Evening star., 1935-08-26
10000 ARRIVING
FOR CONVENTION
OF COLORED ELKS
Joe Louis, Jesse Owens and
Bill Robinson Chief
Attractions.
BOXER, TRACKMAN AND
DANCER ON PROGRAM
0ratory, Including Contest Finals
Also Features of Session.
Parade Tomorrow.

With the arrival here today Of
famous colored personages, including
Joe Louis. heavyweight contender: !:
Jesse Owens, track star. and Bill
Robinson. tap dance king" the
thirty-sixth annual convention of
Negro Elks entered its second day
in full swing, its sponsors predicting
a record gathering.
Louis, Owens and Robinson were
among an estimated 10000 visitors
arriving for the convention. Louis,
the Brown Bomber" from Detroit,
whose quick fists are carrying him to-
ward the top Of the heavyweight heap,
will call on the District boxing COM
missioners at pm, hold press con-
ference at 4 and talk over radio
station WMAL at 6. He is accom-
panied by a retinue Of managers and
trainers.
Tomorrow night Louis will appear
at Grifith Stadium to receive a gold
medal from John T. Rhines, Elks' ath-
letics commissioner.
Owens will participate in an, ex-
hibition race at Howard University
Stadium after tomorrow's afternoon
parade and Robinson and his band
will be in the parade.
Louis in Long Auto.
Louis arrived this morning In a
long, low automobile preceded by a
colored motor cycle policeman from
Maryland, whose elegant uniform ad-
vertised that something unusual was
happening. Followed by a troop of
pop-eyed spectators, Louis drove to
the residence of Dr. w. A. Goodloe,
1886 s street, where he will stay dur
ing his visit. He grinned and shook
hands and "howdy-doed."
Louis and Owens may appear to-
morrow night at q local night club
where they have been invited to be
guests of honor at a banquet. Louis
managers are opposed to this sort of
appearance, however, and may not
allow their man to accept the invita-
ton.
Today's convention program is de-
voted chiefly to oratory of one sort
or another, with an oratorical contest
to be held at the Metropolitan African
M. E. Church at 8 pm. There are six
contestants In the finals Of the Elks'
contest, one each from Washington,
Nashville, Greensboro, N. c.; Jersey
City, Omaha and Akron, Ohio. The
winner will receive a $1,000 cash
award toward a scholarship at q COL
lege Of his own choosing.
The Elks' Scholarship Alumni Asso-
citation met at the Metropolitan Bap-
tist Church at 9 am. for a program
OF speeches and discussion. The meet
ing was composed mostly of young
college graduate beneficiaries of the
Elks' scholarships in several uni
versities.
Honor Unknown Soldier.
At II am. a delegation Of Elks dig
nitarieS visited Arlington Cemetery to
place wreaths on the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier and the grave Of
Col. Charles Young, who was the
highest ranking Negro officer in the
Army. A similar pilgrimage was made
later to the home Of the late Fred
erick Douglass, famous ex-slave orator,
and to the Franciscan Monastery.
An open convention meeting was
to take place at pm. in the Metro
pohtan Baptist Church. Commits
sioner Melvin c. Hazen will make a
welcoming address. Elks' officers
said they had invited Gov. Harry w.
Nice of Maryland and that he might
be present.
After the public session, a meeting
of the Elks Senior Mothers Council
will be held. A band played to a
crowd of fun-making visitors Nat
Tenth and U streets this morning.
Doris Brown Of Washington won
the title Miss Elk" at a bathing
beauty contest held Sunday at Cars
Beach.
Baccalaureate services were held
yesterday in the Metropolitan A. M.
E. Church for 1885 college graduates
who received Elks' scholarships. DR..
Charles Wesley, head of the Howard
University history department,
preached the sermon. After these
exercises, memorial services for
Henry Lincoln johnson, former Dis
trict recorder of deeds, were held In
Lincoln Memorial Cemetery under
the direction of New York Elks
lodges. Judge william C. HueSton,
Elks commissioner of education, spoke
at the johnson grave.
Additional religious services were
held last night at the Metropolitan
Baptist Church Cabaret entertain
ment was provided. but not at the
Metropolitan A. NJ e. Church. as was
enormously reported yesterday in The
Star. Some delegates went on a boat
ride down the Potomac aboard the
steamer Southport.
The route Of the parade at ! pm
tomorrow has been changed and now
reads as follows: West on Constitu-
tion avenue from Fourth street to the
Ellipse; through q park road IN the
Ellipse to East Executive avenue;
north on East Executive avenue to
Vermont; north to Fifteenth, north
on Fifteenth to T street, east to Four
teenth, north to U street, east to Ver-
mont, north on Vermont to Sherman