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Bureau of Investigation Report - 1/4/23

Bureau of Investigation Report
Los Angeles, Cal.1/4/23

UNIVERSAL NEGRO IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION

On June 4th 1922 the paid up membership of the Los Angeles Branch of the U. N. I.A. was 390 members. The confidential informant in contact with the Los Angeles Branch of the U. N. I. A. reports that the paid up membership of the local branch as of January 1st 1923 is approximately 80 members, of whom about 50 are men and 30 women. The confidential information states that the local U. N. I.A. is virtually on the rocks, that there has been considerable internal dissention in the organization lately resulting in the resignation of two lines deleted of the Los Angeles Branch. In an effort to revive U. N. I. A. Hall, 1824 Central Ave., Los Angeles, on the nights of Dec. 1922, at which meetings a welcome was given to and speeches made by "Negro Delegates to the League of Nations at Geneva, Switzerland." Informant covered these meeting and states that by actual count there were 67 persons present at the first meeting and 45 at the second meeting; he states that there was nothing said in these speeches that might be considered "Radical" and that it was principally the old U. N. I.A. "bunk."

The following is quoted from an article by name deleted of the "Negro ' the article is entitled "The New Year". Probably the most hopeful phase of the year just passed has been the tendency of leaders of different political religious and social faiths, to get together; we refer of course to the honest men. Honest and clean men of all faiths have therefore joined hands against the blackest (inside) of all Negro race traitors in history, the conscienceless renegade, the unspeakable Negro vill[ai]n, that indescribable clown, that monumental mountebank, that libidinous liar, that lusty lunged leech, that-as Cicero would say: Oh what shall I call him?-infamous MARCUS GARVEY. This Negro's influence has been killed, his schemes have fallen through, the fanaticism of his followers has now changed to wrath against him. Ere you have read this gentle reader, MARCUS GARVEY will be on trial, and the New Year will be happier when justice is meted out to him. In this New Year may the old demagogic devil be driven out of the life of the Negro and held in such check that he can sin no more. CONTINUED. DJ-FBI, file 61. TD. 1. This journal has not been found; it should not be confused with the Messenger, edited and published by A. Philip Randolph and Chandler Owen. Report by Special Agent James E. Amos New York, N.Y. Jan. 6, 1923 RE: U.S. vs. MARCUS GARVEY, ET AL.: VIOLATION SECTION 215 U. S. C. C. (USING THE MAILS TO DEFRAUD) Continuing the writer's previous reports on this matter, Agent wishes to that when this case was called for trial in the Federal Court, Southern District of New York, on January 5th, 1923, it was again postponed to January 8th. Commencing with the adjournment taken on December 26th, 1922, this is the third postponement of the trial of this case within two weeks. Previous records will point out that the case shows a long series of adjournments ever since it was first moved for trial. Agents are having great difficulty in holding the witnesses for the Government and one of our principal witnesses has been shot by, we think, some of GARVEY'S fanatics, and if this case drags along much longer, we will have no witnesses left for the Government. (REV. J.W.H. EASON, shot at New Orleans, La., died Jan. 4, 1923.) This report is submitted at the especial request of Mr. J.B. Cunningham, Asst. Director, with whom Agent conferred at this office today.

JAMES E. AMOS DJ-FBI,

file 61. TD.