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MASHVILLE V OJC iil "All things come to them that wait, providing they hustle while they wait." Charles W. Anderson. "Get out of our sunshine." R. B. Boyd. T Vol. II. NASHVILLE. TENN.. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 1907. No. 4 it:. fir ft 3k" ft ft ft ft" ft' ft a ft H ft ft1 ft" ft1 : K ft ft3 ft s . ft ft 3i REVIEW OF THE (ft 5? EFFECTS OF PLAY ON MINDS OF GENERAL PUBLIC. Daily Press Compelled to " 'Pronounce the Play Unwholesome. "13 NO GOOD CAN BE PRODUCED BY ITS PRESENTATION. NEGROES WOULD BE IN DANGER OF BOD ILY HARM IF PRESENT STRONG SENTIMENT IN FAVOR OF BRING ING "UNCLE TOM'S CABIN" HERE ADVISED AGAINST SUCH STEP PEACE PRAYED FOR. A Globe reporter was sent out by the Globe Publishing Company to learn something of Tom Dixon's Thomas Dixon, mob instigator. Ne- gro murderer, inflammatory race per secutor, or any other name that the English language contains to describe a man that has brought the most In flammatory agitation that has ever visited our peaceful community since v. An the mnrrm,, tr,, ki.it Klan drenched the fair Southland with innocent Negroes' blood. This reporter, although a taxpayer and a citizen, who was born and reared in the South, and has lived in Nashville more than a decade, paid his taxes, obeyed the laws and has tried to live a peaceable, Christian citizen, was denied admission to this murderous inflammatory exhibition for reasons unknown to him. Hence he can only judge the effects of this play by the reports and editorials of the daily pa pers whose editors were admitted pos sibly on complimentary tickets. Your reporter encloses herewith two clip pings, marked No. 1 and No. 2 respec tively. No. 1 is from the Nashville American, which seems to thrive upon tne spirit or race natrea or tne op- pressed Negro. No. 2 is from the Nashville Banner. These will give some idea of the effects of this agita tion on the minds of those who have seen the play. (From The Nashville American.) Seldom has a Nashville audience been so deeply moved oy a dramatic production as that whien witnesea "The Clansman at the vendome me- ater on Wednesday night, me nouse was crowuea aunust 10 us capacity, . "I .1 1 i. i. 11- ..IX.. and during the performance a state of suppressed excitement generally prevailed, but it is not meant to lm- ply that the audience was undemon- strative, but merely tnat wnat was expressed was almost Infinitesimal in comparison with what was felt Wisely, it is believed, did the manage ment exclude negroes from the play house, for so powerfully was the spir it of the reconstruction period re vived that it is probable they would have been in imminent danger of being forcibly expelled, if, indeed, more drastic measures had not been resorted to. The now famous creation of Thom as Dixon, Jr., was magnificently staged, and the behavior of the audi ence was eloquent testimony to the effective work of the cast. Not from the gallery alone emanated hisses and excited exclamations; but In such a manner also did occupants of boxes and orchestra seats give vent to the emotions of disgust and anger aroused by the presumption and vil- lalny of the negro characters of the portrayal. Although the performance was not without its defects, one was blinded to them by the appealing force of the ensemble, and indeed it would be extremely difficult, if not impossible for any man or woman im bued with Southern sentiments to criticise dispassionately. So powerful are the paeslons which it inspires that one tends to forget that it Is but. a staga affair and this is the greatest compliment that can be paid it. It is not necessary here to synorsr the story of "The Clansman as il may be taken for granted tliat the rmiHr is fnmiliar with it. It is an irrefutable argument against the pos sibility of social and political equality filmtos nothing to history and Is de between the negro and the Caucasian" I signed for no present good. 'The ne , verBiona'andbthcr'additlons toljpalred to heir homes fully eatjaned a con races, and the play abounds with In cidents which thrill a Southern au dience with peculiar force. Power fully dramatic Is the portrayal of Au stin Stoneman. the uncompromising. radical leader, bent on humbling the white people of the South to acquiesce In a condition of social equality, by John B. Cooke, who proved htmsdf equal to the demands, of his difficult part. Albert Andrus gave a master ful Interpretation of the character of Silas Lynch. Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, the artful ; and am bitious mulatto, who aspired ,to the hand of Stoneman's daughter. Elsie, and the audience testified to the effect iveness of his work by Its repeated hisses, and In one of 'the climaxes of the play the exclamation, "Shoot him," wa3 heard. The part of Dr. Richard Cameron, the conservative, reluctant. to countenance the organiza tion of the Ku-Klux Klan until his daughter had Jumped to her death to escape the clutches of a brutal negro, vas wll taken by Guy.B. Hoffman. Nelse, Cameron's former slave, and de voted to his master, was realistically rortrayed by Theodore Kehrwald. Coleman F. Carroll, as Ous of the Black Guard, In the scene In the cave, the meeting place of the Ku-Klux Klan. Interpreted bis part with rare dramatic effect. Charles Avery, as the scalawag governor, the tool of Tvnch. was ddmlrable. The part of Flsie Stoneman. was taken by Claire ",-1J0WlH ""'"w ponrayeu nit! nume ciimncier. ivuiuie anaw give a very satisfactory lntrprptatlon of the character of Flora. Dr. Camer on s nammter. v. oni Butler, as the Grand Wizard of the Klan, Gen. N. B. Forrest: Ma"de Durand. as Eve, Nelse's wife : John T3. Sweeny, as a car- p?d,1lPr auctioneer, and all of the other members of the numerous cast were very satisfactory In their respective parts. Pome of them dls- plavptf dramatic ability In various sit uations of a high order. The scenic effects were excellent. that of the pave being particularly Impressive. "The Clansman" will be presented rt the Vendome the balance of the week. "THE CLANSMAN." (Nashville Banner.) Thomas Dixon's flamboyant melo drama, "The Clansman," has come apd cone, and Its effect on life In Nashville appears to have been no more than that of any one of a thou RJlTlfl otnpr Bch olim have ex rted. and but for the protests against the performance It would probably be s soon forgotten ps any of them The protests a-relnst the play and the discussion elWfpd by them were val uaMe aids to the press agent, and their effects was shown In the crowd rd houses at each presentation of the drama. v jf o110h a r-lav as the "Clansman' Wore allowed to appear without oppo- union, the probability Is that 1 I . would soon run Its course and nags int0 the limbo of forgotten Uonsations. It has no literary or dramatic merit to sustain a contln nert- popularity. There are features of the play that naturally appeal to many people In the South. It depicts the gross In lustlce to which the Southern white people were subjected by reconstruo tion measures and he fanaticism o some of the leading Northern poll tlclans of the reconstruction era. I shows, too. the Justification for meaS' ures of self-defense which the strlck en South adopted. These things pre sented in melodramatic form arouse a sentiment largely prevalent In the South, and elicit Interest and ap plause, but for this very reason the rlav Is unwholesome. The South should not linger in bitter and un orofitable memories. It should not, at least. have Its feelings harrowed by a recall of those evil days with their worst features accentuated and lnten sified with all the calcium effects .o a stage presentation. History should U0 studied calmly and dlspassionate- Iv and only perverted Ideas can be bad from a purposely highly colored melodrama. "The Clansman," too, is calcufted to encourage and sustain race rancor, and that Is something the South needs "specially to avoid. The relation o the races in the South now is not only amicable but politically and otherwise !1 Is such as the white people desire M doesn't behoove them to aid vefted exploitations of race antag onisms. "The Clansman" from this point of view Is hurtful. It has no motive of good or helpfulness In It. Tt is a travesty on the conditions of the reconstruction times, and It con- I ' ,-se. Then .e- A 11 III Lit DICATE PURCHASES A LARGE TRACT OF LAND IN NORTH NASHVILLE. This property we understand la on McLaughlin avenue, not far from the Jefferson street car line, and1 near Flsk University. The land la to be cut tip Into Dullfl. ng lots, and sold on lone time, the same as has been done by several firms here to sell to white peoplo. it is a fact, that with many thou sand lots stkl on long time In this city, a colored person was unable to purchase a lot unless he paid cash, or nearly all cash for it The result has been that any one working and de siring to Invest 50 cents or a dollar a week In real estate had no opportunity ror doing so. This firm will place ;x large force of men at work on this property at once to beautify It We are told they will have about 500 lots, and have already et the contract for grading and tnak ng streets, and otherwise making high grade property of this. In order that every one doing business may he guaranteed against any possibility of oss, one of the local banks guaran tees all their transactions by signing all deeds and contracts given by this firm. PEARL HIGH SCHOOL NOTES. This school Is" now in a settled con dition. Classes are running smoothly, pupils have become accustomed to their new grades, and it would he dlf- ucuit ior a visitor to ten that any change had taken place. Reorganiza tion was effected with very little loss of time. More pupils failed In hleher mathematics than in any other branch, thus verifying the popular and accept ed notion that mathematical knowl edge Is the hardest to acquire. Science appeared to furnish the next greatest obstacle in the way of promotion. It would be Interesting to know how the pupils In the white High School ao quitted themselves In these branches, that a comparison might be made as to the relative difficulty of acquisition of these subjects "by white and . colored punlls, especially as both schools took the same questions. This school was honored with a vis- It from Mr. J. Herman Moore (Prince Herman), of Pittsburg, Pa., this week Rev. G. L. Jackson visited the High School on Monday. Miss S. M. Wells, of Flelc Unlver slty. called" at the school and spent much time visiting the First and Sec- ond Floors. gro protests acralnst "The Clansman" were first made In the North. It was Inhibited by white Democratic an thorltles in several Southern cities at a time of race excitement These oh lections, when they have been made In vain In the South, have only adver tised the play. "The Clansman" Is obleetlonHble In the same way t'imt "Uncle Toms Cabin" ww. It pre sents the worst features of an evl condition In the garish and exagger ated lteht of melodrama and Irritates and Inflames a serious situation that should be left to safe Judgment. "Uncle Tom's Cabin" was one of the most potent factors In producing a bloody war that calm counsel might have avoided. It In hardly possible that "The Clansman" could have such dire effects, but it Is toying with dy namlc conditions that were bes' avoided. The best way to nullify such an In fluence, however, Is to leave it unno ticed as far as possible. It will thrive on sensational opposition. In the name of all that is wise Jus and good when will these agitations cease? Why resurrect the old Ku Klux Klan? Why heat the blood and agitate the minds of young white men who can possibly be easily excited to Join a mob for the destruction of bus nected Negroes on almost any frivo lous pretext? But this Is not the worst that this agitation brings among us. The reporter has found among almost every group of Negroes who have been discussing this affair, a strong determination to bring Uncle Tom's Cabin to follow the Clansman The book itself Is In demand. The Negroes are buying it for their chl dren. A great number of Negroes are pledged to take season tickets for a week at fair prices to bring this nlay on the stase of Nashville. If opera houses will not have it they are talking of renting halR I am sure that the Globe would advise against this. Uncte Tom's Cabin, as "Tlcadames" G. nT nrad y and JTefford are oa the sick list. Tau-1 Ahin written by Mrs. Harriet Beecher Stowe, did more, possibly, to emancipate the Negroes than any other agency. It Is dear to the Negroos and Is held in sa cred memory. But In the words of our great statesman, "Let us have peace." The Globe will contend for peace. Yet we ave assured that while some cities and - even Borne states have denied the right of Uncle Tom's Cabin to be played upon the stages, yet the Mayor of Nashville has as sured us that he cannot stop a play, as he has no power. So there Is noth ing to prevent Uncle Tom's Cabin com ing to Nashville. While the Negroes lota tnls play, and would pay more to sea It tha.i any other drama that Is put upon the stage, yet, because they found that it was offensive to their white neighbors they have abandoned the agitation of having It, and they do net encourage the clrculal'on of the bdok. Book agents among Negroes have not encouraged Its sale. Well- thlnklng Negroes have not encour aged the reading of this book by Ne groes. They have thought it best to et the dead past lie burled. - - NITIAL RALLY FOR ROGER WIL LIAMS UNIVERSITY. Sylvan Street Baptist Church Raises First Money Donated to Rebuild this Institution of Learning. Much has been said about rebuilding Roger Williams University In Nash ville, and speculation beyond measure has been Indulged In, but the most ad vanced step In that direction was the effort put forth by the members of the Sylvan Street Baptist Church on the east side last Sunday, when un der the leadership of their, able and energetic pastor, Rev. Wm. Haynes, they raised the sum of $54.00 as a fund to aid in rebuilding the Institu tion here. This was supplemented with 128.00 raised at an Executive Board meeting held recently at this church, making a total of $82.00 raised by this congregation and pastor. No great fuss was made about the matter, simply the members and. friends decld ed that If Roger Williams Is to be built the Negroes will have to put their hflnds In their pockets and build It. They built the old Roger -Williams and turned It over to a soc'oty dominated by white men, and when the fire came and the "winds blew." . the Negroes woke up to realize that they had built on a sandy foundation. An Institution that belonged to them was swept away by the flames, the ltttlo sum of over $50,000 Insurance was turned into the treasury of the society dominated by white men from the East, and the ground was cut up Into building lots and Is being sold; ro that the proceeds can go in the same direction. The university could not be rebuilt on the same ground because some white peo ple objected, despite the fact that one Mr. Thompson, one of the wealthiest and most highly respected citizens In this city testified that the students were always manly, and when the Are forced the young men and women out of Ssors. he throw open his doors t them and aided them In every way he could. But the Institution could no be built there. Then It was rumored that a site hid been purchased In an other part of the city, even more de sirable than the old site, and that Nashville would retain the Institution but time rolled on and the longer the forty thousand Negroes of Nashville waited for matters to materalize Into something taneible the further from solution seemed the problem of re building this educational Institution that has done so much to uplift the thousands who have for forty odd years looked on her with pride and gathered inspiration, and it seems tha they have about decided that the best way to get a thing is to roll up your sleeves and gd after It, A committee has been appointed with Rev Wm. Haynes. pastor o the Sylvan Street Baptist Church as chairman, and they propose to go at the matter in a systematic way and raise funds to scive to Nashville again one of her Institutions of learning big ger and better than the old one. They have planned to hold educational ral lies in es many churches as possible and give every lover of education an opportunity to aid in this worthy cause. The people of Nashville and the whole country will receive these tidings with glad hearts, and those who have been lnstrusted with the duty of pushing the plan as laid on expect a hearty co-operation from the public generally. The citizens of Nash vllle have always taken a great dea of pride in the educational Institution located here, and are not willing to sacrifice a single one of them, but In stead hope In the near future to be able to point to a nrogresslve Flsk Un verslty. an enlarged Walden Uniyer- slty, and a new and bigger Roger Wil liams University, owned and ccc trolled by the Negro Baptists mS. tta Negro friends of education. tnere ...m.v I every lottghly investigated, THE GOVERNMENT TAKEN TO TASK. RECENT OUDEU CREATES MUCH DISCUSSION. Back 'Stamping, of Mail Causes Local Publish ers Great Worry. MPOSSIBLE TO PLACE RESPON. SIBILITY OF ERRORS IF THE RE. CENT ORDER ABOLISHING BACK STAMPING STANDSTHAT THE NEW METHOD WILL NOT PRO TECT THE PUBLIC AGAINST FRAUDS IS SHOWN PRESSURE WILL BE BROUGHT TO BEAR IN FAVOR OF OLD SYSTEM. Much is being said In business cir cles amonnr the big publishing houses of Nashv'l'e concerning back stamp- ng. it srorrs that an article whloh appeared In the Globe a few weeks ago nas started an investigation as . to whether backstamping was really a hindrance or help to Incoming mall of nrst-ciass nature. It Is an undisputed fact that there Is but one war of as certaining the delay in letters that are received in the post office from an R. 1 P. O. and not delivered within the lim it of time. The post office In dlsnatrh- ng Its large amount of outgolnsr mall makes up special ties of letters when the quantity Is sufficient to Justify it. in case a letter for Memphis Is put In the packare tied out for Knoxvllle. from the Nashville post office, it would possibly lose from 24 to 48 hours If the trains were running on schedule time. This could only be detected by the distributing clerk at the Knoxvllle post office. The error should be re ported on the facing slip, which should accompany this tie of letters, and would serve as a check on the mail ing clerk in the Nashville post office. Tf the distributing clerks In the Knox vllle post office were using the back stamning machine, and would destroy or misplace this facing slip.- the only recourse ror reporting the error, If re ported at all. would be to report it un der the pouch label, which of course would not hold good against the rail road postal clerk, who could ask for credit as the error was not reported on the facincr slip. The letter would then be marked "MIssent" by Knox vllle and dispatched by the first mMl out. to Nashville. These anperr to bp he two points at issue. The trend of 'be argument put forth bv the FiT,t Assistant Postmaster General in his report for the fiscal enr ending .Tune w, In which he takes up at length and discusses backstamnlnsr. seems to be In favor of facing sllns o back- "tnmning. It is argued that the only feasible way to discuss the matter on Us merits is to draw an illustration showing the absolute need of back-, "tamping as a help to all, and a pro tection to the sender as well a3 the addressee. B Is In Memphis, Tennessee; A Is n Nashville, Tenn. B has promised to have a check here to take un a note at the One-Cent Savinrs Bank which Is due on Saturday, Februarv 2. The note Is subject to protest. B malls a letter in Memnhls at 10 a. m.. Febru ary 11007. Tt is so postmarked and Is -Msnatched by the first. Nashville mall. The maiHne: clerk In the MempMs of fice acrldently puts this, letter In the Knoxvllle box. It Is tied out for Knox vllle. and Is so disnathert. The dis tributing clerk in the Knoxvllle office "ftp this letter and renorts the error on the facing slip from the MeuipMs post officp. The letter Is then d' natched to Nashville but doec nt reach here until the night of the ?nd of February. In the meantime A his protested the rote at the Bank. Not withstanding B is under the Impres sion that his letter Is received on time, he amies that It was mailed on time and should havo been delivered, A says t was not received. With the backstampfnr. the local office could sow the letter was not received un til the night of February 2. while If he backstamping is dispensed with md only the ficlng slip Is used, the ooal office and carriers fnvP wnnH j ne, responsible for the delav. Let- tern that are mlssent by post officer and R. P. O.'a pro -riot always mar' -l "MIssent" by the clerk detecting tha I "Wr. They riraply, as a rule, checS ui i ui.ua wl'io injuytci cy p i i, Tus-Tn-'l