The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1940-09-28
OFFICIAL MEDFORD DELEGATE
CONTINUES STORY OF VISIT
TO EXPOSITION AND CHICAGO
BY J.

conceived by Mr.. James w. Washing
ton four years ago who formed the
United Cooperative League of America,
Inc, and was elected president, later
founding the "Afro- Merican Emancipa-
ton, Inc" For five years Mr. Wash
ington travelled 125,000 miles by train,
auto and bus bearing all necessary ex-
penses in the interest Of the EXPOSE
ton, receiving thousands of letters of
endorsement from racial and labor
organizations all over the country.
Finally, a year ago, Mr.. Washington
had bill introduced by Rep. Charles
J. Jenkins for the appropriation of
$4,000 by the Illinois General Assem-
bly, which was passed at the 61st
Session. Committees were formed of
members of both races to insure the
success of the Exposition, with more
assistance furnished by an additional
Federal subsidy of $4,000. Pres.
Franklin D. Roosevelt himself selected
the T. S. Auxiliary Commission to
represent him and the nation in the
persons of Z. S. Senator SIattery, Con-
gresham Mitchell, DR.. Patterson of
Tuskegee, and Wilson Lambert of
Continental Illinois Bank. Governor
Henry Homer of Illinois headed the
state commission as chairman; Civil
Service Commissioner Wendell f.
Green, vice chairman; Rep. Warfeld,
secretary and other white and colored
citizens of prominence The Mayor of
Chicago, Edward Kelley, took a per-
sonal interest and was chairman of a
special city committee. William P.
Harrison was chairman of the Board
of Directors with James w Washington
A. W. Williams, L. L. Ferguson,
Claude Barnett, Rev. Joseph Evans,
Atty. Henry C. Ferguson, A. N.
Fields, Mrs. Irene Mccoy Gaines, An
thony Overton, Rev. Jackson and
others as members.
The management of the exposition
itself was in the hands of the EXPOSE
ton Authority with the brilliant young
Chicago attorney Truman X. Gibson as
executive director; James W. Washing
ton, president; A. w. Williams. Sec
treasurer; Claude A. Barnett, Robert
Bishop, L. L. Ferguson, members. Time
Tor the Exposition was set from July
4th to Sept. 2 inclusive-the first Race
Worlds Fair ever held.
Governor Horner's letter to the states
and cities stated in part that 1910
marks the 10Th anniversary of the
Emancipation and noted that a similar
but much smaller and shorter Exposi-
ton was held in Chicago on the 5Otb
anniversary. The Exposition of 1910
would promote racial understanding
and good will; enlighten the world on
the contributions of the race to civiliza-
ton, and make the colored conscious of
Their dramatic progress since enamel
patlon"-producing "Amazing facts
with complete proof to substantiate the
black mans claim that he has made
large and valuable contributions to both
American and world history and civil
eaton" - portraying "In graphic
fashion, through diorama, mural and
exhibit, the spectacular achievements
OF Americas Tenth Citizen from his
voyage to the New World with Column
bus to his status in the nation in 194O"
So, Monday forenoon your delegates
presented themselves with their creden-
tIals at the Chicago Coliseum. From
The outside the Coliseum appeared as
a rather old structure somewhat like
our Mechanics Building with the
entrance on the longer side of the rect
angule, facing Indiana Avenue. AS Won
entered you found facing you the Court
OF DIoramas, with a replica of the
Lincoln Memorial standing in the
center. Around the sides of the great
hall were rooms of exhibits with hand
some murals adjoining the walls.
Everything was artistically arranged
and exhibited in an efficient pattern
and detail to satisfy the most discrimi-
mating and critical taste. To the left
ana right were the information and
guide service booths respectively.
The dloramas we found to be striking
three dimensionad exhibits depicting
historical scenes or events of Afro
progress portrayed by small figures
denoting the characters, objects and
surroundings of the diorama. There is
not space to relate all of the 80 do
ramas which were produced here by
Atros under the direction of Erik
Llndgren the Illinois State Director of
exhibits and the worlds outstanding
authority and designer of diorama art,
which graphically display Afro prog
ress.
They begin with the Wemple at
hh!arnak, a monument to the genius of
artisans and builders who created the
glory that once was Africa" continuing
IN time sequence thru history in Africa.
with Pietro Alonzo, il Black captain of
Columbus boat the nina; Attacks at
me Boston Massacre Slavery DAYS.
Banneker' Reconstruction. with Matt
Henson at the North Pole, World War
these are a few