The Colorado statesman., 1922-02-18
Lincoln Douglass
Banquet by Denver
COlOred Civic AssO-
citation Surpasses
All Former Affairs

w of the Denver Civic and Com
w mercial Association in the
Chamber of Commerce building, on
Tuesday night, the Denver Colored
Civic Association gave n banquet and
Lincoln-Douglass celebration that will
live long as an enduring monument to
the new life of the new Negro in Den
Yer.
As an affiliated body of the Den
yer Civic and Commercial Association
and the only Negro body in America
to hold such Il distinction, the ban
queters, one hundred and fifty in all,
felt easily at home amid the richly
tapestried parlors and spacious loung-
ing rooms during a period of social
commingling that preceded the ban
quet. At precisely S:15 the party
marched into the gorgeously decorated
dining room to the strains of catchy
march played by Mrs. Curtis Nj. Har-
ris. The picture presented when the
entire party was seated, was a highly
inspiring one, for our ladies. hand
somely gowned and the men for most
part in evening attire, lent Il beauty
of charm never to be forgotten. The
menu served was most palatable and
the program rendered was of eXcep-
tional high order. Mr.. William Russ
assumed the responsibility of making
the dinner n success and he more than
made good. Mr.. Thos. J. Bell, secre-
tary of the Y. NJ. C. A., had charge
of the singing and did his part well.
1t was during the rendition of the
program, however, that the real OBJ
iects of the association were brought
out. Its plendid past accomplishments
and high aims for the future were i'm
pressively set forth by the president,
Capt. Thos. Campbell. One of the I'M
perative needs of the Negroes of Den
yer today is a building constructed
along modern lines for our fraternal,
social and civic activities. 1t has been
a dream cherished by many of our race
leaders for years. 1t may be safely
said that as an outgrowth of the Den
yer Colored Civic Association and the
dauntless courage of its president, that
the dream of years is now approach
ing realization. Capt Campbell has
shown himself broad, unselfish lead
Ell and the successful function of Tues
day night was a fitting testimonial of
his worth. AS a master of ceremonies,
Attorney e. p. Blakemore proved him
self Incompatible. He was in reality
the life of the banquet and each of
his introductions of the various speak
ers were punctuated with humorous
references and comparisons that
brought down the house. The COLO
EADO STATESMAN will cheerfully
commend the services of Mr.. Blake
more to any organization in need of n
toastmaster, par excellence. Another
one of our legal luminaries, Mr. S. e.
Cary, delivered a strong address on
Abraham Lincoln. Mr.. Cary is flu
ent speaker and careful student ana
his manner of presenting the life ana
work of the great emancipation aroused
the audience to the highest point of
enthusiasm 1.-The Ideals of Douglass
in the Life of Today" by Geo. w.
Gross can only be described as mas
terful piece of oratory. Many present
recalled his memorable address on
Booker Il. Washington at Shorter a.
NJ. f. church number of years ago,
but all agreed that he far surpassed
all his former efforts Tuesday night.
At the close of the regular program
a number of short impromptu ad-
dresses were given, the most notable
being Mrs. Ida DePriest and Mrs. l..
NJ. Froman. Mr.. Oglesvie Lawson Of
fered the following resolutions, which
were adopted by unanimous vote:
Whereas, Our coming together this
evening around this festive board at
this particular place is due to the
generosity and large fraternal feeling
of the Honorable /. 1. Boak, president
of the Denver Civic and Commercial
Association the Honorable Arthur j.
Dodge, secretary and general manager
and the Honorable Board of Directors,
and,
Whereas, We appreciate and are