ACTIVITIES AMONG NEGROES

By Delilah L. Beasley

The Eastbay colored citizens have been honored during the past weekend with a visit from a group of distinguished visitors. Hon John L. Webb with his wife, daughter and chauffeur, motored from their home in Hot Springs, Ark. They were the house guests Webb's cousin, Mrs. Friarson and husband at 1510 Ashby avenue Berkeley. Webb is considered the greatest Negro financier in the United States. Graduate of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, he was for many years a contractor and builder. He is the president of the Century Life, an old line reserve Negro life insurance company and secretary of the Union Investment company of Hot Springs. This company was organized in 1923 and during the past year of depression it has loaned to Negroes in the south over $400,000.

Webb is also "Supreme Custodian of Funds” of the Woodman of Union, a Negro fraternal organization, owning its own building of four stories, covering an entire city block, housing, aside from its own offices, a hotel, bank, hospital, bath house and newspaper plant together with the home office of the Century Life Insurance company. It is also the home office of the Union Investment company.

When asked why be invested in so many different concerns, he replied "that they might be better able to employ more Negroes, thus opening the door of opportunity to many who otherwise would find it difficult to make a living in the southland. He also owns two farms, one covering 17 acres and the other 14 acres giving employment to 82 families. He was then asked to give a statement concerning Negro farmers and the farm relief measure on account of the drought recently enacted by the United States government. He said: "A few years ago the National Negro Business league" (of which he is first Vice president) organized as an auxiliary the "National Negro Farm Association.” The Negro farmer who is a member of this organization, has been; and still is getting money from the government at 5 percent."

He was then asked for a statement in regard to Negro drought sufferers and the Red Cross. He replied by relating the Hattiesburg, Mississippi, Red Cross incident when a few weeks ago an official of that city sent word to the Red Cross that they must stop giving relief to Negroes over the same counter as to the white people drought sufferers. The Red Cross paid no attention to this request resulting in the city officials having them and their supplies set out on the sidewalk, where for hours they continued to administer to all, irrespective to race or color. A white banker hearing of their plight immediately offered the Red Crass the use of a vacant building he owned, complimenting them upon their display of justice. Webb then stated there is in spite of such occurrences, a fine spirit of Inter-racial cooperation being built up throughout the south.

FRATERNAL ACTIVITIES

Webb is active in fraternal organizations. He is a member of “Divan Imperial Council of Ancient Egyptian Order of Nobles of Mystic Shrine," of which C. Blake of Charlotte, N.C. is imperial potentate. He is also active and inspector general of the A. F. Boy Cadets National Sunday school B. Y. P. U. congress of the United States, and the president of the Laymen’s National Baptist convention. Webb and his party while here, were entertained with a tea from 3 to 5 p. m. on Sunday afternoon by his cousin Mrs. Friarson, who was assisted by Mrs. Esther Jones Lee, past state president, of California Federated. Colored Women's clubs, and Mrs. Johnson, a prominent member of the Fanny J. Coppin club.

The members of North Oakland Baptist church were addressed by Webb at 5:30, and the Young People of Beth Eden Baptist church at 7:30 and the members and friends of this church at 8:30 the same evening. On Monday he was entertained at lunch by the Negro Business and Professional men. At 4 p. m. he addressed the executive board of the Fanny Walls Children Home and Day Nursery where after inspecting the plant made a substantial donation. At 6 p. m. he was entertained at dinner, and at 8 p. m. he addressed the local ft branch N. A. A. C. P. He is a member of the national organization. The party left by motor Tuesday morning for Los Angeles where Webb will address the .student body of the University of California in that city.

COUNCIL RECEIVES PRAISE

The Oakland Council of Church Women at their executive meeting on Monday held in the parlors of Central Y. W. C. A. received the following letter from the commission on race relations, Federal Council of Churches, New York city:

Mrs. Grace D. Spencer, Pres. Oakland Council of Church Women, Oakland, California. My dear Mrs. Spencer:

A copy of your resolution on Negro unemployment as published in the columns of the Oakland TRIBUNE has come to our attention, and we appreciate very much your attitude and activity for justice in these trying economic times. Very cordially,

George E. Haynes, secretary

Lucy B. Craine, secretary on economic life.

The Employment Problem committee of the Alameda County Public Welfare league made plans, at the last meeting to open a study group in the near future to make a study of permanent measures of employment. This group will be led by a competent discussion leader, Mrs. Artedia, an active member of the Council Manager league who has addressed several meetings lately on the subject.

HONORS CONFERRED

Mrs. C. Sledge, president for northern district California Federation of Colored Women's clubs delivered an address Saturday evening, March 7 before the Women's Civic league in Cooper A. M. E. Zion church, speaking on Assembly Bill No. 1430 "Should married women be employed by city, county or state government?" The meeting was called to order by the president Mrs. M. Hicks, who introduced the master of ceremonies M. N. Johnson, president of North Oakland Improvement club. Following her address, program on civic issues was delivered after which M. N. Johnson, on behalf of the secretary of state of California, presented Mrs. Sledge with a parchment scroll with the seal of the state embossed with the state colors blue and gold on satin ribbon. A small number of such scrolls are presented annually to persons whose names have been sent in as having rendered valuable services to the state. The reader will recall that Mrs. Sledge was one of the guests at the table presided over by Mrs. T. L. Purnell, at the recent legislative luncheon held in Oakland, arid one of the vice-presidents at the World court mass meeting held last week in Plymouth Congregational church which was sponsored by the Oakland Council of Churches and Civic organizations.

COMING EVENTS

Mother's Charity club will meet Monday, March 16, at 1622 Eighth street with Mrs. Bessie Stevens as hostess. The president urges all members to be present for business of importance. The committee on by-laws will report for the second time at this meeting. Bargain day at a spring festival to be held by the committee of management, Linden branch Y. W. C. A. March 17-- a bargain dinner will be served for 49 cents at 5 p.m.

A Spanish candy pull and candy drama will be held by the Busy Bees of the Nelson-Henderson club No. 1 Thursday, March 19, in the Beth Eden Baptist church lecture room. Mrs. F. A. T. Berry, will act as director. The public will be welcome.

HIGH HONORS BESTOWED

The following is quoted from a New York church paper under the headline "Mark E. Parks, Assistant instructor at New York University."

"An outstanding item in the field of education is the appointment of Mark E. Parks, the son or Mr. and Mrs. Edgar N. Parks, as assistant in biology and instructor in embryology and comparative anatomy at New York University. Parks is only 24 years old, having been born April 11, 1906 in Rochester, N.Y. He received his early education in the secondary schools of New York City, being graduated from George Washington high school in 1925. He attended Lincoln University being graduated cum laude In 1929. Parks was salutatorian of the class at Lincoln where he majored in biology with minors in chemistry and physics. In his senior year he was appointed instructor in organic chemistry. He entered the graduate school of New York University in the fall of 1929 for work in cytology and embryology. He is now engaged in cytological research for his thesis under Dr. Henry J. Fry."

The above news item was given this correspondent by the late Mrs. Julia Parks Gardner, just two days before she went to the hospital. The young man is her relative in New York City, and she was very anxious to have her friends know of this singular honor coming to the race through a relative.

Mrs. Julia Parks Gardner's funeral was held Friday morning, March from Saint Agustin Episcopal church, with Rev. Father D. R. Wallace officiating. She had been an active member of this church and likewise of the Linden branch Y. W. C. A. and clubs. She was highly respected by all classes or citizens and much beloved by her most intimate friends. Sympathy is extended to her husband and relatives in New York City

ARMY OF MERCY

The writer is chairman of the standing committee for Negro lodges and Women's clubs for educational and publicity purposes in the interest of the Community Chest 1931, drive for funds. I wish to extend to the members of the committee my sincerest and deepest appreciation for a fine spirit of cooperation. And as member of the Community Chest News Service bureau, I extend my sincerest thanks to Mrs. Daly, editor of California Voice, and to Mrs. Alberta Martin, editor of Oakland Independent both of whom heartily cooperated by publishing lengthy articles in the interest of pointing out to members of the race the value of the Chest to the Negro agencies. In this manner many, additional readers were reached on the vital value of cooperating as a race to make the chest drive a success.

Grateful thanks is also extended to all members of my cabinet, but especially to the following; Wm. Rose, who brought in the first $25; to Mrs. Mable Craig, whose team raised over $100; to Mrs. Fannie Wall, associate honorary chairman, who reported $102; to Mrs. Mary Grasses, another honorary associate chairman, who notwithstanding being a shut-in, when well enough to reach a telephone, raised over $60.

The work of Mrs. Wall and Mrs. Grasses was a work of love and appreciation for they are officials of two Community Chest Agencies, Children's Home and Day Nursery, and the Home for Aged and Infirmed Colored People.

There are many members of the cabinet who rendered valuable services in delivering addresses in churches on Sunday, and to clubs and lodges. Especial mention and thanks is extended to all these persons, particularly to E. B. Gray, C. Dellum financial secretary, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, Dr. F. M. Nelson, Mrs. Ruffin, Mrs. Crawford, Mrs. Sledge, and others who made sometimes two and three addresses daily during and before the opening of the drive in an effort to stimulate race loyalty. To everyone who in any way possible helped, I most sincerely extend thanks.