The Phoenix index., 1941-08-02
Ru AI.RERT ANDERSON

OhbAf1OMA VI N11A>A|
hum of politics is in the air thlS
week. Borne on the inadequate
breezes stirred by a multitude OF
moving fans as visitors seek an es-
cape from the torrid heat, dele
gates to the National Association OF
Colored Women, in annual session
here, are putting forth some Of the
cleverest maneuverS ever witnessed
outside a regular political conVeh-
ton.
All this is in between periods OF
extolling the women Of the race
and hearing really remarkable re-
ports of feminine progress. the
stalwarts of the NACW are past
masters in the gentle art of politics.
Presidency of the organization IN
over are concerned, is tantamount
over a~e concerned, is tantamount
to leadership among colored Wom-
en- in the nation. Church groups
may elect their president; SororltleS
NAV name their supreme baslleus
and fraternal societies may choose
their daughter queen but the pres
ident of the National Association
of Colcred Women really Wields
the sceptre insofar as the multltuoe
of colo. ed women are concerned.
MRS. MOTION RETIRING
Mrs. Jennie D. Motion, president
for the past several years and Wio"
CIV of the late Dr.. r r Motion
has si9nified that she viii rot ue
a candidate to succeed herself Al
though she has in many respects
made an excellent record, showing
it is said, sounder fiscal policies
than usual and having paid off the
worrisome and unpopular debt
which hung over the national
Headquarters established in Wash
ington under the leadership of one
time president Mrs. Mary Bethune.
Mrs. Motion, never one of the glad
hand effervescenI types, has given
the office one of its quietest re-
gimes.
Those whose hats are foremost In
the ring are Mrs. A. B. DeMent OF
Texas; Miss Arsania Williams OF
Missouri and Mrs. Rebecca Stiles
Taylor, formerly of Georgia now OF
Chicago. Every candidate comes
from the middle west or the west
ern south. This may be one reason
Why this southwestern city was
chosen as the site for this years
convention The east will be well
represented albeit not in such
numbers as they invaded last meet
ing.
Each of the leading candidates
has an interesting career in the
NACW. Mrs. T. B. DEMENT, is chair
man Of the executive board OF the
national. She has served with dis
J tinction on the administrative board
and has headed the inter racial de-
partment. She is a past president
of the Texas federation and is be-
ing pushed by her entire state dele
cation.
NOW VICE PRESIDENT
Miss Arsenia Williams of Mis-
souri,, for years a school teacher in
st. Louis, is now president
at-large. A president for the
last four years, Miss Williams has
occupied many offices in the Asso-
citation, including that of financial
secretary. Miss Williams has the
endorsement of Missouri where
some delegates launched a cam
paign for votes.
Mrs. Rebecca Stiles Taylor, a
member of the administrative
board. was the first executive Sec
retary of the organization in 1928
when Mrs Bethune opened the ma
tional headquarters. Absent for
seven years she was candidate
last year. Mrs. Taylor, able and
astute, is editor of a woman's page
in a national weekly and many are
watching her fight for vlnoication
and prestige.
Old and experienced members say
that Arsania Williams is the log
ical candidate. They give the eX-
planation that tradition and the
law of succession favor her, point
ing to the following:
HAD IL PRESIDENTS
The Nationa, Association of Col
ored women has had ii presidents.
Each of these except Mary Church
Terrell, the first president, and
president and filled many other
offices before coming president of
the organization.
I The exception in Mrs Motions
case was because the vice president
that year at Fort Worth, in the
person of Mrs Daisy Lampkin, ex-
pressed herself as not being desor-
Gus of the presidency and dio not
come to the meeting. Every other
woman who served as president has
been cur vice: j. Silone Yates,
Lucy Thurman, Elizabeth Carter
Brooks, Margaret Murray Wash