The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1925-07-04

OF men and women gathered at Denver.
1 ask myself, what has made it possible
tor this vast organization to achieve so
powerful life? And say it was first
OF all an act of faith-the faith of ;ts
founders that white America would
learn to recognize the great gifts of
oiack Americans and that out of this
recognition larger justice would in
evitably be born. 1t was also the Iov,I
and untiring help of hundreds of men
and women of both races who have
joined together through sixteen long
years to make the faith of the founders
a living reality and not dream. And
hnaiiy 1t was the efficient and devoted
service of its executive staff from dav
to day. The association would have
much to boast of if it had done no more
than develop this staff of secretaries. di-
rectors of departments, field workers.
and clerks; and / want'the colored peo-
pie OF the country and their friends to
realize what this staff of paid workers
mas done for them and for American
life.
1T is therefore most appropriate thar
a committee independent of the Asso-
ciation should have selected our secre-
tary tor signal honor this year. The
honor belongs to him personally; but
II also IN a measure belongs to all his
co-workers who have labored so faith
fully and so well, The medal which he
IS to receive was founded a dozen
years ago. not so much to reward
achivement as to let white Americans
know that such achievement existed. Il
was founded in the belief that the Ne
gro has something to give, as well as
to receive from America. No one ;ust;-
hes that belief more than James Weldon
Johnson; and almost feel as if the
association should award me a cold
medal, too, for having originally induced
him to become member of the assoc;a-
tion's staff"
Very sincerely yours,
(SigneO ]. E. SPINGARN.
Message from Moor6eld Storey Esq
president of the National Association
tor the Advancement of Colored Peo-
pie and Ex-President of the American
Bar Association, to the sixteenth annual
conference of the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored Peo-
pie:
June "a, 1925.
My friends of the National Associa-
ton:
i regret sincerely that cannot be
with you at this great gathering. In
itself it is conclusive evidence of the
progress which our cause is making
Contrast this vast assemblage of dele
gates from all parts of the country and
the speakers who have come to address
1t with the few men who attended the
birth of this association and the obscur-
ity in which its work was begun.
The reason for our growth is not
far to seek. We are right We are
seeking no favors, no privileges. We
ask only the rights which the Constitu-
ton and laws of the United States ac-
cord to every American citizen, and we
cannot fail. Fix in your memories the
immortal words of Shakespeare:
Thrice is he armed who hath his
quarrel just
And he but naked though locked up
in steel
Whose conscience with injustice is
corrupted
We cry for justice in the courts. at
the polls, and wherever it is now denied.
We ask only for "a square deal,' fair
chance with our fellow citizens. II is
not possible that such demand can
long be refused.
No party convention in purity and in
highness of aim can compare with this
body. No manufacturers are here de-
manding tariff which will enable them
to tax their neighbors. No Ku Klux
klan is working for its criminal pur-
poses. No ofice-seeking gang is fight
ing for spoils. Here is nothing but
good and fair Have faith! Give us
the sinews of war and your cordial and
united support, and the supporters of
injustice and tyranny cannot stand
against the cause of truth which is
ours"
(Signed) MOORFIELD STOREY.