The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1907-02-15

Mayor w. L. Frierson and asked that
the play be prohibited from showing
in the city. The Mayor, being with
cut authority to take the stem. en-
couraged the committee to present the
petition to the Council. Whereupon
the following was presented to Mr..
Grlggsby, the colored member of the
city council:
Chattanooga, Tenn, Feb. 4. 1907.
ITO the Honorable Board of Mavor
n Aldermen, Chattanooga, Tenn:
"Gentlemen: Representing the col
ored citizens of Chattanooga we come
demanding nothing. The best inter
ests OF home and community brings
us before your body. The vicious eff.
tects OF the presentation of The
Clansman lends nothing to the uplift.
ing OF the individual nor to the com
munity at large. We note the evil
consequences that have followed in its
wake wherever it has been presented.
1t tends to prevent an amicable rela-
t1onship between the races.
We therefore most respectfully ne
tition your honorable body to suppress
~ PNNPNAAANAOA III Oul OlLH.
The document was signed with the
following names, all colored profess
slonal men: R. w. Allen, w. A.
Thompson, j. A. Mason, E. c. Wick
life, j. W. Tate, ]. P. Frierson, e. w.
Rogers, w. H. Stephens, c. West, l..
Z. Gibbs, G. w. Ward, ]. T. Walton.
w. M. Massey, j. E: Smith, William
Parks, j. B. Williams, d. E. johnson.
G. H. Order, G. A. Bell and ]. H. Jack
son.
Pastor Smith, declare several pro-
tessional men, was one of the most
ardent supporters of the resolutions
asking that the play be suppressed
AT the last moment they claim he lost
MS nerve and withdrew the document
from Councilman Griggsby, who was
TO present It to the council. This, de-
clare those concerned, Pastor Smith
mad no authority to do, since the reso-
lutions in question were signed by
twenty-five professional men, he being
among those signers. The following
gentle rub" was adopted among those
who believe that but for Smith their
action might have received serious
consideration.
"It's All Your Fault, Brother Smith!
"Apropos to the preparing of a set
OF lnoffensive resolutions relating to
the suppression of The Clansman' in
this city and to the forceful presenta-
ton of them to Mayor Frierson. Rev.
Joe Smith, pastor of the First Congre-
gational church, and member of COM
mlttee on resolutions, as the shades of
night drew on, saw pandemonium
break loose, negroes defenselessly shot
down., the streets coated with human
gore. Weakened and vascillatingly
he sought the chambers of the city
council and pleaded for a return of
said resolution for fear that his name
would be published in connection with
1t. Out of fear that hard feelings
would be engendered he failed in
maintaining the courage of his con
victions.
The sense of the signed citizens
was to offer the protest, feeling that
the good OF the community of white
and black demanded it. But by a. play
OF diplomacy on the part of Brother
Joe the council assembled and adj
Journed without the presentation of
these resolutions. We wish, therefore.
to have this article convey the sense
that there is nothing contained in the
withdrawal of above resolutions that
was a suggestion of a fear of engen-
dering hard feelings. We therefore
adopt this method of announcing to
the general public that the sentiment
OF the signers still maintains, Brother
Joe Smith to the contrary notwith-
standing.
Further, we wish to express ear
nest appreciation of the manifested in
tent OF the councilmen of registering
a vote against said presentation of
The Clansman,' should the resolu.
lions have been presented"
This communication to Rev. Smith
was in the nature of a round robin as
it was not signed by those signing the
resolution, though it is the consensus
of opinion that it expresses the SEN
timents of a majority of them. In
the meanwhile, The Clansman ap-
peared as per schedule and played be-
fore crowded houses, having proited
by the free advertisement which had
been so kindly furnished it.