The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1882-03-09
sCHAEFER,s SPEECH.
On the Old Subject of Amusement License
in the Opera House..

On the Old Subject of Amusement License
in the Opera House..
Pursuant to announcement on small
bills, the Opera House was filled with q
large and representative body of citizens
last Thursday night, to hear Mr.. Schaefer
speak in defense of his position on the
moOted subject of Opera'HOuse license.
There has been so much said and done
In this matter, that the people have
TAKEN IL up and freely canVassed the
subject, and it can be said that the
sentiments of the public seem in favor Of
Mr.. Schaefer, and that he pays an extOr-
tlOnate tax for the entertainments that
come to this city. Such was the tenor
OF dozens of remarks heard by the DEMO-
GRATIS truthful James" both before and
after the speech, and which crystallized
into form at the end of the meeting by
a unanimous vote to appoint a citizens
committee to again address the Council
on the pr0priety of having an annual
license of $50.
Mr. Sehaefer began by saying that he
built his house for the labOring men,
and he talked to them as sOVereigns and
makers of Councils. He said the Council
rated his house below those of ill-fame,
for he was pulled nightly and they never.
He spoke how he was threatened by
police two nights of the week, and that
the license was paid under protest so as
to avoid trouble. From last May to De-
cember he paid at the rate of 5000 to
$500 year license, and for the past
fourteen years over $1,000. Never had
trouble with previous Mayors and pays
more taxes than all the blue coats in
gossamers, of whom it took six to arrest
h1m-a little man. The new ordinance
was as defective as the old one, and
would be so contested. Said he heard
there was a reporter present taking
notes of all he said, so as to base
slander suit on his remarks; didn't care
for reporters and was not afraid to say
what he thought. Could not bring Booth
or Kellogg here as he would not come
out whole on ten per cent. of the gross
receipts, to say nothing of SIS license.
In Akron they paid no license for ten
years; ordinance on books, but not en-
forced; would not close his house as first
intended, but wait till after spring elec-
tlOns, and all the cannibals and blood
hounds in the Council had given place
to decent men; vote for the best men
irrespective of party. He spoke of Opera
Houses in European cities as being tenn
pies of virtue and cOnservatOrS Of morals
and the people were educated in them
and elevated to a higher sphere of
thought. He concluded an hour and a
half harangue by saying: 81 thank you
for your attention. l have tried to ex-
plain my situation to you as impartial
judges, and state here that the City
Council is not guided in their action by
their regards for the best interests of
the city, but to Oppress me- 1t is true,
that a great many came to hear one of
Mr.. Schaefer's peculiar speeches, full of
gall and bitterness and personal abuse,
and, the fact that he refrained from
such indulgence, materially strength
ened his side of the question with the
audience. A committee of five, appointed
by acclamatiOn, consisting of Messrs.
Jas. Valley, John Shimp, j. Shirley,
Daniel StableT and Louis DumOnt, were
instructed to memorialize the City COun-
Gill; stating that it was the sense of the
meeting that an annual license of $50
was about ''the proper caper." The meet
ing adjourned at 9:25 o. m.