The Gary American

To Fill Madison Square Garden for Big Celebration

New York--Bishop R. R. Wright, who is pausing before he leaves for his post with the A M. E. Church in South Africa to help re-elect President Roosevelt through concerted drive among church groups under the auspices of The Good Neighbor League, disclosed in an interview at 103 Park Avenue Friday the plans of a National and Local Committee to bring 17,000 people to Madison Square Garden on Monday night, September 21, in a monster celebration of Negro Progress in America in the 74 years since the first Emancipation Proclamation was issued on Sept. 22, 1863.

The choosing of Madison Square Garden, one of the largest and most famous coliseums in the country, to witness this inspiring occasion, was dictated by the grandeur planned for the event and the dignity and hugeness of the idea. According to the Bishop's plans, every one of the twelve million colored people in America can and should become enthused over the event, and the millions who cannot be present in person will be given a close up picture of what is happening by a nation-wide radio hook-up which will broadcast the proceedings from the Atlantic to the Pacific Coast.

Bishop Wright conceived this idea for many reasons quite apart from the sentiment it may incidentally engender for President Roosevelt. While he regards the Roosevelt Administration during the past four years as offering unparallelled opportunity to Negro citizens of all classes, which in itself is enough to warrant the Negro voter in turning out to a mass demonstration of sympathy for the Roosevelt policies, he also sees in this an opportunity to bring home to white America, under highly important white auspices, the cause of the Negro minority as it exists surrounded by prejudice and proscription.

Heading the local New York Committee is Dr. D. Ward Nichols, who proved his organizing ability only a few months ago, when he was official host of the A. M. E. General Conference, which met for ten days in Harlem's largest auditorium. Outstanding personalities in Manhattan and Brooklyn have already signified their intention of cooperating with the movement by joining the Local Committee.

Among them are Herbert L. Bruce and Mrs. Elizabeth Ross Haynes, co-leaders of the 21st Assembly District in Harlem; Hon. William T. Andrews, member of the New York Legislature: Hon. Robert W. Justice, also a member of the Legislature: Rev. O. Clay Maxwell. Rev. L. M. Midgette of Brooklyn, Dr. C. B. Powell, co-publisher of the Amsterdam News, Rev. J. K. Humphrey. Rev John W. Saunders, Dr. Lise Carter., Rev. Nicholas Simmons, Rev. D. B. Belden of Brooklyn. Rev. J. Henry Thomas, Lennie L. George of Brooklyn, and many others.

Bishop Wright explained that in other cities meetings will be called simultaneously with the Madison Square Garden celebration, to hold services along the same lines, and to hear the radio broadcast of the New York meeting. Philadelphia, Cleveland, Dayton, Columbus, Salisbury, Md., Wilmington, Del., Norfolk. Buffalo, Indianapolis and Detroit have already signified their intention of cooperating on a national scale.