The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1946-01-19
Domne Depreciation
ORR
NAACP
Continued from Page one)

OFCAL uASQ.
Edward L. Cooper, Chairman
of the Nominating Committee,
then came forward to make his
report. Before doing so, he ask
ed for permission to distribute
copies Of his report. One of
the members asked for a point
of informa ton as to whether or
not Mr.. Cooper was distributing
report or ballot. The chair
then demanded to know whether
Mr., Cooper was distributing a re-
port or ballot. A copy of the re-
poxt was then examined by one
Of the members and 1t was found
out to be the official ballot" Of
the Nominating Committee. Sew
eral members pointed out the ir-
regularity of this and challeng-
ed Mr.. Cooper's methods. Mr..
Cooper struggled through the
names on the report" which in
cluded several members of the
Nominating Committee. 1t was
then pointed out that the "re-
port" was considerably different
from the previous report in
which the Chairman of the
Nominating Committee, Mr..
Cooper, had himself been nomi-
mated for President. The status
of the Nominating Committee
was challenged again by several
speakers from the floor who de-
manded to know how the Nomi-
mating Committee could recon-
vene after it had been discharg-
ed. This query was never answ-
cred. The Nominating Commit
tee proceeded to distribute bal
lots which did not include the
name of any person nominated
from the floor. At this point
several members left the meet
ing stating that the entire pro-
cedure was entirely unconstitu-
tional and that they would not
participate any longer in the
meeting.
An effort was made by sup
porters of Rev Hughes to prevent
balloting on nominations from
the floor. At this point the chair
again called attention to the
Constitution and Bylaws which
provided for nominations being
made from the floor. Ballots In
the meantime had been distri-
buted and again the constitu-
tionality Of the procedure was
challenged, several speakers
pointing out that the house had
not becn polled and that since
this was a membership meeting
there was no way Of determin-
ing who were menoers and who
were not. Changes Of trickery
an d;he uncoaStitutionality Of
prrcee ilngs were repeatedly
made, hut to IN avail
Supporters Of Rev, Hughes kept
clamoring for an election. The
TeIers were appointed and ball
lots collected. In spite of the
fart that over 300 people had
been present at the meeting 81
votes were counted for Rev.
Tughes and 81 for Atty. Ray
Guild. The hour was so late that
the Tellers decided that they
could not count any further bal
lots and Mr.. David Lane was OBJ
served taking the ballots home.
Apparently no effort had been
made to impound the ballots and
seal them under lock and key
in the presence of all Tellers.
Several members Of tn or
ganization stated that in their
opinion the entire procedure was
unconstitutional and should be
reported to the National Office
with a view to having the pro-
ceedings thrown out. Present as
an observer during the entire
meeting was Atty. Alfred Albert,
counsel for the Massachusetts
Civil Liberties Union and a men,
Der of the Boston Branch.
Rev. Minor proposed a rising
vote of thanks be given to the
retiring President, Julian D.
Steele, for his untiring services
on behalf of the Boston Branch,
and this was unanimously voted.
Motion was then made to COM
mend william Harrison, recently
asked to withdraw fro mthe
Freedom Day celebration by Gov.
Tobin because of his Communist
utilization. Atyy Irwin T. Dorch,
called upon the meetin gto sup
port Mr.. Harrison and stand be-