ACTIVITIES AMONG NEGROES
Leading editors of daily newspapers in the South are conceding that an innocent man was lynched recently in South Carolina, according to clippings received at the national headquarters in New York of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Among the papers whose editorials admit this fact have been the Richmond, Va. Times Dispatch, the Charlotte Observer, and the Columbia State Quotations, from their editorials are the following:
Richmond Times-Dispatch: "To South Carolinians in general and to the citizens of Oconee county in particularly, has been brought home with terrible directness the truth that lynching is the most horrible of deaths to be visited upon innocent persons. The story of Allen Green should hasten the day when every community will treat participants in lynching precisely as they do any other murderers."
The Columbia State: "Lynchers inviting federal law against lynching! If the South cannot control this situation, the federal government will take a hand. Southerners who have consistently resisted this sort of interference, but who yet abhor lynching, will cease resistance unless lynchings stop, or lynchers are punished. Men who have held that states could and would stop lynching and that the federal government should keep hands off find their arguments are losing force. Of the two evils many are coming to regard unpunished mob murder which shames a whole section as the greater."
NATIONAL CONVENTION
This correspondent has been invited to attend the forthcoming national Colored Anti-lynching congress to be held in Washington, D. C., November, 24-26, in the John Wesley Zion church, and to remain for the national Equal Rights league convention to be held in the same city November 28. Hon. W. Monroe Trotter, editor of the Boston Guardian, is one of the sponsors, and official of the movement.
SLAVERY ABOLISHED
The foreign service department of the Chicago Defender, recently sent an announcement published in that paper from Geneva, Switzerland, in which it said:
"Antoine Sottli, permanent Liberian delegate to the League of Nations, sent word that a presidential decree freeing all slaves in Liberia had been announced to the League of Nations.''
The following statement has just been received by Dr. Charles S. Johnson, of Fisk University from the League of Nation by the way or in New York Times.
When Dr. Johnson, returned to Fisk University after nine months in Liberia where he was a member of an international commission studying labor conditions, he was pledged to make no statement for publication by the State Department in Washington until the department had had time to make a full report from the findings.
For years there had been rumor in international circle that there was actual slavery in Liberia. The government asked the League of Nations to appoint a commission that would make report of actual findings. The commission was composed of ex-President Arthur Barclay, of Liberia, appointed by the Liberian government: Dr. Charles S. Johnson of Fisk university, appointed by President Herbert Hoover, and Dr. Cuthbert-Christy, of England, appointed by the League of Nations. Dr. Christy spent forty year in Africa at the head of medical expeditions.
A special act of the Liberian government gave the commission of inquiry power to summon witnesses and compel attendance upon hearings. This act was invoked to give the present league commission power to summon any government officials, America-Liberian residents, Europeans and native planters to hearings. The report of these findings was completed there. One copy was kept in Liberia, one sent to America, and one to the League of Nations. All were to study the report carefully before action was taken, hence the pledge given out no information.
By reason of distance, the American report was the last delivered and studied. Before the state department had had time to announce its findings the Liberian government had taken action. Liberia issued a decree declaring free all its domestic slaves, and abolishing the forced embarkation of natives in connection with labor contracts. This decree stepping ahead of actual findings, sent out by the League of Nations and reaching the New York Times and Dr. Johnson, two days ago is a vital admission that the commission did find slavery, and did recommend its abolishment. Dr. Johnson announced this thrilling bit of history which he had a part in making at a reception given him by the Fisk faculty Monday evening.
FEDERAL RECOGNITION
Among the outstanding appointments recently made by President Herbert Hoover has been that of Jefferson S. Coage, of Wilmington, Delaware, to be recorder of deeds for the District of Columbia. He was chairman of a committee of five distinguished Negroes appointed by former president Calvin Coolidge to investigate conditions in the Virgin Islands. His report and recommendations were accepted, although all of his recommendations have not been carried out. Nevertheless all the legislative enactment for these islands has been based upon his report. Because of his attitude in avoiding publicity, but few on this coast know of Jefferson S. Coage's ability and political influence. The following is from the Delmarva Star, Wilmington, Delaware, March 27, 1927, when he was promoted to the position of Disbursing and Financial officer in charge of all funds in the office of the Recorder of Deeds. This office was created by the 8th Congress March 18, 1825, upon the recommendation of former Senator L. Heisler Ball, supported by H. H. Billany, fourth assistant postmaster general and Thomas S. Peeney, rent commissioner. Jefferson S. Coage was selected as the first incumbent of this office. His duties were accounting and bookkeeping. All reports are made to the general United States accounting office.
The United States Bureau of efficiency made a very thorough investigation of the office of the recorder of deed, and recommended that all accounting and financial affairs of that office be turned over to the office. The second deputy recorder of deeds appointed Coage to this position to take effect upon qualification. Late Tuesday Coage executed a bond of $5000 for faithful performance of his duties. Upon the announcement of his recent appointment to be Recorder of Deeds for District of Columbia, the Wilmington Delaware Evening Journal carried over a half-column concerning the ability of Coage adding "that the appointment was made upon the recommendation of Senator Daniel O. Hasting, and John Townsend Jr., and Congressman Robert G. Houston.” Coage is graduate of Wilberforce University a member of A. M. E. church, and an Odd Fellow.
LOCAL NOTES
The women members of the committee of the local branch, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, sponsoring the fine art exhibit of American Negro artists, will act a hostess on Monday afternoon from 1 to 5 p m when the exhibit will be opened to the public in the Oakland galleries of the municipal auditorium. In the receiving line will be president of the branch, Dr. F. M. Nelson; Mr. Alberta Martin, executive branch secretary; Mr. Ruth Masengale William, assistant secretary; Miss Delilah L. Beasley, representing the Oakland TRIBUNE; Mrs. H. E. DeHart, former branch executive secretary; and Mrs. H. E. Tilghman, Elisabeth Brown, Mrs. Thomas Jackson and Lena Wysinger, members of the executive board.
Artists, art critics, and the citizens of all races of northern California, are looking forward with keen interest to the opening of this exhibit consisting of 71 paintings and two pieces of sculpture by negroes. The exhibit comes from New York City where under the auspices of the Harmon Awards for Distinguished Achievement by Negroes of American residence, and the commission on race-relations, Federal Council of Churches, it was first exhibited at international House, 500 Riverside drive, from January 7 to 19, 1930. The prize painting receiving these awards were made from selection of material chosen from prior than 300 entries. The jury of artists making the decision consisted of George Luks, Karl Illaya, Victor Perard, instructor of the Art School of Cooper Institute in New York City George S. Hellman, art critic, and Meta Warrick Fuller.
Dr. George E. Haynes, secretary of the first exhibit of painting and sculpture by Negro artists said:
"It was an exhibit of fine art produced by Negro men and women as evidence of their ability to create beauty of universal value. It was not Negro art, but universal art. The problem involved securing recognition for the vast amount of unrecognized talent undoubtfully possessed by many Negroes, number of whom are in obscure and out of the way places. This is a part of the problem the Harmon foundation and the commission on the church and race-relations are trying to solve in sponsoring this annual exhibit. The white world has heretofore failed to recognize Negro artists because prejudiced minds held the belief that no universal artistic values could come out of Ethiopia. The problem of bringing this recognition involves power of keen discrimination between creative and original work that shows promise of artistic value and that which does not. The exhibit will be free.
CHURCH WOMEN MEET
Mrs. Grace A. Spencer, president Of the Oakland Council of Church Women wishes to announce their quarterly meeting to be held on November 14 at the First Methodist church, Twenty-fourth and Broadway beginning at 10:46, lunch at 12:30, afternoon session at 1:15. The meeting will be a review of each church and its work. The women’s department of Oakland Council of Churches has contributed $345 to the aid of the Coffee club, and Mrs. Spencer is urging all to contribute and make it at least $500. Those wishing to attend the luncheon phone by Wednesday to FRuitvale 6949, or to the church.
