The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1950-09-09

z Florida A and M Alumni
Association ~
@#"7l September 5, 1850
Mr. G. w. Conoly
Executive Secretary
General Alumni Association
F3rida A and M College
Tallahassee, Fla.
Dear Mr.. Conoly:
Although 1 know the Post Office
Department in Miami, Florida is
very efficient in its mali delivery
service, l received your letter adj
I'll essed to me through the columns
of the Miami Times. This step alone
causes me to wonder whether you
wanted to contact me ON the sub
te": Of the Orange Blossoya Classic
or il it was a publicity NOV, On the
part of the administration which
yet represent.
The initial paragraph of your let
ter is the only one that deals with
the issue of the Classic and its
sponsorship by the; .Kiwanis Club.
The other portions represent things
we are or should be in agreement on
whether there is a Classic or not.
So don't muddy the waters nor ,di.
vert attention from the major sub.
ject by running off on a tangent.
/ am puzzled as to your reason
for singing me out for your dia-
tride. ], am on record as opposing a
White organization sponsoring the
Classic. So are numerous Negroes
of the state, many of them alumni
members and other interested citi.
zens o.. 4. many of them leaders in
their chosen fields of work through.
out Florida.
The school administration has
been Unanswered into bad spot.
They should have sounded out senti-
ment before entering into such an
agreement. 1 am speaking of the
sentiment of Negroes. After all
Famcee is a Negro institution and
it was the Negroes of the state who
have made previous Classics the
successes they were. The Classic
has been an outlet in the field of
promotional work for Negroes. If
Fanlc;e was carrying OH: it's edu-
cational program propetl!, the OF
flC;als would welcome this oppor-
tunity for practical tranii'S for it's
students ami alumni members.
These are worth more than any
monetary consideration from a
White group.
When you speak of the goose and
the golden. egg it causes me to
wonder if this CONTRACT is forced
upon you. Either you accept it Or
else lose the support OF those who
will profit most by it, is that what
you mean? We want no part of
such "horseatrading." Especially
when we note that all southern
states are making progress to the
exclusion of such outside considera-
ton. Florida will continue to make
its contribution and it will not be
based upon the playing of foot
ball game. The courts of the land
will substantiate this.
Most of the statements emanat-
ing from the college campus con.
corning previous Classics are not
borne out by the facts. Consider
these facts - the largest crowd to
witness a Negro football game in
the South was assembled at the Or
ange Blossom Classic of 1947. Each
Classic has made money in spite of
rumor to the contrary. Consult the
record and find the facts.
/ will admit that the c~Tege has
done a poor job in promoting the
Classic. Only last year, 1949, adver-
tisement did not hit the streets un-
til ten days prior to the game
There is much to be learned from
the method of ticket handling. Most
of these deficiencies can be traced
to the school administra ton. Now to
duck out and keep the blame off the
shoulders of the people responsible
for school finances and activities it
seems this new plan was evolved
The entire idea of outside sponsor
ship by Negro organizations was dis.
couraged for more than five years
Now this sudden change. Why? We
are entitled to an answer - a def.
mite answer.
There are a few more questions
that should be answered for the
public - Why was the whole affair
shrouded in such secrecy? Tw o
weeks after the Board of Control