The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-30

ALbANlI N' IL EhulGH -J -AHeIS ~
music here to-day for Elbridge Gerry, OF
the society to prevent cruelty to chill
dren, Recent acts OF his have been
deemed by the dramatic profession a.
arbitrary in tho extreme, ana recent
uttsrance Of his against the women OF
tho stage has made the player'folk mad.
So they have constructed u bill design.
cd to cut Gerry's comba and circumscribe
his power to seize a child below sixteen
from any stage Mt will. There was a
public hearing on this bill to-day be-
fore the assembly. Codes committee
and Mr.. Gerry was there to oppose the
bill referred to and so were tho dramatic
people there.
Gerry when given q chance said that
in arguing against this bill he was con-
tronted by ono difficulty, There came
before the committee to advocate this
bill some OF tho most prominent man-
ayers and actors OF the entire country
But they were not the real parties be-
hind the bill. Those who were urging
it through others were those whose
names did not appear. These gentle
mon who were present did not under
stand what the bill meant. II meant
that hundreds OF little girls would be
ruined and would eventually end in the
brothels. He meant to prove this
rather bold assertion. lie objected to
the bill because 1t educated the child.
rem for unworthy ends-the song and
dance career He wanted the full msan-
ing OF this understood. The song and
dance people had nothing to do with
the legitimate drama. MIR. Gerry then
put OH exhibition a number OF photos
OF q number OF tho little children who
sing and dance upon the stage, includ-
ing little Tuesday, Regaloncita and Rose
"Rose Newham is over thirty years
OF age" interrupted Committeeman
Thomas.
These pictures showed tho dancers in
various postures. Mr. Gerry then
showed a number Of pictures OF leading
song and dance artists in scanty cloth
ing. Two OF these were what Mr.. Gerry
denounced as the latest and most out
ragoous exhibltions-the split" This
bill was in the interest Of disreputable
theatrical brokers.
Mr.. Palmer said things to and OF Mr..
Gerry and his acts. He gave 1t rs his
solemn testimony that lie never saw
children more carefully looked aftor
and lovingly tended than the children
OF the stage.
Mr.. Joseph Jefferson made one OF his
characteristic speeches, full Of quaint
touches OF humor. He said there was
no one back OF him unless it was Satan,
and We are told to tell him TO got be-
hind us. He was here solely In the in
terest OF the stage children, because ne
himself was child Of the stage. lie
wanted to deny tho impression that
the stage exerted bad effect upon the
health. It was notso On the contrary
the theatrical profession was health
full one, and conduced to longevity, as
statistics would show. The stnge sent
few OF its followers to the asylums. not
anything like so large proportion OF
actors became insane as Of farmers,
mon who live in the open air and work
with their muscles instead OF with their
brains. Mr.. Jefferson then instanced
the case Of actors from the tilne Of Bet
terton 10 the present time who had
lived to great age and had died in the
harness.
The committee then went into oxecu.
tive session.
Tho Convention of Southern Governors.
RICHMOND, Va, March gs.-Arrapge-
ments for the proposed convention Of
Southern governors in tho effort to SO.
cure proper recognition by the world
Of the south's resources, which Ia to be
held horo April ~, aro still being made.
Governors Elias Carr, OF North Caroli-
na, and G. Jones, OF Alabama, are tho
only ones who have directly accepted