Arkansas State press., 1944-04-28
NATIONAL PROGRESSIVE
VOTERS LEAGUE BORN
J, NJ. Robinson Local Physician
Follows Texan AS Vice President
HOT SPRINGS NATIONAL PARK, ARK

Thirty-six delegates representing every Southern state,
and four North of the Mason Dixon line met here day and
organized the National Progressive Voters League.
The League elected a full corps of officers and select
ed May Oath, 25th, when the newly formed League will
convene in New Orleans, at which time political o%rganiza-
tons of all shades of thought will be asked to send repre-
sentatives.
The new organization will be non-partisan according
to Hayward II. jackson, Lallas, president, and the man who
called the meeting, designating it the Ozark Conference.
Following an all day session during which time lead
ers from all sections of the south discussed at length the
recent Supreme Court decision invalidatng the Texas
"White Primary Law, and its value to minority groups, the
League elected the following officials:
President, Maynard H. Jackson, Dallas; LIST Vice Presi-
dent, DR.. J. M. Robinson. Little Rock; End Vice President,
Roscoe Dungee' Oklahoma CITY; sra wee PRESIDENT, ). w.
Dobbs, Atlanta; Secretary w. H.. Hollins, Birmingham;
Assistant Secretary, Mrs. M. A. Flanagan, Dallas; Core
spending Secretary, j. H. McConco. Little Rock; Treasur-
en-, James Nj. Hinton, Columbia, s. C..
At the conclusion of the conclusion of the conference
the committee on Findings headed by Editor Roscoe Dun
ice presented a report charting the objectives of the new
y formed organization. The report was UNANIMOUSLY adopt
ed. 1t follows:
The National Progressive Voters League, organized
at Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, is fathered in
the thought that newly enfranchised voters in the South
en section of the United States should be given guidance
and ~orientation in the use of the ballot. 1t is the further
thought that in the moulding of patterns for our national
political structure there should be basic coordination and
unity among the Negro citizens in all sections Of the Unit
ed States.
The recent decision of the United States Supreme Court
in the Texas white Primary cases is a definite challenge
TO the tn0uSnC, VISION ana WISDOM OIL the american NegfO.
Plans must be Immediately adopted to implement and or
ganize properly a course of action under the grant and
authority of this historic decision.
The League seeks to rise above the narrow partisan
ship, in that 1t offers membership to citizens Of all shades
Of political thought in the hope that paths may be fashions
ed for tie Negro voter to take his rightful place by the side
of liberal political groups irrespective Of race or class.
The Negro vote to become effective and influential
must be fully i~ntegrated with organized white workers and
agriculturists of the rural South. With this in mind the
League will seek to orient the Negro vote towards union
with organized labor, sharecropper's unions, taxpayers as
sociations and other organized bodies interested in ideal
government.
The Negro voter can inspire confidence among white
citizens, in his use of the ballot, in proportion as the Negro
voter becomes conscious of and interested in those vital
issues and problems affecting all of the citizens of the sec
ton of the United States in which he resides.
Millions of newly enfranchised voters are unfamiliar
with the mechanics of voting, and the League believes that
regardless of party affiliation or inclination these newly
enfranchised citizens should be supplied standardized know
ledge having to do with the actual process and action in
casting a ballot.
The war and world wide convulsion bring to the fore
many basic problems in government having to do with
social security and the new world order now being fash
toned. The League hopes to offer a school of orientation and
understanding in governmental forms and political organi-
zation.
States represented at the Ozark Conference through
delegate representation wer: Txas, Oklahoma, Arkansas,
South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi. North Carolina, Maryland, Kentucky, Ohio, Mis-
souri,, Illinois. and Michigan.