Evening star., 1949-11-17
Negro Women 10 Poll
Congress Members
On Civil Rights Bills

| Gil OF negro women, IN annua
conference here. are planning {
new drive to get commitment!
from members of Congress to vott
for civil fights measures.
Senators and Representative
are to be seen at their home.
during the recess, under campaign
plans outlined by Mrs. Venice
Spraggs, chairman OF the citi.
zenship committee.
Support will be sought especial
ly for the anti-lynch and anti
poll tax bills, for a fair employ.
ment practice law and for the
omnibus civil rights measure t<
outlaw Jim Crow" in interstate
transportation.
A spokesman for the council
Mrs. Mabel K. Stampers, presi-
dent Of, the National Association
of Colored Graduate Nurses, made
an appeal last night to boarc
members Of the District Graduate
Nurses Association to admit col
ored nurses on a non-segregatior
basis.
Mrs. Stampers said there /.
segregation in this field now only
in the District and in five States
Virginia. South Carolina, Louisi.
ana, Georgia and Texas.
Today's sessions of the 14th an.
nual meeting of the council were
devoted to proposed revisions o1
the body's constitution and tt
plans for strengthening council
finances. Late today. delegates
were scheduled to visit the EN-.
bassies, including those OF Haiti
Great Britain, India, Ethiopia
Israel and Mexico.
Thereafter. the council spot
light will be directed on Mrs
Mary Mcleod Bethune, 74-year-
old founder and president, who is
retiring as head Of the organiza-
ton. A nominating committee
late today was to report on pro-
posed successors. There has been
no election for seven years. since
the council made Mrs. Bethune
president for her lifetime. This
year she decided to give up the
presidency.
Mrs. Bethune will be honored al
a banquet tomorrow night. Among
the speakers will be Mrs. India
Edwards, head Of the Women's
Division Of the National Demo
cratic Committee; Aubrey VIII
liams. former head Of the Nationa.
Youth Administration and editor
Of the Southern Farmer; Richard
Moore, president Of the Bethune'
Cookman College at Daytons
Beach, Fla: John Sengstacke, pub
Usher of the Chicago Defender
and DR.. Frank Horne. assistant tx
the director Of the Federal Hous.
ing and Home Finance Agency.
Progress in the program for bet.
ter race conditions was reported
yesterday by a number Of grouI
chairmen.
Mrs. ARENA c. Mallory. Lexing.
ton, Miss, told Of increasing vot'
ing rights for Negroes in her Stats
and area, with special notice o'
Minden, La. where lynching oc'
CURED a year, ago. Members o.
the Council of Negro Women, shs
said, aided in the election there o.
a new sheriff. An educational pro-
gram conducted by council mem
bers, she said, Offset possible fric.
ton at the election.
For Region 2 Of the council
which includes the District. Mrs
Matte s. Coasey Of Baltimore
told Of calling on candidates II
the November 8 State and loca
elections to give their views OF
civil rights. There were specia
efforts at Richmond and Louisville
Ky. The Virginia Council Of th'
Negro women's organization, sh,
said, conducted an educationa
program to defeat the proposed
anti-poll tax amendment to tn.
Virginia Constitutions
This was done, council ofhcial'