Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-25
COMMITTEE RESERVES DECISION
Three Hours Hearing the Protest Against Appearance
of "The cIansman" at Broadway 1heater-Wl Wit
ness Performance Tonight


When the amusement committee Of
the court Of common council which
includes Alderman Whiting and Coun-
Gilman Worthington and Geer opened
the hearing in the mayors Office Fri
day evening on the protest OF the col
ored people of the city against the
appearance here of the play entitled
The Clansman, there were about thir
ty-five in attendance including Acting
Mayor Robinson and Corporation
Counsel Briscoe.
Attorney A. A. Browning for the
colored people laid in the formal pro-
test, the reasons being:
Said play misrepresents the negroes
in this country at large. 1t Is an I'M
true ana malignant representation Of
them, their position, characteristics
and efforts to maintain good citizen
ship.
Because, its purpose and effect is
to disgrave and scandalize the negro
race and disparage and dishonor it.
Because, it discourages and ridicules
the negro and his true friends in their
attempts to better the condition of the
race morally, socially and politically.
Because, it stimulates and encour-
ages the bitter and malignant oppo-
nents and detractors of the race.
For these reasons, 1T tends to mis-
chief and evil, race hatred and conten-
ton, and its influence, as observed in
other cities, is against the good order
and well being OF the community.
This protest was made on Thursday
as told In Fridays Bulletin and In
behalf of the company Business Man
ager J. ]. Mccarthy and his council
Attorney c. w. comstock, were pres
ent.
Has Seen Play.
Attorney Browning first called Rev.
A. w. Adams, DID,, field secretary and
general missionary of the COLONEL
Baptist convention of New England
He said that there were about 900 col
ored people in two Baptist churches
here and 700 to 500 colored people
in the city. He told OF having seen
the play presented in Hartford and
within a fortnight in Providence. He
had heard the books from which it
was taken, discussed and condemna-
tory resolutions had been adopted by
many conventions. The colored people
are disguised and Inundated when
they hear the name. He said he was
horror stricken when he saw the play.
He told of the different scenes which
were particularly obnoxious to the col
ored people. He thought the character
Nanny Eve was sacrilegious and the
dance she does immoral and disgust
ing. The character of Gus he con-
sidered one that was particularly
harmful 10 the colored race and he
was Mortified at the attempt to repro
duce the lynching bee. There was
nothing expressing the good qualities
Of the negro. The scenes were over
drawn and intended to prejudice one
race against another. There was not
O colored person at the performance
who did not feel Inundated and injured
by the play. School children have
heard of the characters and people not
familiar with the race history would
feel as If the race should be extermin-
ated. He didn't consider that Tillman
could hurt them as much in 100 lee
lures as one performance Of The Clans
man.
There is good feeling here now and
only once in while is there any
prejudice. However. within three
months young woman, a school
teacher who had come back here to
help her family, was obliged to give
up her work In a mill because the
white girls threatened to strike if she
of two had been obliged to move, al
though their rent had been paid in adj
vance, because they happened to oc-
cupy a tenement between two white
families. 1t is such cases of prejudice
which the colored people do not want
infiamed, although in both Of these in
stances the parties were excellent peo-
pie.