The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1937-09-17
HighIights Of The EIks
Convention Al Cleveland
Ru John .. Leu,la

Left Seattle Sunday. August 10,
over highway 10 then on tn high
way 30. which is the old Oregon
TRAIL The scenery is beyond de-
scription. Our party consisted Of
Rev. T. M. Davis, pastor Of Mt.
Zion Baptist Church. Mr.. Gus West
local fuel dealer, his son. Joe, and
myself.
On our way to Cleveland. we
noted at Des Moines, Iowa. thirty
eight colored men working on one
construction job. with no WPA or
PWA signs in sight. Arrived in
the convention city Thursday NOR
ming.
The Educational and Economic
Congress opened sessions Friday,
the goth. These sessions were pre-
sided over by DR.. John coburn
Bruce, supervising principal. 18th
Division Public Schools of Wash
ington, D. c. Educational, civic
and economic problems as they
affect our people were discussed
during the two-day session of the
congress by some OF the best in
formed minds of the country. A
mong them. Judge VIM. c. Hues-
ton, Commissioner of Education;
DR.. Weaver Of the Dept. of In
terror; H. B. Evans Of the same
department; Hobson Reynolds of
Philadelphia, Asst U. s. Atty. and
Commissioner Of Civil Liberties;
Chas. s. Duke Of the Housing Com
mission, Washington, d O., who
happens to have been 3 school
mate Of our Mayor John r. Dore,
and member OF the same dehat-
ing team in college; State Repre-
sentative ]. Mercer Burrea of N.
j., and q host of others. Rev. Da-
Wis was called upon to open one
of the sessions and to offer the
benediction at the other.
We left Seattle with the specific
purpose of presenting legislation
dealing with mobilizlng and dir
Getting Of race purchasing power
into channels where there Is a
policy Of fairness and reciprocity
maintained towards our group, the
establishing of Consumer Leagues
in conformity with national pro-
gram, and educating our people
to buy advantageously as well as
correctly. We are proud to state
that this plan was adopted, en-
dorsed and sent to the Grand
Lodge with recommendation that
it be made a part of the general
Elk program. The following week
it was unanimously passed and
adopted by the Grand Lodge. Hob
son Reynolds in speaking for its
adoption stated, in his opinion our
plan was among the best pieces
of legislation ever offered to the
Grand Lodge.
Parade, OratoricaI Contest
Tuesday the big parade, and it
was some parade, over 10000 mar
cheers. We never witnessed such
a display of splendor and uniform
ity as this procession. Drill teams,
marching clubs, floats and bands
galore. A riot Of color was this
scintillating spectacle as it moved
down Cleveland's busy thorough
fares, which were cleared for the
occasion. The city was complete
ly turned over to Elkdom for the
week, and the daily papers ran
special convention editions daily,
carrying a full page of pictures
of the days happenings.
Into the packed and jammed
auditorium of one of Cieveland's
largest high schools strobe four
young Afro-Americans, winners of
regional oratorical contests. to
compete for first prize. Each of
these contestants was the winner
of a thousand dollar scholarship.
There are five such scholarships
given annually, but this year, un-
fortunately, one of the contestants
was disqualified for misrepresent-
ing his age. A band concert by
the Monarch Lodge band of New
York, an aggregation of over fifty
talented musicians, who rendered
superb program proceeding the
contest. After many musical num-
bers by various groups and soloists
the confess was on. A young lady
from Washington, D. c., was the
winner by close margin. We
never have had the pleasure of
listening to more stirring and ele-
CANT oratory anywhere than did
these young people render.
Prominent Speakers
Among the many highlights of
the convention were addresses by
Dr. Lorenzo King of New York.
Bishop Ransom of Wilberforce
University, Judge Henry of Phila-
delphia, Raymond Pace of Chicago.
President Walker of Wilberforce,
Perry Howard Of Washington, the
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