fame, possess
ing broad and Comprehensive knowl-
edge of all political issues as well as
being thoroughly conversant with all
] live topics Of the day. He handled
his subject in a mastery way and
! was repeatedly interrupted with ap-
plause.
! Next came the second course of the
: feast, which consisted of watermelons
and ice cream. All were served
liberal portion and told to come again
next year when the Protective League
will hold forth.
That the colored people of this COM
munity know how to celebrate cannot
of opinion that this Emancipation cell
etTation was as creditable as any held
+ anywhere. A. R. Smith was general
! manager of the affair and together
with his assistants, ]. A. Green, j. L.
Davis, G. H. Haywood, l. F. Silvers
and others, succeeded in staging the
grandest Emancipation celebration
ever witnessed in Arizona
The next big event for the Protect
i've League will be held during August
or September, when Dean Kelly Miller
of Howard University. Washington,
D. c., will lecture in Phoenix under
the auspices of the league. Watch
these columns for further announce
ment.