Evening star., 1935-08-25
10000 TO ATTEND
CAPITAL SESSION
Of COL0RED ELKS
Athletes, Orators, Soldiers
and Bathing Beauties
Among Visitors.
1856 BANDS WILL BE
IN TUESDAY PARADE
Joe Louis and Jesse Owens, Ring
and Track Heroes, to Be Here.
0ratory Feature.

Colored men and women from every
section of the Nation were assembling
here today for the annual convention
this week of Negro Elks. expected to
attract $4,000 visitors and billed as
the biggest colored gathering in Wash
ington's history.
Athletes, orators, soldiers, bathing
beauties, educators, singers, clergymen
and musicians will be among the par
ticipants. Officials of the host lodges
promised the following among the
conventions high lights:
A monster" parade Tuesday, with
1875 bands. crack colored military
units-cavalry and infantry, street
singing and dancing. floats and miles
of marching units in every variety of
spectacular raiment.
The appearance on the same day
Of two of the races outstanding ath-
letic heroes-Joe Louis, the heavy
weight contender, and Jesse Owens,
Ohio State University track star.
An exhibition, also on Tuesday, by
a troop Of colored horsemen from the
10th United States Cavalry, stationed
in the Southwest.
Oratorical Contest.
An oratorical contest tomorrow
night, the winner to receive $1,000
cash scholarship to any college which
he may choose to attend.
A Grand Lodge ball at the colored
Masonic Temple Wednesday night,
with a grand prize, a new automobile,
to be awarded.
The thirty-sixth annual convention
Of this fraternal order. called the I'm
proved Benevolent and Protective
Order, Elks of the World, begins this
afternoon with a bathing beauty con-
test at Carr's Beach, scheduled for /
pm. At 3 pm. delegates from New
York City Elk lodges will conduct me-
mortal services at the Lincoln Gene
terry grave of Henry Lincoln johnson,
former Republican national commit
teeman from Georgia and recognized
leader Of his race.
Music is to be one Of the principal
c-nvention features, and q band con-
cert has been scheduled for O'Clock
this evening at Tenth and U streets.
Religiously- inclined delegates were
expected to attend services tonight at
the Metropolitan Baptist Church. the
Rev w. George Avant. Elks' grand
chaplain. preaching. while those pleas
ure bent will be entertained aboard
the steamer Southport on moon
light river excursion.
Cabaret entertainment will be pro-
vided each night at the Lincoln Thea
ter or Metropolitan A. M. e. Church.
beginning this midnight and starting
on following evenings at 10 pm.
Harlem entertainers have been
brought down for the occasion.
Educational Program.
An educational program, continuing
the work of a special conference
which began Thursday. has been
planned for 9 am. tomorrow under
leadership of DR.. Charles Wesley Of
the Howard University history de-
partment and Judge william c.
Hueston, Elks' commissioner Of edu-
cation and former assistant Post
ONCE Department solicitor. This will
be followed by q band concert on the
Tenth and u street site at 1890 am.
Col. Charles Young, highest rank
ing Negro officer in the Regular
Army, will lead delegation to Arling-
ton Cemetery at IL am. tomorrow to
pllce wreaths on the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier and visit the graves
of colored World War fighters.
A similar pilgrimage is to visit the
home of Frederick Douglas, a slave
who became the races most esteemed
orator
At q public session to be held in
the Metropolitan Baptist Church at
l pm. tomorrow. the delegates will
be welcomed by Commissioner Melvin
C. Hazen and by high officials Of the
host lodges. A senior mothers coun-
Gil conference will convene at 5 pm.
The oratorical contest, scheduled to
begin at 8 pm. in the Metropolitan
Baptist Church, is the finals Of hun
dreds Of regional contests held among
high school students everywhere as
part of the Elks' education depart
ment's plan to develop wider race
knowledge of the Federal Constitu-
ton and the rights it guaran. ees Ne
groes. Each contestant must take as
his subject some phase o. the Con-
stitution. The winner will be given
1000 toward his education at a uni
versity of his own choosing. Eight
(See ELKS, Page BAD