Pine Bluff Elects First Bronze Mayor, p. 1
Dublin Core
Title
Pine Bluff Elects First Bronze Mayor, p. 1
Description
“Pine Bluff - Hundred of Negroes turned from their usual observance of the Fourth of July here this week and went to the polls to vote for the election of U. S. Brown as Bronze Mayor in the first campaign of its kind in the history of Pine Bluff. The Bronze Mayor Campaign was conducted on the auspices of the Pine Bluff Branch of the National Negro Business League with the three candidates entering the race. Those opposing Mr. Brown were W. Harold Flowers, lawyer and well-known civic leader, and Mr. W.T. Alexander, young progressive business leader and owner of the College Grocery store.
Despite the short period given to the candidates to work, the League achieved its aims. The contest was conducted for the purpose of raising funds for the organization and also to give the Negro citizens of Pine Bluff an opportunity to see how it feels to go to polls and cast a vote. All during the period set aside for voting hundreds of Negroes could be seen walking to one of the six places set aside for this purpose. The interes was so high one would have believed the real mayor was up for re-election. Well managed crowds gathered at the West End Drug Store, Owl Cafe, Taylor’s Lunvhrty, DeLuxe Beauty School Salon, Pennington’s Grocery and the Lion’s Den to talk politics and predict the outcomes of the election.
At ninesharp the judges, campaign managers and hundred of Pine Bluffians went to the A. M. & N. College gymnasium to hear the returns. E. M. Moore, president of the Pine Bluff Negro Business League, welcomed the visitors and gave a brief history of the purpose of the organization. Dr. G. C. Taylor, hard working campaign manager for the winner of the Bronze Mayor contest did an excellent job at the mike as the M. C. The retiring president, Dr. W. E. O’Bryant, was presented to the audience. Others introduced were E. E. Moore, John C. Kahn, S. B. Adams, and Ivy Anderson.
Despite the interest on the part of all the candidates, the race finally ended between Flowers and Brown. For nearly an hour as the votes were counted, one could not predict the outcome. Brown had gained too much strength from the Pine Bluff Arsenal workers and went to the lead to talk the title as Pine Bluff’s first Bronze Mayor. Mr. and Mrs. Brown was introduced to the audience and received warmly by the crowd.
The newly elected Bronze Mayor is a member of the Elks’ Lodge, secretary to the Board of Trustees of St. Peter’s Rock church, member of Royal Arch Masonry, holding the thirty-second degree: Scoutmaster of troop 196 of the Boy Scouts of America, and was chairman of the recent Red Cross Drive in Jefferson county. Mr. Brown was born in Pine Bluff and educated in the public schools here. He is a graduate of the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee.”
Despite the short period given to the candidates to work, the League achieved its aims. The contest was conducted for the purpose of raising funds for the organization and also to give the Negro citizens of Pine Bluff an opportunity to see how it feels to go to polls and cast a vote. All during the period set aside for voting hundreds of Negroes could be seen walking to one of the six places set aside for this purpose. The interes was so high one would have believed the real mayor was up for re-election. Well managed crowds gathered at the West End Drug Store, Owl Cafe, Taylor’s Lunvhrty, DeLuxe Beauty School Salon, Pennington’s Grocery and the Lion’s Den to talk politics and predict the outcomes of the election.
At ninesharp the judges, campaign managers and hundred of Pine Bluffians went to the A. M. & N. College gymnasium to hear the returns. E. M. Moore, president of the Pine Bluff Negro Business League, welcomed the visitors and gave a brief history of the purpose of the organization. Dr. G. C. Taylor, hard working campaign manager for the winner of the Bronze Mayor contest did an excellent job at the mike as the M. C. The retiring president, Dr. W. E. O’Bryant, was presented to the audience. Others introduced were E. E. Moore, John C. Kahn, S. B. Adams, and Ivy Anderson.
Despite the interest on the part of all the candidates, the race finally ended between Flowers and Brown. For nearly an hour as the votes were counted, one could not predict the outcome. Brown had gained too much strength from the Pine Bluff Arsenal workers and went to the lead to talk the title as Pine Bluff’s first Bronze Mayor. Mr. and Mrs. Brown was introduced to the audience and received warmly by the crowd.
The newly elected Bronze Mayor is a member of the Elks’ Lodge, secretary to the Board of Trustees of St. Peter’s Rock church, member of Royal Arch Masonry, holding the thirty-second degree: Scoutmaster of troop 196 of the Boy Scouts of America, and was chairman of the recent Red Cross Drive in Jefferson county. Mr. Brown was born in Pine Bluff and educated in the public schools here. He is a graduate of the Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Nashville, Tennessee.”
Creator
N/A
Publisher
Arkansas State Press
Date
1945-7-13
Collection
Citation
N/A, “Pine Bluff Elects First Bronze Mayor, p. 1,” African American Fourth of July, accessed May 5, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/19.