The Mississippi Enterprise

By Sarah M. Harvey
AMONG MISSISSIPPIANS attending the White House Conference on Youth, now being held at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D. C. are the following Jacksonians pictured above: Seated from left: Mrs. W. L. Eiland, Mrs. G. W. Williams, Mrs. Clarie C. Harvey, Miss Romonia Jackson and Miss Barbara Gibbs. Standing from left: Belvery Gardner, Rev. S. Leon Whitney, W. L. Eiland, Walter Williams and W. H. (Duke) Williams. Also attending the Conference from Jackson is Dr. Ellen McAllister of Jackson State College and Miss Mary F. Lovelace.

This group and others throughout Mississippi will make up the 7,000 persons from every section of the country who accepted an invitation from President Eisenhower to participate in the Golden Anniversary White House Conference. They are leaders in various fields. The Eilands are presently heading Oakley Training School, Oakley, Miss. Mrs. Williams, who with her esteemed husband, Prof. G. W. Williams, did such a wonderful job as heads of Oakley Training School, from its beginning until they retired a few years ago, is outstanding in religious and educational circles; Mrs. C. C. Harvey is outstanding in the religious, educational and business world; Misses Jackson, Gibbs and Lovelace are outstanding students at Tougaloo Southern Christian College, Messrs. Gardner and Williams are also outstanding students at Jackson State College; Rev. Whitney, pastor of Farish Street Baptist Church is considered one of the most dynamic ministers of this section; and Mr. W. H. (Duke) Williams, president of Security Life Insurance Company, is also outstanding in fraternal and educational circles.

This is the largest meeting ever held to study the needs and problems of youth. Opening Sunday night, President Eisenhower served as honorary chairman and keynote speaker. Those in attendance came from all states and territories and 54 foreign countries. The main purpose of the meeting is to appraise the impact of modern American life on young people, with particular reference to growing materialism and apparently declining moral standards and ethical ideals. These delegates and visitors also discussed ways in which parents, schools, churches and community institutions are meeting - and failing to meet - the real needs of the nation's children.