Atlanta Daily World

Endorsement Of Bond Issue Snowballing

By JOHN BRITTON

The two most powerful and influential voter organizations in the Atlanta Negro community endorsed the $80 million joint city-county bond issue Friday, one with some reservation.

The support for the bond issue of both the Atlanta Negro Voters League (AVL) and the Westside Voters League was a major breakthrough by a large segment of the community that had, until Friday, caused city and county officials some concern.

The executive committee of the AVL went further and promised to "implement" their endorsement, meaning that the organization's members intend to take active roles in boosting the bond proposals.

WHEAT STREET MEETING

Among the first steps of implementation will come Friday night when the AVL will sponsor a public meeting at the Wheat Street Baptist Church at 8 p.m.

All registered voters are expected to attend the meeting and Voters League officials said they will entertain questions regarding the bond proposals from the audience. An explanation of several facets of the proposal will be on tap, too.

The Westside Voters League, headed by Atty. Cassandra Maxwell Birnie, held an executive meeting earlier Friday and voted to support the bond issue, with some reservation.

Mrs. Birnie said Saturday that the caution of the League's executive committee had to do with certain bond proposals in the area of traffic improvement.

Mrs. Birnie's organization will also sponsor a public meeting for registered voters on the Westside probably Friday night at Warren Memorial Methodist Church. The time of that meeting has not yet been released.

Westside Voters Meet Thursday Night

The Westside Voters League will hold a mass meeting Thursday night at 8 o'clock at Warren Memorial Church, Ashby St. and Ashby Grove, S.W., where the Rev. C.S. Stinson is pastor.

The purpose of the meeting is to present to the public persons to discuss the August 2 Bond Issue.

The speakers will include Dr. Rufus E. Clement, Mrs. Ray Mitchell, Rev. William Holmes Borders, J.B. Blayton, Sr., and C.R. Yates.

Stiff opposition came from the Negro college campuses and various community leaders when plans were revealed to direct a four-lane highway through Fair St., thus greatly dividing the campuses of the Atlanta University Center colleges.

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The Bond Issue Gains New Support

As we head for the last stretch for the goal in this bond issue, there is encouraging news in its favor from late developments.

This should not be a surprise in a case where now the only option remaining is for one to definitely declare himself against progress. No one would relish being placed in such a position.

This is no sales talk, but merely an attempt to bring our readers up to date on this important question.

In addition to an endorsement from a cross-section of Negro leaders on Tuesday afternoon, the Executive Committee of the Westside Voters League went on record as endorsing the bond issue with reservations regarding the Fair Street project.

On Friday night, the Atlanta Negro Voters League in executive session went on record as endorsing the bond issue. Later an encouraging clarification came from such reliable source as the County Commission Chairman to the effect that West Fair Street would not be disturbed.

Our information indicated that those who had misgivings about the defacement of the physical college plant by the tampering with Fair Street are now relieved.

Now that the atmosphere is cleared by commitments from the county commission, it is apparent that all is well on the bond issue front and that we may be able to mount a sizeable voter activity comes August 2nd.

The Atlanta Chamber of Commerce has taken up the bond issue as a pet project, and has been releasing a constant stream of information and other booster material urging the passage of the complete $80 million bond package.

It is pleasing to note that as our people get the proper understanding about this bond question, they would be the last to throw up a roadblock against progress which is so muchly needed on all fronts at this time.

The $26 million provided for schools are most urgently needed if we are to relieve our children from over-crowded conditions and double sessions.

The stage is now set. Differences have been ironed out, valid assurances from those who have been trusted in the past are unfolding every day such clarification as is needed - and from here it can be assumed that all's well on the bond question front.

Two public meetings will be held during the week to discuss this bond issue and we urge our readers to come out if there remains any questions in their minds about the bonds.

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The commitment not to wreck the dreams of the colleges for a unified campus was said to have come during a meeting between a cross-section of Negro leaders and city and county officials early last week.

SUPPORT SNOWBALLS

Meanwhile, support in other areas is snowballing for the bond issue. Three influential business and civic organizations came out for the bond issue late last week.

The West End Business Men's Association, the Northwest Atlanta Business Association and the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Atlanta have passed resolutions or written letters of endorsement of all projects in the proposed issue.

Endorsement by these three groups, along with the two powerful Negro voter organizations, means that more than a dozen major business, civic and service organizations are lending their support to passage of the $80 million joint bond issue.

In another area, Dr. Frank J. Charvat and his students in the Graduate School of Business at Emory University made a study to determine whether residents of the Atlanta area would attend cultural and athletic events as well as trade shows if these are to be housed in the proposed auditorium-coliseum complex outlined in the bond issue.

The study concluded, generally, that Atlantans indicate they will support events at the proposed complex.

The Negro voters leagues are set to actively urge and solicit support from all quarters for the bond issue. A direct promise to that effect came from Mr. Cochrane Saturday regarding the AVL.

HOWARD ROAD BRIDGE

In a separate action Friday, the AVL passed a resolution requesting that the mayor and Commissioner Jim Aldredge immediately "contact the Federal Bureau of Roads and the State Highway Department of Georgia for the purpose of getting funds to have a bridge constructed over Howard Road."

The resolution further asked that the officials notify the Atlanta Negro Voters League of the result of the proposed conference with the federal and state road agencies.

The Westside Voters League, in separate action following the discussion of the bond issue, reorganized the executive committee.

Milton White was elected chairman of the AVL executive committee; Earold Thomas, vice-chairman; Mrs. Cecil L. Edwards, secretary; and Mrs. Alberta Page, assistant secretary.

Q.V. Williamson, AVL Co-chairman, stated that the executive committee of his organization voted unanimously to support and boost the bond proposals. Mr. Williamson said the unanimous support was predicated on certain commitments made earlier this week in a meeting with Mayor Allen, Commissioner Aldredge and other city and county officials.

Williamson further said the AVL's endorsement was based upon a firm commitment received by League officials that the Fair St. portion of the proposed Southwest Connector would be abandoned.