Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-01-12
Annual Meeting
Reveals Largest Membership
In Organizations History

ing held at SO Fifth Avenue, jan
uary 2, The National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People reported the greatest year
in the history of the 35-year-old
organization. A membership total
ling 100000, a total revenue of
1910, S22.24, detailed reports of de-
partmental activities, and the cleo
ton of seven new directors to the
National Board were features high
lighting outstanding achievement
and progress in 1914.
Greetings from Walter White,
NAACP secretary now in the Pa
cific as New York Post war cores
pondent, were read by Roy Wilkins,
acting secretary. Arthur B. Sping-
arm, president of the Association,
presided. The new directors elected
at the meeting were: Judge Jane
M. Bolin, New York; Elmer A.
Carter, New York; Russell w.
Davenport, New York; Charles H.
Houston, Washington, D. c.; DR..
James J. McClendon, Detroit,
Mich; Theodore M. Berry, Cincin-
natl, Ohio; DR.. John A. Singleton,
Jamaica, New York. Those re-
elected were: Lillian A. Alexander,
New York; Roscoe Dunjee, Okla
homa City, Okla; DR.. John B. Hall,
Boston, Mass; DR.. John Haynes
Holmes, New York; Hon. Herbert
H. Lehman, New York; Alfred
Baker Lewis, Greenwich, Conn.,;
Eugene M. Martin, Atlanta, Ca;
Amy E. Spingarn, New York; DR..
E. W. Taggart, Birmingham, Ala;
DR.. ]. M. Tinsley, Richmond, Va;
and Bishop W. J. Walls, Chicago.
In a statement pointing out
racial trends politically, economi-
cally, and in the armed forces, the
acting secretary, Roy Wilkins, said,
despite this progress and record
of service on the battlefronts, the
picture for 1916 is not a rosy one.
Many impartial surveys have es-
tablished that there are numerous
centers of racial tension in all parts
of the nation. There still exist
humiliating and Notwithstanding
regulations and practices in the
armed services. In employment Ne
gro Americans have made gains be-
cause of manpower demands, but
the future will be more uncertain
for them than for other Americans
unless a permanent policy of nom
discrimination is embodied in leg
islation by the Congress. This Leg
islation is a must item if our
minority groups are to start even
with their fellows in the struggle
for postwar jobs.
Housing Situation Acute
"The housing situation remains
acute, with restrictive covenants
based on race and religion spread
ing like wildfire over the country,
with confused and even reactionary
policies in effect with state and
municipal housing authorities, and
with timid and fumbling action by
federal housing officials. Much re-
mains to be done in the field of ed
ucation and health. And there is
still with US host of discrimina-
tory and undemocratic practices re-
lating to public accommodations
and travel.
"The National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People
has just completed its thirty-ifth
year of activity, the greatest year
in its history, which saw more than
100000 members enrolled in some
800 local units, including approx
mately $4,000 in the armed forces.
We regard this enrolment as a
mandate to continue the vigorous
campaign for full citizenship for
Negro Americans now and after
the war, and all our energies and
resources will be used toward that
end"
Branch and Youth Departments
Highlights of the year in Branch
activities, outlined by Miss Ella j.
Baker, director of Branches, in
cluded the setting up of West
Coast Regional secretaryship; es-
tablishment of new regional lead
ership training conferences; new
program building techniques; plans
for the correlation of intercultural
education in the schools; special
activities of field secretaries, and
plans for greater emphasis on the
work of interracial executive COM
mittees. Similarly the aims of the
youth department were reported
by Mrs. Ruby Hurley, youth sec
rotary, who told of the activities of