ACTIVITIES AMONG NEGROES

By Delilah L. Beasley

Grateful thanks and appreciation is extended to persons whose interest in this column prompted them to send newspaper clippings from Washington, D. C., New York city and Chicago concerning the recent fifteenth anniversary of the founding of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. At a later date quotations will be reproduced. The following communication has been received from the "League of California Municipalities," 1095 Market street, San Francisco, California, and reads: "Hon. Frederick M. Roberts, Assembly Chamber, Sacramento. My dear Mr. Roberts:

This morning, Hon. C. H. S. Bidwell, mayor of Sacramento, and president of the League of California Municipalities called my attention to an article in the Oakland TRIBUNE of April 1 wherein it is stated that the league was sponsoring a bill "authorizing the cities to set aside specific time for the use of playgrounds and swimming pools for colored children.”

In justice to the league and its officers, I desire to reiterate the statement heretofore made to you personally that neither the league nor any of its officers have ever proposed or contemplated any such legislation.

Several months ago, in accordance with custom, we sent out a letter to all the cities of the state asking them to inform us of any new legislation they desired, in response to which one letter was received suggesting legislation along the lines referred to, regarding race discrimination, as above quoted.

The various suggestions were published in Pacific Municipalities, official organ of the league, whereupon some people, jumping at conclusions, assumed that the league was going to sponsor such a bill. As a matter of fact, neither the league nor any of its officials ever had such a thought in mind. Our organization was formed for the improvement of city government and the health, happiness and prosperity of the people governed, without regard to race, creed or color. We regret the fact that some people apparently impugn our good faith in this matter and persist in refusing to accept our explanation of the facts.

If not imposing on our friendship and long acquaintance I would appreciate any efforts you could make to allay the fears of your people in this matter.

Yours very truly, Wm, J. Locke, Secretary-Manager, league of California Municipalities.

Copies to Hon. George B. Bowers, Charles W. Fisher, Edward L. Head, and Delilah L. Beasley, of the Oakland TRIBUNE.

The above letter refers to a part of the article appearing in this column April 19, which gave the proceedings of the reciprocity meeting for the northern district of the California Federation of Colored Women's clubs, which had met the previous Saturday in Sacramento. At this meeting were read the answers to the letters containing the resolution of protest passed by this body early in January at a similar meeting held in San Francisco. A copy was sent to every member of the California legislature, because of lack of space, only three of the answers to these letters were quoted in this column April 19, notably from Assemblymen George H. Bowers, Charles W. Fisher and Edward L. Head.

The resolution of protest in these letters sent out by the northern district California Federation of Colored Women's clubs referred to an article published in a local daily paper which read: "Municipal Group Asks 16 Laws"

“Sixteen now laws pertaining to city government are to be presented to the State Legislature at Sacramento by the League of California Municipalities the city council was informed today by C. H. S. Bidwell league president and mayor of Sacramento. Oakland has been invited to submit suggested laws and the matter has been referred to the city attorney. Continuing the article stated:

"Rules on Playgrounds," "authorizing cities to set aside a specific time for the use of playgrounds and swimming pools for colored children."

These colored club women assembled early in January in San Francisco, as the northern district California Federation of Colored Women's clubs under the leadership of their president Mrs. C. Sledge, who called attention to this article, adding that a case had been in the courts of Los Angeles county for nearly two years as to the legality of barring colored children from such privileges. But according to the constitution of the state of California, such privilege could only be denied colored children through legislative enactment, and whenever a bill was passed it is most difficult to have it repealed. She also called attention, to the increasing number of unemployed colored people in the northern part of the state, and the constant advertisements of Jobs for "White-Only", closing her remarks by stating:

“We are American citizens and have the right to vote and to protest."

She then appointed a committee to draft resolutions of protest against the proposed Introduction of such discriminatory legislation as given in this newspaper article. Mrs. Lydia Smith-Ward, editor of National Notes, the official organ of the National Association of Colored Women, was made chairman of the committee to draft the resolutions. After they were read and adopted by the organization, they instructed the secretary Mrs. Vivian Osburn Marsh, to make copies and send to each member of the California legislature, and for the club women, to keep a record of the legislative procedure, and if such a bill was presented, and passed by the California Legislature to keep on file the names of all who voted for its passage either in the assembly or the senate.

ASSEMBLYMEN ANSWERED

Among the members of the California legislature who honored these colored club women with almost immediate answers were Senator Arthur Breed, Bradford S.

Crittenden, and Assemblymen T. M. Wright, Charles W. Fisher, Edward L. Head, George B. Bowers, A. E. Brock, M. S. Meeks, H. C. Cloudman and Robert P. Easly.

These colored club women were given assistance a few days later when the executive board of the Oakland Council of Church Women (white) went on record by unanimously passing a resolution of protest, as unchristian, and backward step in race-relations. They ordered their secretary to send copies of this resolution to members of the legislature. They received replies by return mail which were highly satisfactory to both races of women.

CHILDREN'S CHARTER

The observance of "Better Homes Week" together with a Mothers’ mass meeting was held under the leadership of Mrs. G. D. Spencer, president of the Oakland Council of Church Women Thursday afternoon April 80, in First Baptist church, Oakland. They had the cooperation of the P. T. A. and the women's clubs of both races. One of the interesting items on the program was the reading by Mrs. Spencer of "The Children's Charter," President Hoover's White House conference on Child Health and Protection recognized the rights of the child as the first right of citizenship and pledges itself to these aims for the children of America."

Then followed the 19 separate Rights of the Child, and closed with the following:

"For every child regardless of race, or color or situation wherever he may live under the protection of the American flag."

ATTEND CONFERENCE

Through the influence of Eugene Kinkle Jones, executive secretary of the National Urban league, President Herbert Hoover saw to it that Negro ' women's organizations were invited to attend this White House child health and protection conference. They were assigned to different committees in the conference. This was history for the Negro women as many of them were officials of the National Association of Colored Women. Other colored women from the south were in attendance under the leadership of Mrs. Butler, of Atlanta, Ga president and founder of the National Colored Parent-Teacher's congress.

The California Federation of Colored Women's clubs (northern district) are a unit of the National Association of Colored Women. The national president, Mrs. Sallie Stew art, adopted as her motto at the biennial convention held last August in Hot Springs. Ark.. "Mother, Home and Child." The local unit under the leadership of Mrs. C. Sledge, will help carry out the national program in regard to the child. The following are some of Mrs. Sledge's appointment for this work. Mrs. Grayce Mathews, Berkeley, chairman; assistants Mrs. Etta Moxley, Los Angeles; Mrs. Viola Brooks, Sacramento, National Association of Colored Girls an auxiliary organization, Mrs. A. Bradford, Alameda, chairman: assistants, Mrs. Johnson, Sacramento. Women in Industry: Mrs. Josephine Vinson, San Francisco, chairman Member of the "Booker T. Mother's" club; Mr. Dora Steepets. N. A.C. G. Mrs. Sledge announces that the board meeting for the northern district California Federation of Colored Women's clubs, will meet Wednesday May 6 in Fanny Wall Children's Home and Day Nursery.

COMING EVENTS

The annual May Fair of Cooper A. M. E. Zion church began Friday evening, and wll continue five evenings: the Linden branch Y. W C. A. is celebrating National Music week beginning today with an hour of vocal and Instrumental music by members of the branch, with major waiter Howard Loving, internationally recognized as one of the world's great bandmasters, as the principal speaker. The public will be welcome.

U. N. I. A. CELEBRATES

Today is Garvey day and will be observed this afternoon by the U. N. I. A. organization in Liberty hall Eighth and Chester streets. Miss Corinna Clark will be the speaker on "The Greatness of Womanhood.” The public will be welcome. Meeting begins at 3 p. m. Last Sunday the Oakland Division No. 278: U. N. I. A. observed "Community Day" the speaker being G. E. Inman, general secretary, speaking on "Unity and Love," the keynote of true Garveyism. He said, "that prior to the coming; of Hon. Marcus Garvey and the "Universal Negro Improvement association," there was no unity of purpose among Negroes of the western hemisphere' 'and what was still worse there was no true love among Negroes for each other. But since the coming of "Garvey and Garveyism" Negroes in South and Central America, and the West Indies" have learned through the teachings of Garveyism to unite with their Negro brothers and sisters in the United States, and has extended across the seas to our Negro brothers and sisters in our motherland, Africa."