Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1899-11-13

other Is that they are in violation OF the
law, and for q company of foreigners
to come to this country and disobey our
laws is as much a trampling on. the flag
as was the rebellion Of the south. Sun
day theaters are contrary to all the in
situations and customs OF our country"
MANAGER SPEERS' SIDE.
When Manager Speers was asked for
q statement by this paper he declined
TO make one, saying. II advertised
Sunday night concert and gave it.
What explanation is necessary?' But
being told that several statements from
the other side would be used, he said:
Il regret very much the. action of the
Marshalltown ministers regarding my
affairs and hesitate to make state
nent, for l despise the notoriety of a
newspaper controversy, the favorite
harbor for many ministers in a storm,
but since they have taken such vigor-
GUS and to my idea uncalled-for action
and have given vent to SO many bitter,
luncharitable and inexcusable utter
ances from their pulpits publicly at
lacking me and my business, feel that
misunderstanding are apt to arise. /
do not believe in Sunday theaters as
theatrical performances go, have never
given any before and don't expect to in
the future, but ] take the point that
grand opera selections from the mas
ter's and rendered by artists are not
out of place as Sunday entertainments,
that they are as elevating and of as
| high moral influence as many SER
mons. / was asked to give one Sunday
night. 1t was arranged for and given
and / further maintain that the
jpeople who asked for that entertain
ment and attended 1t are fully as capa-
! bic of judging its propriety as are the
ministers of Marshalltown, who prob
ably never heard grand opera. Those
who did attend were people of culture
| and refinement.
ION Sunday afternoon I was asked to
meet a committee of ministers and rep
resentatives of the various churches,
which / gladly did, stating my position
1.-TWO ministers and some fifteen or
Twenty others, all no doubt we'll mean
ling but many misguided as to the the
alter, for hardly a man among the num-
Der was ever in theater. Threats of
/
CANT statements We're INDUCED in, one
jextremist going so far as to state he
woud rather see his own child dead
than have it enter a theater door, etc,
etc. To all of which l replied that 1T
j was not my intention to detract from
church attendance, that there was no
lcompulsion in the matter and that the
public was left to it's own free choice
/ further refused to comply with the
demands of this self-constituted jury,
Whose zeal for righteousness had
Through ignorance of the supposed evil
/ they We're attacking, exceeded the
4 bounds of reason. Granting that the
4 Sunday labor law can be made to hold
| j doubt the ability to have it fully en-
| forced. l would not live in a commu-
nifty where there is no church, neither
/ would live where the church ruled all.
/ [ have contributed more to the support
\ of the church at large than the minis
tiers have contributed to my theater.
slChurches often invite noted professions
al singers to sing a solo for their Sun
day service, which usually adds to the
lcongregation's size. 1t might be we'll &c
add that churches open their doors te
travelling entertainments ETC., and
charge admission, thus making them
lselves liable for taxation and license
yet they pay none.
/ II could probably pack my theatel
mighty by hiring some good speaker te
lattack, SANDER and roast the minis
tiers of Marshalltown as they have beer
disposed to do to me. but prefer u
provide good, clean and wholesome en-
ltertainment for the enjoyment ant
recreation of the many who desire 1t.
have never been lawbreaker. and was
not aware that the devel had me. as
one divine publicly stated last night
Honesty, charity, kind words and deeds
CONSTITUTE a religion that l admire ant
u try IN rra tica -