Evening star., 1941-10-18
Negro Women Elect
Council Officers
Al Session Today
Dinner Tonight to
Close Meeting; BerIe
Addresses Delegates

Ths National Council of Negro
Women was scheduled to elect off,
GERS today at a closed session of its
annual conference in the Interde-
partmental Auditorium. Reports Of
the conference commissions also
were to be made at the session, to
be followed by a luncheon and a
business session during the after
noon. The conference, which began
Thursday, is to be brought to
close with a dinner meeting tonight.
Last night, Assistant Secretary
of State A. A. Berle, jr., declared
defense is for every one" in ad-
dressing the council at meeting IN
the Andrew Rankin Memorial
Chapel at Howard University.
He developed the thought that
In the defense program that any
idea of race discrimination in Jobs
may be overshadowed in picking
persons best qualified to do certain
types of work.
Mr.. Berle suggested that under a
Nazi regime. the colored people
would be relegated to low standard
and said that under 1t even the
chapel in which last nights meet
ing was held would be "outlawed."
Sees No One as Safe.
1--WE of this Nation have some
thing to defend, regardless of race.
color or creed" he said holding
that no one will be safe until the
vould-be world conquerors of
Europe are subdued.
Mr.. Berle told the assemblage it
will be necessary for this country
to double the size of its Navy, in
building up our own internal de-
fense, and added: I'VE must pro-
duce twice as much as this country
has ever produced before"
He told the assemblage one of
the most important things the Ma
tional Council of Negro Women can
do will be to teach persons in the
homes to stop Waste--even to vast
ing a nail He predicted that before
long there will be shortage after
shortage" of many things of which
persons of this Nation have been
used to having plenty, due to the
necessity of using materials for
preparedness.
Mr. Berle urged that persons seek
training to equip themselves for
work in the defense program.
The speaker praised the demo-
cratic form of Government of this
Nation and pointed out that there
are poor men in this country who
are better off than those elsewhere
who think themselves we'll off.
DIR. Johnson Speaks.
Preceding Mr.. Berle as speaker
was DR.. Mordecai johnson. president
Of Howard University, who urged
that the Government "set an ex-
ample" to private enterprise by
employing colored persons. Re-
ferring to President Roosevelt's dec
larations against race discrimina-
tion in defense jobs, DR.. Johnson
declared that it is necessary for
the Presidents words to be ac-
companied by action. While there
has been much improvement in
wider employment of colored people,
there Is yet much to be desired, he
held.
Dr.. Johnson said that if what the
Government does for colored persons
is not more far reaching than ever
before, the colored people will
suffer more than they ever have
done since the days of slavery.
DR.. Rayford Logan, professor of
history at Howard University, said
that discrimination against colored
persons is against the principles OF
democracy, but asserted there has
been improvement"
Round Table Discussion Held.
Mrs. Mary Mcleod Bethune, presi-
dent of the council, called last
nights meeting to order. Sub
sequently she turned the chair
over to DR.. Charlotte H. Brown, the
councils vice president, who intro
duced the speakers. The Rev.
Stephen Spottswood delivered in
vocation. Other features of the pro-
gram included National Defense
Round Table" discussion, singing by
the Howard University Women's
Glee Club, and a solo by Mrs. Nell
Hunter, mezzo soprano, accom-
panied by Miss Camille Nickerson.
In the round table discussion,
colored men and women who hold
important positions in the various
Covory, appOcies answered
questions regarding work OF their
agencies.
Following the session, reception
for the delegates was held by the
Womans Committee on National
Defense of Howard University, dur
ing which they viewed exhibits in
the university's art gallery.
Representative Bolton of Ohio is
10 deliver the principal address at
II.