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298                   THE CRISIS

It is gratifying to note that in spite of the decrease in our income brought about by the war, the Association can report itself out of debt with a substantial balance in bank. Its net gain for the year is almost $600 and its net worth over $1,900.
An analysis of the membership list shows that eighty per cent. are colored and twenty per cent. white. The membership falls into the following classes- 75 per cent., $1.00; 10 per cent., $2.00; 1/2 per cent., $3.00; 1/2 per cent., $4.00 14 per cent., $5.00 and up. 
Since fifty cents of each membership fee is returned to branches the balance of the one-dollar fees barely covers the clerical wok involved in making the necessary membership records and the cost of literature sent out. As every member paying two dollars and more gets The Crisis, there is also no gain to the Association on memberships of two dollars. In other words, the Association is supported by 15 per cent. of its membership. This includes nine contributors of $100 each, one of $300, three of $500 each, three of $1,000 each, and two of $2,000 each; also contributions from branches, the most generous of which came from the District of Columbia Branch which gave almost $2,000 during 1914. Boston and Baltimore have also sent generous donations to the work and other branches contributing were Indianapolis, Kansas city, Northern California and Seattle. 
The preceding financial report by a certified public accountant shows expense and revenue only. It is interesting to note in this connection that since the Association's books were opened in May, 1911, its income has been as follows, that for 1914 being within about $300 of that of the previous year despite the financial depression:
1912 ......... $11.815.15  1914 ......... 15,237.98
1913 ......... 15,526.85
February 12, 1915     OSWALD GARRISON VILLARD, Treasurer

Report of the Secretary
The Secretary has charge of the executive offices of the Association. In addition to the work of securing new members and subscribers to THE CRISIS, the work of the Secretary includes the organization and supervision of branches and other field work such as arranging speaking tours and supplying lecturers for miscellaneous meeting; work with Congress; some legal work; press work; correspondence; and the financial work of the Association. 
Membership and branches have increased as follows:
                      1912   1913   1914   1915
Membership ........... 329  1,100  3,000  6,000
Branches and Locals .... 3     10     24     50
This increase in membership has been secured by appeals to individuals, by sending out circular letters, by public meetings, through branches and THE CRISIS, and especially as a result of the lecture tours of Mr. Villard and the Chairman, who not only gave their services to the Association but also paid all their own expenses. The total number joining as a result of the Chairman's second western trip ending in January, 1915, probably will reach 1,000. The success of this trip was largely due to Mrs. Butler R. Wilson and Miss Kathryn M. Johnson who preceded him addressing a series of advance meetings in the cities in which he was to speak and getting in touch with the communities in general. 

            THE FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT             299

In this arduous work Mrs. Wilson generously gave her services to the Association and as a tribute to the success of the work she is doing for the cause in New England, a committee of interested women in Boston paid one-half of her expenses. In addition to this western trip which included Pittsburgh, Columbus, Springfield, Dayton, Cincinnati and Toledo, Mrs. Wilson also addressed meetings for the Association in East Orange and spoke in New York at the Friends School, at a parlor meeting at the home of Mrs. Villard, before the Forum of the Church of the Messiah and at the Fifth Avenue Suffrage Shop, everywhere receiving a sympathetic and often enthusiastic response and arousing great interest in the work of the Association. 
As an experiment early in the year almost 3,000 people were circularized for membership with an expenditure of a little over $200 and a return of $224. Seventy new members were added and fifty subscribers to THE CRISIS secured. Of the former about forty are members paying five dollars or more. 
CONGRESS AND LEGAL WORK 
The Association's work in Congress and its legal work are reported upon in detail by the Chairman. The Secretary's office acts as a clearing house for all information from Congress in regard to legislation affecting colored people. From here news of it is sent to branches and friends all over the country. Since the Legal Department has been given up, much of the prelimniary interviewing and correspondence in legal cases falls on this office. During the year a new form of constitution and by-laws for the Association's branches was made and submitted for approval.
PRESS WORK 
Although this work necessarily has been somewhat spasmodic, the results have been encouraging for the effort and time put upon it. In addition to the publicity given the annual conference when the work was done by an expert, the press has given considerable space to the Association's work for the Jones Amendment to the Smith-Lever Bill, the fight for Judge Terrell's reappointment, the western trips of Mr. Villard and our Chairman, and to some of our larger meetings mentioned elsewhere. A few articles have been published in periodicals.
CORRESPONDENCE 
Almost 30,000 pieces of first class mail were sent out during 1914 from the executive offices. At least 10,000 of these were individual letters, the balance being form letters. The second class mail totalled over 43,000 pieces. Since the retrenchment necessitated by the war forced the executive offices to dispense with its mailing clerk, this work now falls on the bookkeeper who also has entire charge of the membership list of 6,000 and of the filing of correspondence. All the stenographic work is carried on one stenographer. 
FINANCE
Without the active assistance of our Treasurer, the Association would soon be bankrupt. It has never had an active budget committee. The actual work of this committee falls on the Secretary's office where each month hundreds of letters are sent to members, delinquents and possible contributors. It is this persistent effort which has enabled the Association to close this year of financial depression out of debt and with a balance in bank.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Association if fortunate in having a Board which is ready and willing to give personal and active assistance to the work. The work of Miss Ovington and Mr. Kennaday on THE CRISIS Committee, of Dr. Holmes and MR. Russell in making addresses for the Association, of Dr. Bentley and Mrs. Kelley in giving advice, and of various others, has made it easier for the executive officers of the Association to get results.