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THE FEDERATION JOURNAL
Spring, 1960
THE FEDERATION JOURNAL
“Lifting As We Climb”
Issued by
The N. C. Federation of Negro
Woman’s Club
Editor: Mrs. Fannie T. Newsome,
Rich Square
Contributing Editors:
Mrs. E. M. Spellman
Elizabeth City
Miss Donna Daniels Wilson
Mrs. Lucile Albright Selma
Mrs. Aiice Collins Smithfield
Mrs. V. T. Bishop Rich Square
Mrs. Esther D. Moore Hickory
Mrs. M. N. Leitao Kinston
earned doUar. Why not make a
check list of candidates on the
ballot before spending your vote.
“Women bring to politics the en
thusiasm and the idealism which
men often forget.” —Pres. Eisen
hower
“No one has more at stake in the
keeping of our government truly
representative of all the people
than our nation’s women, nor is
anyone better able to keep it free
and sound.”—Charles R. Sligh, Jr.
Editorials
SPENDING OUR VOTE
At this season politics is our bus
iness. Why should we be politically
minded? None of us can deny that
our tomorrows are being shaped
by the political decisions that are
being made today. We should be
able to inform and express our
selves effectively on many of the
vital issues facing us.
Our governmental system is de
signed to allow every citizen to
participate, but it compels none to
participate. These citizens who do
choose to participate are the ones
who actually determine what kind
of government all of us shall have.
About 40 years have passed since
the key was turned in the door of
political opportunity for women. To
day no group can enter the politi
cal area with brighter prospects;
not only by constituting a majority
of the electorate, but also by being
in possession of these inherent
qualities which combine idealism
with practical application and ab
ility.
When all is said and done, your
vote is the important thing in tak
ing part in politics.
A woman who had failed to vote,
questioned the value of her one
vote in relation to the general
result. She did not realize to multi
ply her one vote by a million you
have a million and if one is multi
plied by zero you have zero.
Remember that your vote can
be the deciding vote.
If we have such a poor opinion of
politicans that we never bother to
register or vote, we should not
complain about how our home town
government or our state govern
ment is run. As voters we can do
something about holes in sidewalks,
or new sidewalks—high taxes—
overcrowded schools—collection of
garbage—traffic problems etc. We
must remember that politics does
begin with your vote. Spend your
vote as carefully as you do your
dollars.
When we buy clothing or food or
furniture, probably we aU make a
check before we spend our hard-
A Link In the Chain
Thinking of a CHAIN one imme
diately pictures union, together
ness—connections. In the N.C.F.N.-
W.C. we have just that; 108 active
“links” (clubs) in the N. C. chain
(Federation) as of the 1959 con
vention registrations.
Our Federation has two main
financial projects:
1. Federation Scholarship Fund
2. Braille Magazine Fund
When we check the 1959 record
we find a little better than 56 per
cent of these clubs contributed to
Braille and a little better than 53
per cent contributed to Scholar
ship. “No chain is stronger than
its weakest link.” That is to say
our projects are not doing what we
would like to have them do, for
some “links” are too weak.
With our convention in Raleigh,
June 3rd and 4th, 1960, “We Face
a New Half Century.” We believe
a good start of the half century
will mean a good ending also.
The appeal is to each club, that
you make your reports and con
tributions complete and full. We
have the strength and we should
manifest it. May each club con
tribute to these major Federation
Projects and to the many other
worthy and charitable causes over
North Carolina. Remember our
State Youth Institutions when you
represent by delegate or letter in
the next convention. Be a Real
Link in this great chain of women.
Religious Emphasis
Prayer For Freedom, Integration,
and Peace
The nations of the world are
constituents of the Human Race.
Our oneness is inevitable. No
nation is free as long as there is
one in bondage. Freedom is right
ful heritage. Unwittingly nations
have deprived themselves of this
Freedom through legislation, tra
ditions, creeds, dogmas, and re
ligion. Punitive legislation alone
will not change the hearts of the
people. I believe that our foremost
solution would be to turn to God
in fervent prayer, asking Him that
we be transformed by the renew
ing of our minds, and thus be
wholly regenerated.
An Appeal to All Club Women!
As chaplain of the N.A.C.W.C. Inc.,
National
Organization
Any State Federation’s affilia
tion with the N.A.C.W.C. is by in
dividual membership. North Caro
lina has been delinquent in this re
spect. In 1958 we became re-instat
ed with the national. We are not
saying we were not a part. We
were a fine contributing member
from our state treasure.
This did not give us voting power
as delegates or as members at
tending. In Detroit we had two
votes on bases of paid individual
memberships. We know you are
not satisfied with that. Maybe we
did not understand the set-up be
fore.
Our North Carolina president has
made an appeal for membership
in the national First, to the North
Carolina Excutive Committee, and
twenty-seven responded at once,
others will we are sure. Second,
she appeals to Club Presidents and
then to all the women.
The membership is $2 biennial
or one dollar annually. The Na
tional Association meets biennual-
ly.
The meeting wiU be held this
summer in New York City at Park-
Sheraton Hotel on 7th Avenue and
56th Street from July 30 to August
5, 1960. It is our privilege to at
tend and learn. We are concerned
with bringing North Carolina, as
far as Per Capita is concerned, in
line with other states of the Na
tional Association and increasing
the voting power of our North
Carolina Federation.
The president sent a picture of
the North Carolina Federation’s
living past presidents and a copy
of the 50th anniversary Souvenir
Program to the national office last
fall. They were pleased and wrote
a very complimentary letter, and
they gave North Carolina a lovely
spot of three-fourths of a page in
the “National Notes” under the
heading “About State and Region
al Organizations.” As a result, the
national secretaries began to check
our files in their office and wrote
our president of their findings.
They were not good.
The National President, Mrs.
I am appealing to women of clubs,
leagues, associations, churches and
all other organizations aU over the
world to unite daily with us in this
prayer:
Almighty God, Our Heavenly
Father, I pray that Thou would
“create in me a clean heart, O
Lord, and renew a right spirit
within me.” This I ask also, for
human beings everywhere.
And now, Father, I give thanks
for this, regeneration which is tak
ing place within us now. Amen.
By: Rev. E. M. Smith
Los Angeles, Calif.
Chaplain, N.A.C.W.C.
Rosa L. Gragg of Detroit, Mich, in
her goals for the Biennial-1958-60
hope to “move into areas of furth
er service and significant endea
vors.” First on her list is to no-
blize the woman - power of the
U. S. by her enlistment drive. We
can help her by paying our $2
membership fee.
Then Mrs. Gragg has set out:
1. To establish a National Health
and Welfare Service Center. We
have a report in this issue on it.
2. To organize a Young Adult
Department.
3. To stimulate more interest in
the National Girls’ Department.
Our Junior president is thinking of
this in her Jr. Federation program.
4. To continue the Frederick
Douglas Memorial Home at Anan-
astia, D. C. as a permanent me
morial to the noted aboUtionist.
5. To promote a drive for Life
Memberships.
6. To improve and maintain the
present Headquarters Building in
D. C. and other association proper
ties.
7. To establish an Endowment
Fund.
8. To increase the HoUie Quinn
Brown Scholarship Loan Fund and
thereby offer more grants.
The National Association p u b -
lishes an official organ called “Na
tional Notes.” Subscriptions: $1.00
per year.
1601-R Street N.W.
Washington 9, D.C.
These facts have been given on
request of the North Carolina Fed
eration Executive Committee, for
your information.—Editor.
P.S. Past National convention
tours after N.Y.C. meeting being
arranged include:
1. Europe Tour—air or steamer
2. Bermuda via streamer
3. Caribbean Air Tour
Write N.A.C.W.C. Tours
P. O. Box 55
Plymouth, Mich.
Books Of
Federation Interest
“Book love, my friend, is your
pass to the greatest, the purest,
and the most perfect pleasure that
God has prepared for His crea
tures. It lasts when aU other plea
sures fade. It will support you
when all other recreations are
gone. It will last you until your
death. It will make your hours
pleasant to you as long as you
live.”
—Anthony TraUope
“Patterns of Leadership Among
Negroes in North Carolina” by
John R. Larkins—Consultant, N.C.
State Dept, of Public Welfare.
Here is a book of important find
ing and inspiration. Mr. Larkins
says, “It is hoped that the finding
of this study will contribute to a
better understanding of what Ne-
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