Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1951-01-12

ORGANIZING THE PINE BLUFF
CIVIC ASSOCIATION has been effected aft
err four months of prayerful meetings held
in my offices downtown. Judge Lewis f.
Robinson signed the order authorizing a
certificate of incorporation, on the last day
of his term of office. On Sunday we held
our first public meeting at Lampkin Chap
el Baptist Church, 26th and Kentucky
Streets in a heavily populated Negro COM
munity southeast of the city. 1t was well
attended with people standing. | spoke to
the group on Our Declaration of Purpose.
1t was a restatement of those things which
| said back in 1910 when he launched the
Committee on Negro Organization at
Stamps on March 10. The program is meet
ing with fine response There are twenty
three charter members. We meet every
Thursday night, and talk about the prob
lens which we face. The meetings are rather
informal as we usually serve some kind of
food or hot chocolate or coffee. We are not
arguing and ranting. and there exists spir-
1t of brotherliness which is not at all times
characteristic Of such meetings. We have
chaplain who conducts an opening and clos
ing devotion. When I was elected governor
of the group, most of the fellows were as
tonished when l asked them to join me
Ca lawyer) In prayer. But, the fellowship
is fine, and is now strengthened as we have
Our minister at st. James, Rev. S. P. Hol-
land, former Army chaplain, bringing to
us his vigor interest, and zeal. He even
served us hot chocolate with marshmallows
last Thursday evening, along with the
doughnuts. We are slowly but surely defin-
ing program of action which will be sup
plemented with unity of purpose.
THE PLAN: to establish civic groups
in every section in the city, such as The
Battleville Civic Association The Ohio
Street Civic Association; The Hoboken Civic
Association; The West End Civic Associa-
ton; and The South End Civic Association.
These groups will make up strong central
organization which is known as the Pine
Bluff Civic Association
In the formation of the plans for organ
izing the strength of the members, it is
stressed at all times that we are not work.
ing against any existing group in Pine
Bluff, but that We are willing through
whatever means we have available and
deem feasible, to assist in any group under
taking for the advancement of Negroes in
the Pine Bluff community. So far. we are
enjoying fine success, and if only we are
able to profit by the mistakes made in other
efforts, we shall make substantial progress
in the greatest task ever confronted Ne
groes ORGANIZATION! -.
NEGRO LEGISLATORS NEEDED. The
Arkansas General Assembly will convene in
the Capital City this week, and OF course
there Is not single Negro member despite
the fact that there are several counties
which have more Negro citizens than white;
or had better say people rather than
Citizens there must be distinction. For
instance, here in Jefferson county, in 1940
there were more Negroes than whites. We
have three members Of the lower house in
the General Assembly. The records show
that at one time near the turn of the CEN
fury there were Negro members from JEFF
ferson county. l trust that it will not be
long before we shall have some representa-
ton.
Reports indicate that the budget for
A. M. & N College will be reduced. 1t is
the only Negro institution operated by the