Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-02-27
L. M. CRAWFORD.
He Writes About His "Roast" ard
the Lirense Of Albuquerque.
SAYS HE WAS HELD UP.

Topeka, Kan. FEB. 24.-My atten-
ton has just been called to an article
in your issue of the 9TH.
AS o seem to be willing to publish
"A Bit of History of the opera house,
| am sure your sense of fairness will
not exclude my side, and that you will
be glad to have your readers know
what | have to say on the subject.
TIE begin with, | leased Colombo hall
with w. ]. Zirhut, who became a part
ner with me in the lease and the man
agement OF the business. Mr.. Zirhut
claimed to know the town and its peo-
pie more thoroughly than it was posi-
bic for me to know it. and in conse-
quence | depended much on his ability
and knowledge and acquaintance To
manage the house in q successful man.
ner. Soon after the lease was made.
] received advice from a mutual friend
of Mr.. Zirhut and myself that a scheme
was on foot to drive us out of the bust.
ness. The mutual friend evidently
knew for they informed us the city
license was to be increased to $40 a
performance. We did not have to wait
long to have proof of the advice we
had received, for at the very next
meeting our license was increased to
that figure for each performance. |
Immediately wrote my partner, Mr..
Zirhut. that ii would be impossible for
us to continue the business and pay
u bills unless the license was re.
stored to the old terms of $25 per year.
He was powerless, in fact, was inform.
ed that the job he was holding down
depended on his silence; while the
very party that should have been his
friend was carrying the scheme
through the city council, with the de-
termination of preventing us doing a
profitable business. The party who
was instrumental in getting the new IL
cense ordinance passed made the boast
that if he could not run the theater
business in Albuquerque, no one else
should run it at a profit. | congrat-
ulate him on being correct in that re-
spect. and ask the people of A%lbuquer-
que how many business institutions
there are in the city that can stand a
tax of $40 a day.
| have no objection to your paper
giving me "a roast" if that will do any
one any good. | am not thin
skinned" so if you will just be fair
enough to give all the facts. and let
the people of Albuquerque know what
influences are being used to throttle
certain lines of business. then you and
your readers will better understand
: WHY d DuSl1tSS utlu up anu lODDtu
in this manner cannot pay their legiti-
mate bills.
? Mr.. Zirhut and / were at much dis
advantage in our efforts to give some
entertainment to the citizens of Albu-
querque, and instead of being held up
and robbed" of the receipts of our bust
ness, the citizens of Albuquerque
should have commended us for our
efforts to give them a temporary place
l of amusement. We were doing the
. very best possible under the circum
: stances. But no, the big Bulldozer"
. of the town made his threat and he
has carried it out. / am satisfied. If
he is. And if the citizens of the town
will countenance that sort or thing,
then the soone the travelling COM
B., panies find it out n cut the town
r from their list the better. | shall do
r my part, and believe | can accomplish
! something in that way. | have no de-
5 sire to waste my energies in trying to
a secure attractions that are not wanted
or appreciated. This is too big a coun-
. try. and there are too many liberal
i. wide awake towns to waste time in
r fighting. Life is too short. | learned
a long while ago to not worry, but If
t anybody had to worry to let it be the
other fellow.
: Now, while THE Knocker. through
the council that he seemed to control,
has thought he was worrying Zirhut
and myself. it has been a lot of 'his
friends and %neighbors. If they are sat
S isfed with the kind of treatment we
are getting they ought to he satisfied
with the kind of treatment they are
getting from us. Perhaps, when the
city council wants to treat Crawford &
Uirh,tf fair thnu may NOT find wn ara
. quite so black as some choose to paint
us.
have nothing but the kindliest feel
! ing for Mr.. Zirhut, as ! believe he in
tended to do what was right. but he
l has beer too good natured. and allow
ed certain people to impose on him
e through pretended friendship. and who,
after receiving the courtesies he eX-
tended lone us all the harm possible.
Mr.. Matson has also done the best
possible under the circumstances, and
is entitled to much credit tor his eff
v forts.
o Now, if Albuquerque is such a good
d show town let the fellow that has done
the knocking" try it, and see how
many big shows he gets and how much
n money he makes. The citizens of Al
huquerque will learn in time that they
cannot compel people to come into tnC
?, town to do business at a loss. No sucf
a license is paid in any town in the coun
- try. in Kansas City and Omaha the
license is only 500 a year. In Topeka
=" il is only $25, and the same in Las
Vegas and FL Paso.
Ie So far as the class of shows we hav'
-e played there this season they are al
lie good as it is possible TO get to play
m town so remote as Albuquerque. ant
Is n-I-