Activities Among Negroes
Harry T. Burleigh, who for thirty years has filled the position as baritone soloist in the St. George Episcopal (white) church of New York City, was recently honored by the choir of that church in commemorating his thirtieth anniversary. They rendered an evening program of all negro music. The late J. Pierpont Morgan was a member of this church.
Burleigh has written and arranged about 250 songs, the best known of which are "Deep River" and "[Little] Mother of Mine." He is also musical critic for a New York music publisher. The New Age Despatch of Los Angeles, in speaking of Burleigh said: "Burleigh aims to make his greatest reputation as an arranger of 'negro spirituals'. In this he says: 'My race has pure gold and they should be taken as the negroes contribution to art.'"
The Colored professional men of Tidewater, Va., will act as host to the National Medical Association. which will hold its meeting August 16-29, at Hampton Institute. This association is composed of colored doctors, dentists and pharmacists. They have branches throughout the United States. The California branch is located in Los Angeles. Dr. Wilber C. Gordon is president of the local, and an executive officer of the national body.
Following is an extract from an address delivered in New York city recently by Perry Parker of Chicago, grand chairman of the Pullman Porters Benefits association: "There are one thousand and seven hundred colored shop workers in the Pullman employ. The company provides a social worker in each shop guarding the interest of each employee, providing recreation outlets for the workers. One of the best acetylene welders in the country is a colored man employed in the St. Louis shops."
The Pullman Porter Benefit association has a branch in Oakland and Lee Williams is one of the officers. During the past month the Oakland branch has lost two members by death and both widows were paid $1000.
The Western Outlook of San Francisco, in speaking of Pullman porters in a recent issue said: "Pullman porters and maids who were in session in Chicago last week to present the claims and grievances of fellow employees were successful in every matter brought to the attention of the company. They secured an increase of twelve per cent in pay, improvement in hours and working conditions. Time men put in at yards preparing cars for the reception of passengers is to be paid for as well as over time on late trains. Pacific coast representatives were B. Tinsley [Berry Tinsley?] of Portland, Oregon, P. A. Simms of Los Angeles and A. H. Hohman [Aug. H. Hohman?] of San Francisco.
Mrs. Alice B. Webb of Chicago has recently been appointed deputy municipal court clerk to do service in the welfare division of the Morals and Boys courts. She is a native of Galveston, Texas, and the wife of Thomas T. Webb, treasurer of the Pullman Porter Benevolent association.
Adelbert H. Roberts, of Chicago, has been named as a candidate for the Illinois State Senate, the first negro of that state to receive such distinction.
Aurelius P. Alberga, a native of San Francisco, has been appointed chief of colored work in organizing Coolidge for President clubs north of the Tehachapi. He won a first lieutenant commission at the training camp in Fort Des Moines, Iowa and served in the 365th Infantry during the world war.
Rev. A. P. Shaw, pastor of St. Julian M. E. Church Los Angeles. will represent the colored California voters as a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in June.
