The Loyal Legion was an African-American organization for improving education for African-Americans. The organization was campaigning for funds to support an educational movement. Of course the Pantagraph and the city were very supportive of this campaign and endorsed the idea that the African Americans were responsible for creating their own schools.
This position reflected Bloomington's unofficial segregation policy , which excluded African-American taxpayers from taking advantage of public schools or other public facilities, such as the public library.
"Possibly the most commendable and hopeful feature of the meeting was the fact that each colored minister of the two cities were seated on the platform and in turn spoke without reserve and in the strongest possible terms urged their people to take up the responsibilities of the work and make it a credit and a blessing to the community."
"Rev. A J Crockett followed in a clear analysis of the race's needs and the vital importance of the work of the Loyal Legion Cooperative Educational System to this community."
Their goal was to gain a membership of 400 in support of the "system." That night a total of $30 was put on the table to support the effort.
Mr. Mitchell's comments were characterized thus:
"He talked to his race as only a colored person can talk to his own people, without the mincing of words, and showed them their own responsibility for conditions in Bloomington that were a disgrace to any people and pointed the way for improvement thru organized community effort on their part."
Whether Mr. Mitchell or the ministers mentioned the difficulties faced by people of color due to racial prejudice in Bloomington is not recorded. The Pantagraph was mainly interested in the bootstrapping message at the meeting.