"POET, JOURNALIST & POLITICAL ACTIVIST"

PROGRESSIVES APPOINT ALICE DUNBAR-NELSON EASTERN ORGANIZER OF COLORED WOMEN

Chicago, Illinois (JFK+50) The Washington Tribune published a front-page story on August 23, 1924, reporting the announcement that Mrs. Alice Dunbar Nelson* "has been appointed eastern organizer of colored women" by the Progressive Party "as a member of the national council."

The Tribune also reports that "a Negro elector will be named for the state of Illinois." This will be the first time this has happened since the period of Reconstruction after the Civil War.

*Alice Dunbar Nelson (1875-1935) was an American poet,  journalist & political activist who was born in New Orleans & became part of the Harlem Renaissance.  ADN was educated at Straight University & Cornell.

SOURCE

"Progressives Name First Negro Elector In Illinois," The Washington Tribune, August 23, 1924, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Alice Dunbar Nelson

Portrait by Laura Wheeler Waring

1927

National Portrait Gallery

"ASPIRING TO THE ROLE OF MORAL LEADERSHIP"

PRESIDENT SEEN AS TRENDING TOWARD LIBERALS

Helena, Montana* (JFK+50) On June 30, 1923, the Evening Star reports President Warren G. Harding "is aspiring to the role of moral leadership which gave Woodrow Wilson and Theodore Roosevelt their hold on that great body of independent voters, sometimes called 'progressives,' who swing the balance of power on the American electorate today."

David Lawrence lists four reasons for this phenomenon.  

Mr. Harding...

1. came out for co-operative marketing by the producer with a hint of co-operative buying by the consumer

2. showed interest in cooperation with organized labor

3. did not sympathize with those who have called for lower wages for labor

4. preaches the "outlawing of war"

*Helena was founded as a Montana mining camp & established in 1864.  The gold rush made the town wealthy with 50 millionaires living in the area by 1888.

SOURCE

"President's Trend Toward Liberals Seen By Observers," by David Lawrence, The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., June 30, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

 

 

Montana State Capitol

Helena

Photo by Tracey Elizabeth (2012)

www.Flickr.com/