The Omaha guide., 1935-07-13
Z. w. C. A. Leaders
Stand for Unity on
Interracial Front

ia ICoPOSb W
~lnterracial work marked the position
taken by leaders of the Young
Women's Christian Association at the
recent branch conference held at Will
berforce University.
Delegates and participants in the
conference were white and colored
staff branch officers from northern,
eastern and southern states.
Among those attending the confer
ence the issue was joined as to
whether the conception of the ma
tional office in respect to its inter
racial work should include a fixed BIZ
racial program and setup or whether
it should be such as to include the
gradual and progressive interrogation
.bf the ~so-called Negro movement
with the general program and policy
OF the general organization.
Both Negro and white delegates
at the conference r%epuriated the sug-
gestion that the work of the colored
branches should be planned on any
peculiar basis, thought to apply es-
pecially to them. 1t was conceded
that the colored leaders and mem
bers should have the same detectives
as their white sisters, shoulder sim
liar responsibilities, derive their sup
port in like manner to that Of the
white branches and that there should
be mutual cooperation to achieve the
common purposes.
'The issue was met early at the
conference" stated Miss Marian
Cuthbert, one of the staff officers in
the leadership division of the nation
al office, "Inasmuch as the colored
women leaders have expressed the de-
sire for the conference and formed
the majority of those attending, the
question arose as to whether white
leaders would be welcome and wanted
on the same basis as the colored
workers. This point was decided af-
Tentatively. Later, the group made it
clear that it opposed any differ
ences or distinctions between the
work and setup Of white and colored
branches where such existed"
Colored leaders were elated at the
position taken, For them it marked
a new advanced step taken by the
Association, which, in the last two
years, has intensified its interest in
Negro branches and Negro leader
ship. Much of the credit for this in
classification, according to Miss Bet
ty Nicely, chief Of the leadership di-
vision, is due to Miss Frances Will
l.ams who has been active in the pub
Tic affairs committee of the national
office.
1t was Miss Williams who gave
point and direction to the Associa-
TONS effective support of the COST
gan-Wagner Anti-lynching Bill.
She also charted its cooperation with
the Joint Committee for National
Recovery, the group organized by
John P. Davis to battle inequities suf-
fered by the Negro under the NRA
codes. For several months Miss Will
liams, on behalf of the Association,
co-operated with the Joint Committee
as an active worker in the Washing
ton headquarters.
The conference members were es-
pecially impressed by the lectures of
Miss Ethel Cutler and Miss Williams.
Miss Cutler, a very scholarly woman,
gave practical talks on religion and
the modern woman and Miss Will
liams, outlined clearly the historical,
sociological and Psychological prob
lens Of race.
Others who contributed to the con-
ference program were Mrs. Cordelia
VIM, the conference executives; Miss
Eva D. Bowles and Miss Jessie Vogt,
on problems Of administration; Mrs.
Mary Blackburn and Miss Lillian
Espy, on recreation; Miss Mamie E.
Davis, on work with older girls;
Mss Betty Nicely, on group work
techniques; the Misses Cutler, Taylor
and Cuthbert, on foreign projects,
and Mrs. E. P. Roberts, on the dy-
namics Of leadership.
Eighty-two delegates were regis
tered from the following states;
New York, Kansas, Indiana, Texas,
Alabama, North Carolina, Virginia,
Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Georgia,
West Virginia, Tennessee, New Jer-
sey, Missouri, Illinois, Colorado and
Florida.
Members of the conference voted
to meet at Colorado Springs in 1886.