The Illinois times. (Champaign, Ill.) 19??-19??, 1950-02-03
ILL. LODGE
HOLDS 10TH
ANNIVERSARY

opportunity ~ me economy OF OH
state and nation. TIE Senator va
a staunch supporter Of the meas
nre in the 80 session Of the legis.
latnre ard he has three, more
years 10 represent Us u that BODY
Of course i vas the Republican
Senate that defeated the bill il
the last session Of the Legislature
Mr.. WayIand vas counted among
those for passage of the bill. His
speech gave encouragement Il
leaders Of the order and all peo-
pie favoring equal opportunity fol
Negro people in the matter o.
employment. Mr. Gaddy next II
troduced the Honorable. Grit
Hicks, sialor Of Danville. who ha
probobly proved 10 be the bes
and most helpful friend that thi
Danvilie Negro has had for quite
some time. Mr.. Hicks has stooe
shoulder To shoulder with DIR.
Frazier and the Danville boys II
all of their efforts to gain justics
in the affairs of that city. He has
gone all out to help with the or.
ganization's youth program and
has donted time and money To
advance the movement for louth.
The principal business of the May
or on this program was to unvell
the likeness of DR.. Frazier, the
leader honored on this occasion of
the tenth anniversary of the lodge
and temple at its Home Coming
Mr.. Hicks reviewed the several
instances that have been brought
to his attention involving the
rights of Negro people in Danville
and praised the work of the order
and DIR. Frazier in particular. in
Its stride toward fairplay in af-
fairs Of Danville, including the
right to eat at uptown cafes etc.
and the right to work for an hon.
est livelihood. He said that he had
always admired the wisdom and
ability Of DIR. Frazier and. where
ever he could had given assistance
to him in his diversified program
for the betterment of his people
He unveiled the q by 80 inch
color photo of State President
Frazier amidst deafening ap-
plause. After his speech the Eel
lowship Chorus rendered another
number and the Lodge Secretary
Henry Thompson. in short but
well placed address, presented
DR.. Frazier.
This venerable leader, in his
unassuming way and manner, has
apparently. at his best on this &C.
casion. He spoke without manu-
script. as is his usal way of doing
but he could have been no more
accurate in his accounting of prob
lens of his administration as
leader of the Danville Elks il he
had had a typed address. He APP
peared bubbling over with pride in
the fact that his efforts in Danville
and the state are beginning to
bear fruit. Referring to the picture
of himself which had just been un-
yelled by the Mayor. he said in
his joval manner: 1.-THE Old Man
Looks Pretty Good Hey" The
crowd roared. He then launched
out into his address. which re-
counted incidents of the life of
Danville many years before he be-
came identified with elkdom. He
said" When | was forced into the
office as leader of the elks here,
saw just one thing that appealed
to mean opportunity to help serve
my people and to make Danville a
better respected city in this great
state and nation. There were so
many things wrong in our social
life of my own people. | tried to
coordinate our various organiza-
tons and people to the end that
we might revise our thinking and
act as a unit for good. Not self
ishly, bat just simply goed--the
good of all. 1t brings our city in
bad repute when we have such in
eidents to happen as the matter
of travelling people being refused
service at cafes being operated
Mt bus terminals. He recited an in
cident of a few weeks ago when
Drake University with a three
bus special. stopped at the DAN
vile bus terminal for a brief
rest and lunch. The party contain
ed one Negro youth, who like the
rest of his team mates, sat dowr
in the terminal cafeteria for SER
vice. but was refused it. His mates