The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1925-07-04
LOCAL DELEGATE MAKES
OPEN STA TEMENT OF BIG
NATIONAL CONVENTION


In starting my report about the con-
ference which ! have just attended in
Denver, l think il would be ungrateful
not to say word about the noble wom-
en- in the ST Paul Branch who worked
so earnestly to make it possible for me
to go. l want them to feel that thor
oughly appreciate the effort which they
made, and allow me to say the successful
effort. am sure that next year we
shall be sending some one else, and |
for one will take off my coat and work
towards that end.
l arrived in Denver on Wednesday
morning, the opening of the association.
l found about 125 delegates present, rep
resenting % states. The representatives
were men and women of national rep
utations, both white and colored.
The very first speech, perhaps of note,
was delivered by Mr.. Charles Edward
Russell of New York (white), editor
and publisher and a man of national
reputation. The keynote of his speech
was that social equality among the races
was what the N. A. A. c. P. stands for,
and he said that it would surely come.
This was quite a surprise to the great
audience who heard it, and it was head
lined in all of the daily papers, and
strange to say, some very favorable edi-
torials were written on it. Following
him was Mrs Florence Kelley of New
York, who voiced the same sentiments
DR.. Du Bois arrived the next day from
California and spoke in the evening at
one of the large meetings. His speech
was masterpiece and he held the great
audience spellbound for more than an
hour Then on Sunday Mr.. James Well
don Johnson spoke to an audience OF
10000 people in the auditorium. His
speech was also mastery effort and
it was we'll received by that great throng
of people. There were many other
speeches which were of great import
ance, but space will not allow me to
enumerate them all
Those of You who have seen pro-
gram will notice that the St Paul
Branch representative was on the pro-
gram for two addresses. However, |
could not hope to cope with these men
who were national figures. In my ad-
dress on Friday-subject, "The Open
Forum as Means of Branch Interest"
/ think l well represented the Branch,
judging from the favorable discussion
afterwards. found that we were the
only branch which maintained regular
forum. 1t was agreed that that would
be the best means Of keeping up the in
terest in the community and maintain
ing the membership in the different
branches. The Detroit Branch, which
is one of the largest branches in the
country, headed by DR.. Brady of that
city, said they were going to put the
forum idea into force Immediately upon
their return.
was very much surprised and pleas
ed, just after my talk, to have handed
to me letter from the Bulletin-Appeal
pledging their support to the National
Conference and assuring them that the
paper was always ready to champion
their cause This was the only Negro
newspaper that was thoughtful enough
to send in such letter.
! want to take this opportunity to con-
graduate Mr.. Howell on his advanced
ideas of business along this line. This
was favorably commented upon by the
national officers and II aroused quite an
interest in the Bulletin-Appeal.
The whole conference was beyond my
expectations. l did not imagine there
were so many noted men and women
connected with the association; men like
Senator Wheeler, Senator Dyer and
Clarence Darrow. These men came and
delivered their addresses and some of
them even stayed through the entire
attending all social func-
tons and carrying out the spirit which
was first presented-social equality
among the races There were no wall
flowers, for the men and women of the
different races mingled freely, even at