Arizona sun., 1961-07-20
NAACP RETURNS TO
PHILADELPHIA

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PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia, Pa. = The NAACP
held its Sind annual convention
here July 1915, returning to the
city of brotherly love in national
session after an absence of q
years.
An estimated 1,500 delegates
mapped. out strategy and tactics
for continuing the organization's
fight for first-class citizenship. The
need to overcome remaining rae.
ial barriers without delay will
give the deliberations increased
urgency.
Delegates concerned themselves
with implementation of President
Kennedy's March 6 executive ord
ell banning bias in government
contractors employment policies;
with selective buying, open occu-
pancy in housing and trade union
discrimination.
Major stress were given to the
Associations 3-year-old voter reg
istration program which has been
adding more Negro voters across
the nation, especially in the South
where the one-party system has
held historic sway.
Heavy Negro voting there could
change the nations entire political
balance, for Negroes represent
strategic concentrations in south
ern states and are majorities in
many counties and parishes.
The increased role of youth in
the civil rights picture will b e
furthered through special sessions
at the Benjamin Franklin Hotel
for the younger delegates.
Conferees were welcomed by
Governor David Lawrence and
Mayor Richardson Dilworth at the
opening session Monday evening,
July 10.
The keynote address was de-
livered by Bishop Stephen Gill
Spottswood of Washington, D. c.,
chairman of the Association Ma
tional Board of Directors. Roy Viii
kins, NAACP executive secretary.
delivered the final address on Sum
day, July Is.
Workshops and plenary sessions
were held at the Sheraton Hotel,
mass meetings were held at near
by Tindley Temple Methodist
Church, one of the East's largest
churches.
Although equally determined to
secure equal rights for Americas
largest minority, this is not the
same NAACP that gathered here
in June of 1910.
It had 5O,566 members in 352
branches in IS states then. Today
there are 1888, 8,347 members in l.
424 units in As states including
and Hawaii. In 1910, there
were $50 youth units, today there
are 612 with $4,000 youth members.
The 400 delegates attended the
1910 gathering adopted resolutions
touching on mob violence, political
action, governmental appoint
education, labor unions,
discrimination in the WPA text
books, sharecroppers and tenant
farmers.
The Philadelphia NAACP branch
was again host. Chairman of the
convention was Mrs. Gertrude
Barnes, with DR.. Harry Greene as
vice-chairman. DR.. John A. Nor
sell, assistant to the NAACP's ex-
ecutive secretary, was coordinator.
Highlight addresses were deliv-
cred by James Mcbride Dabbs,
president of the Southern Region
al Council and James Farmer,
national director of the Congress
of Racial Equality on Tuesday
July IL.
The entire convention were en-
for Washington, D. c.. oa|
Wednesday, July IL, where they
participated in a gigantic lobby
calling for action on pending civil
rights legislation.
Thurgood Marshall, Director
Counsel of the NAACP Legal De-
tense and Educational Fund, Inc,
and Jackie Robinson addressed the
Freedom Fund Banquet,
evening. July 13.
Congressman Adam Clayton
Powell and Labor Leader A. Philip
Randolph addressed the annual
Labor Banquet on Friday evening,
July IA.
Jazz entered the convention Set-l