St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1958-07-04

Association in Ohio, The organiza-
ton returned to Cleveland in 1929
and met in Cincinnati in 1915. Tho
convention has not since met in
this state,
At the earlier meeting In Cleve-
land and. TO lesser extent. at the
second convention here in 1929.
the prime concern OF the delegates
was how 20 combat the crime OF
lynching In 1919, there were SO
victims OF this crime. including 4
white persons and two Mexicans
by 1929, the number was down TO
~ Not since the 1930s has lynching
been a major topic AZ an NAACF5
convention. due to the decline OF
the crime as the result largely OF
a sustained and militant NAACP
campaign to rid the nation OF that
evil.
Desegregation, No. I Problem
OF prime interest 10 the dele
gates meeting here next week
win be the drive 60 accelerate de-
segregation of public schools In
the South and efforts 10 enlarge
the Negro vote. The intensified de-
segregation drive In OF recent or
igin dating back 10 May II, 1854
when the United States Supreme
Court handed down It's historic do.
cision banning segregation in pub
lie education
The struggle for the ballot In
the southern states is as old ar
the Association which next year
celebrates It's 50th anniversary.
Notable progress has been made
since the convention last met In
Cleveland. Due TO the work OF the
Associations legal staff many OBJ
stacles to Negro voting have been
removed since 1919. The white
Democratic primary which was tho
chief barrier 10 voting by Negroes
in the South was stricken down by
a Supreme Court decision In 1914.
The poll tax requirement for vot-
ing which was general throughout
the South 20 years ago today pre-
walls In only five states.
Although the southern Negro
vote has vastly expanded during
the intervening years, II Is still
restricted with only about 20 per
cent Of the potential Negro vote
being registered as compared with
80 per cent OF the white potential
in the region. Following enact
ment Of the Civil Rights Act Of
1867. the NAACP. early this year,
announced a goal Of 5000 900 Ne
gro voters in the South by 1860
In 1856 there were about 1900, 900
registered Negro voters in those
states, This years convention will
be concerned with ways and means
Of getting more Negroes registered
10 vote In the South and through
out the nation
senators 90 Speak
Speakers scheduled 10 address
next weeks convention include
Senators Paul Douglas ID, M
and Jacob Javits (R.. N.Y.. who
will talk on Political Parties and
Civil Rights; DIR. Claiming H.
Tobias. NAACP board chairman,
who will deliver the keynote add
ress at the opening session, Tues
day night; Roy wilkins, NAAcP
executive secretary, who win add
ress the closing session on Sun
day afternoon. July 10.
The delegates win be welcomed
20 the state and city Tuesday
night by Gov. c. william o'Neill
and Mayor Anthony J. Celebrezze.
DR. ~ X Christopher. chairman
Of the general convention planning
committee. will welcome the dele
gates on behalf Of the Cleveland
NAACP branch.
Thurgood Marshall. the attorney
who has led the court battle for
civil rights, will speak on the legal
aspects Of the Fight for Freedom.
The spingarn Medal, awarded an
nualiy 10 a Negro American for
distinguished achievement. will be
presented 10 the nine children who |
broke the color line at Little Rocks
Central High School last Septem-
Der and TO Mrs. l.. c. Bates. their |
mentor. and president Of the Ark
ansas State Conference Of NAACP |
units
Workshops Scheduled
a series Of workshops. with ex-
perts as panelists and with dele
gates participating in the discus
aons. win be devoted 10 such top
les as Civil Rights Problems In
Northern Cities; the Negro Work.