The Washington bee., 1910-12-03

shows of merit, and second, whether
there was to begin new policy OF
segregation of the races. To both of
these questions | received a negative
reply. OF course, the public knows
we'll that if the house depended solely
on colored shows of merit, its doors
would have to close; then again, it is
an evident fact that 1t was out of the
question to try to write plays to
order.
The Howard, like every other en-
terprise, has had to have an expert
mental stage, and indeed IS now pass
ing through that stage in its short eX-
istence. No one can deny that 1t has
done we'll in the past, and the new
management promises to surpass It's
previous efforts in the future. The
last play, St. Elmo, was well-staged,
ably presented and refined interpreta-
tion of the book. In fact, Mr.. Two
mey's dramatization is, according to
many critics, far superior to that
given at the Academy of Music. Yet
we found many of our people attend
ing that place, rot, | am afraid, in
spite of restrictions they undergo IN
the way Of segregation, etc, but, 1t
seems, because of these conditions.
1t is very unfortunate for us that this
state of affairs exists. 1t Is too bad
that so many would rather attend
place where they will be herded to-
gether with the very meanest and
most insulting of both races, than to
go where they have all the privileges
that any people can ask; where they
can sit where they please, and be
free of the atmosphere and restraint
of unreasonable and unCalled-fOr pref
udices. Mr.. Faulkner assured me that
the Howard has and will always have
her doors open for the exhibition of
any meritorious colored performance.
In fact, he showed me his engagement
book, so that | could see for myself
| that there was no truth IN that talk
of barring cOlored shows. According
to the booked engagements, Mr.. Jack
| Johnson will be at the Howard with
white company; of course, JOhOnsOn
will be the attraction. The Smart
Set" that scored such success, is to
! return this winter, the Dixie MinStrelS,
Black Patti" and the Whitney Musi-
cal Stock Company, and other attrac-
tions for the early spring.
Considering the subject from an
other standpoint, the financial, let me
say that If 7 use he exact words of
Mr.. ]. S Rosenthal, the vice presi-
dent of the National Amusement Com
pany, that he used in his answer to
my inquiries, think the risk that was
undertaken and the confidence reposed
/ in the cOlOred population of the Dis
trict of Columbia by the proprietors
of this theater will be made palmer
and more forcible than / can possibly
make them.
Mr.. Rosenthal says among other
things:
1--WE built this theater and dedicated
it to the cOlored people of the District
Iof Columbia to afford them an oppor-
tunity of visiting a playhouse on the
same terms as their fellowmen, IRE
spectiye of race or color. We were
aware that such a policy would in all
probability cost us the patronage OF
the white people, but undeterred by
| this probable loss, we went ahead
believing that there were sufficient
self-respecting and appreclative col
| ored people who would patronize our
house as TO make the investment prof
table We reasoned that one-third Oi
ithe population of your city IS colOred
and that there were seven or eight
theaters which had TO depend on thl
;white population for their patronage
and If these two-thirds could anC
would support eight theaters, surely
Ione-third could and would support one
theater. Besides, we figured that ;
! theater dedicated 10 their use wOulC
lappeal to their self-respect and then
pride of race, all the more so because
of the intense racial prejudices which
unfortunately exists in Washington.
No one can object to this view o
the situation. Let me say that th'
new Howard is a magnificent house, II
which one feels the exhilarating sen
sation of unrestrained freedom anC
sincere welcome. The project Is saiC
to have cost in the neighborhood o
one hundred thousand dollars. 1t wa!
no trihing undertaking to plan anC
Ierect a building so spacious and com
Iplete in all its appointments; and Il
Iannounce in the very beginning th'
policy that all can say has been KEEP
to the letter. We can say again tina
the very undertaking showed the con
fdence the promoters had in at leas
THE one hundred thousand colored peO
pie in the District of Columbia t
SUPPORT It
The natural conclusion to draw
from all that has been said is that a
lleast all the theater goers of the on
hundred thousand colored people II
the District should see to it that TIL
only theater where they are welcom
, at all times has their undivided pat
ronage at all times, and shall con
| tinue to have it as long as her poll
cies remain unchanged, and was as
sured that as the theater was dedicate'
? to these policies, it will never chang
< them so long as the Howard receive
= the patronage and support of the peo
r pie that il deserves.
r Yours very respectfully,
= VIM. A. COLEMAN,
District Building.