The Omaha guide., 1935-07-13

The policy of the Association
places most of the responsibility for
the work of the organization on the
shoulders Of the executive secretary.
Reed founded the organization 10
years ago, but has steadfastly re-
Trained from accepting titular lead
ership. There have been three presi-
dents: G. William Saffell, Shelby
vile, KY, from 1926 to 1882; 7. M.
Fletcher, Akron, Ohio, from 1882 to
1884, and Benjamin McFall. The
first two presidents recognized the
obligation Of the Association to Reed
as its founder and organizing genius.
McFall is reported to have found it
difficult to recognize Reeds peculiar
relationship tt the organization and
to have set about with Crook, chair
mar Of the executive committee, to
seize the active leadership.
In so doing, they ran counter to
the executive secretary and the or
g%anization was split into two camps.
Reeds strength had been built up
through years of active contact with
the leaders of the industry and by
personal sacrifice to insure the sue
cess Of the organization. McFall
and Crook lacked these advantages
demonstrated sacrifice and usefulness
to the organization.
Early this year, McFall and Crook
are reported to have attempted to
call a special meeting of funeral
directors in Atlanta, Ga. Reed OPP
posed the action. ~circularized the
directors invited and found that they
supported his position. As a result
the meeting was not held and Reed
was victor in the first tilt with the
president and the executive commit
tee chairman.
The issue came to a head when of
ficers were to be elected at the con-
vention here. No president prior to
McFall had served less than two
years. McFall had been in office only
10 months when the convention was
held last week. He was a candidate
to succeed himself. The minority
report Of the nominating committee
offered the name Of Lawton Pratt,
Cn0n-a-aI H. H. 49, NFoTI-TI ---
porters of Reed.
After considerable sniping on the
part Of McFall ~adherents, led BY John
Blackwell of Chicago, who was
blasted BY G. William Saffel. former
president, 4. Fl. Latson, Taylor, Tex
as, in an eloquent and dramatic ap-
peal, moved the adoption and &C
ceptance Of the minority report. The
temper Of the delegates was 50
clearly visible that McFall, sensing
defeat, declined to be a candidate for
reelection, and the presidency went
to Pratt u~ncontested.
Reed was thus left IN the saddle.
In the discussion ~centering around
the organization program, it was dis
closed that Reeds leadership is not
that Of a dictator, but a trust placed
in him by the directors themselves
because of his past performance He
is not only responsible for the exis-
tence of the organization, but he al
so, in the reorganization of American
industry under the NRA codes, sue
ceeded in winning a place for Negro
u~ndertakers as an integral part of
the code setup. Negro undertakers
were the only group of racial bust
ness men to win this official recogni-
ton.
Under the old codes, Negro under
takers, through their Associations.
lined up with the white organiza-
tons in the industry, and became a
functioning part of the code author
ity. 7. NJ. Fletcher was elected as
one Of the Is members Of the board
of directors of the code authority
and Reed was chosen as assistant ex-
ecutive secretary. Offices were set
up in Chicago by Reed with a paid
staff to function for the Independent
National Funeral Directors Associa-
ton to obtain the benefits Of code
regulation.
The benefits of this regulation
were 50 great that now, despite the
outlawing Of the NRA codes through
Supreme Court mandate, the vast
majority of undertakers, white and
colored, desire to effect a system Of
voluntary regulation containing
many features of the code authority
and some improvements.
Delegates at the convention here
went on record as desiring to COOP
crate with white leaders in the in
dustry for the working out and set
ting up of this voluntary code. A
committee TO represent the Independ-
ent National Funeral Directors As
ISOLATION in the formulation of the
voluntary code was appointed, con
sisting of the following men: G..
William Saffell. Shelbyville, KY;
John T. Hall, Gullport Miss; Nm. H.
johnson Lancaster Kr. -Winiam L