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ry Dok we ference for Human Welfare and formerly Administrator, Defense Housing Adminis- tration, Washington, D, C. The next General Session of the Conference was held on Monday even- ing, April 20, 1942 at 8:30 P, M. This session was knomm as the Cultural Program and presented PAUL ROBESOM, noted negro singer, together with the Fisk University Choral Club. Although not announced as part of the program, ROBESON delivered an address during the program, which considered general prob- lems of the Conference and made particular reference to the subject of racial equ@lity. In closing ROBESON stated: "I hope that he will soon be free to take his place among the common poople., I speak of EARL BROWDER." ROBESON further alluded to BROWDER'S being imprisoned in Atlanta, Georgia and des- cribed him as the foremost opponent of Fascism which we have in this country today, This statement mct with groat applause from the audicnce. Following ROBESON'S concert, MRS. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT presented the Thomas Jefferson Awards to DR. FRANK PORTER GRAHAM, Honorary Chairman of the Conference and MAKY McLEOD BETHUNE, a member of the Executive Board of the Trrnantiasn Laawsd af tha fanfawnan MRS. ROOSEVELT was introduced by Mayor THOMAS L. CUMMINGS of Nash- villo, Tonnessee and the awards were based on outstanding service of GRAHAM and BETHUNE during the past year for their work in the botterment of gencral eenditions in the South. The noxt general session of the Conference was held at 9 A. M,, on Tuosday, April 21, 1942 at which time reports were mado from the Panels to the General Conference, At the opening of the session, a nunbor of tclegrams were read, which had becn rcecived from various individuals, among whom were THOMAS E, CASEY, Madison, Wisconsin; WILLIAM E. COLE, Sociology Department of the University of Tennessee; JAMES M. LANDIS, Office of Civilian Defense; Justice HUGO L. BLACK, who reccivod last year's Thomas Jefforson Award at t.2 wont orene THOMAS Mi. ROBERTS, United Spates Department of Agriculture; the Honora ie HENRY WALLACE, Vice-President of the United States; BETTY RAY T/.YLOR, President of tho Tennessea League of Women Voters. Later in the session, JUDGE LOUISE-0, CHARLTON read tolograms of congratuhtion from PHILIP MURRAY and JOHN L. LEWIS. It was apparently the plan that this session would hear individuals from ¢ach respective pancl, at which time would be presonted the proposals and was much confusion in resolutions as reached by the Panel Consultants. There Wich be the conduct of the program and much disorder resulted from attempts by various nembers of the Conference, to introduce new resolutions from the floor, ra than discussing those as presented by the Panel Ropresentatives. ~ we 23 ™, G3 thor ———--- — owe .