The Omaha Guide

$450,000 CAMPAIGN DRIVE IS NOW ON—URBAN LEAGUE SERVICE FUND

The 37 year old Urban League movement is the most effective single force for improved Negro-White relationships in the United States, as well as the development of equal economic opportunities for the Negro "one-tenth of the nation," Henry R. Luce, editor of Time and Life, said yesterday in launching the national 1947 Urban League Service Fund Campaign for $450,000.

Mr. Luce, campaign chairman spoke to members of the campaign committee meeting at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at which fund raising tasks were assigned.

"Three thousand Negro and White communal leaders, serving as board members, and 400 staff members in the National Urban League and 56 local leagues throughout the country are active the year 'round in carrying out the Urban League program," Mr. Luce said.

"All fields are explored in the league's attempt to find jobs, create new job opportunities in business and industry, give vocational guidance, initiate interracial cooperation to prevent friction and ease tension, promote better housing and develop other activities in behalf of Negroes.

"The increase of Negroes in employment previously closed to them is definitely attributable in a great measure to the tireless work of League officials with business firms, labor and governmental agencies."

Mr. Luce also reported briefly on the League's community relations project which will end in August after three years of operation. During this period, he said 13 communities have been studied, with the cooperation of local agencies, to investigate the conditions under which Negroes work and live, and to recommend improvements.

The $450,000 set as the campaign goal, Mr. Luce said, is for the National League's program of research, planning and coordination of activities by the local leagues, as well as the neighborhood work of Greater New York. Fifty-five other local leagues are supported mainly by community chest grants.

Other speakers including Lester B. Granger, executive secretary, National Urban League, and Edward S. Lewis, executive director, Urban League of greater New York.

Serving on the campaign committee are: Lloyd K. Garrison, former member of the War Labor Board, and recently elected president of the National Urban League, and Dr. William H. Kilpatrick, president of the Urban League of Greater New York, who are vice-chairmen; Henry Bruere, president of the Bowery Savings Bank of New York City, who is treasurer, and the following members Frank W. Abrams, board chairman, Standard Oil Company of New Jersey. William H. Baldwin, former president, National Urban League; Joseph Barnes, foreign news editor, New York Herald Tribune; Parole Commissioner Samuel J. Battle of New York City; Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune, president, National Council of Negro Women; Benjamin J. Buttenweiser Kuhn, Loeb and Co. Mrs. Bennett Cerf Sherman Ewing, theatrical producer. James Felt, president, James Felt and Co., Gene Flack, advertising director, Sunshine Biscuit Co. Oscar Hammerstein II, theatrical producer; Donald Hanson president, Woman's Day; Alexander Hehmeyer, lawyer; John Hertz, Jr., board chairman, Buchanan Co. Elias Lustig, president, Adam Hats. Henry Monsky, president, B'nai B'rith Donald Nelson, president, Society of Independent Motion Picture Producers; Michael Nisselson, president, Amalgamated Bank of New York City. William S. Paley, president, Columbia Broadcasting Co. Judge Vernon C. Riddick; Winthrop Rockefeller; Elmo Roper opinion analyst. David Sarnoff, president, Radio Corporation of America; Wolfgang S. Schwabacher, lawyer; Dorothy Shaver, president, Lord & Taylor; Judge Nathan R. Sobel, Kings County Court; Edward Stanley, author; Mrs. Arthur Hays Sulzberger, director, New York Times; Gerald Swope, director, National City Bank of New York. Dr. Channing H. Tobias, director Phelps Stokes Fund. Mrs. William H. Vanderbilt Delos Walker, vice-president, R. H. Macy & Co.; H. F. Willkie, vice-president, Joseph E. Seagram & Sons; Benjamin Wood, managing director, Tea Bureau,

Sponsors of the campaign are: Mrs. Edith M. Alexander, member, Mayor's Committee on Unity; Mrs. Regina M. Andrews, board member, National Urban League; A. A. Austin, president, A. A. Austin, Inc. Dr. James P. Baxter, III, president, Williams College; Chester Bowles, former O. P. A. Administrator. Col. William J. Donovan. James A. Farley, board chairman, Coca-Cola Export Sales Co.; James V. Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy. Rt. Rev. Charles K. Gilbert, Bishop-elect, Episcopal Diocese of New York; William Greene. Charles Evans Hughes, Jr. Former Mayor Fiorello H. La Guardia; Dr. John H. Lathrop, Unitarian Church of the Savior. U. S. Senator Wayne Morse of Oregon. Philip Murray, president, Congress of Industrial Organizations. Mayor William O'Dwyer. Former Lieut. Gov. Charles Poletti, Jacob S. Potofsky, president, Amalgamated Clothing Workers of America: Joseph M. Proskauer, president, American Jewish Committee. Mrs. Alfred H. Schoellkopf, treasurer, National Urban League; John H. Sengstack, publisher, Chicago Defender; C. C. Spaulding, president, North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Co Willard S. Townsend, president, United Transport Service Employees of America Dr. J. E. Walker, president, Universal Life Insurance Co., Wilson W. Wyatt, lawyer. Thomas G. Young, secretary, Building Service Employees' International Union