The review. [volume] (High Point, N.C.) 1908-19??, 1913-09-18
NEGRO MOVING PICTURE SHOW
s. CLOSED,

Unanimously Ordered by Council
Determined to Close Up the He'll
Holes in City-A Wise Step
Mayor Rings Clear on immortality
and Vice-His Action Applauded
BY All Good Citizens-Respecta-
bic Colored Citizens Ask For Re-
lief.
At a called meeting of the City
council Monday among other matters
considered was the, subject Of better
la" enforcement among the worthless
law breaking class of people, both
black and white who congregate
around and in certain places located
in different sections of the city.
A strong delegation Of the re-
spectacle element of our colored
citizens came with petitions signed
by more than 200 of their people,
praying for relief from the demor-
aliZing effect of the negro theater on
E. Washington ST., as we'll as the
disorderly cafes in the same neigh
borhood, and after strong endorse
ment by the members OF the City
Council in favor of breaking up these
places, it was ordered by unanimous
vote that the license of the picture
show be Immediately revoked. and
the Mayor was authorized to have
more rigid Sunday closing ordinance
prepared for enforcement.
Mayor Tate took occasion to
say that it had been his poiicv dur
ing lis administration to insist on
the police force using extreme kind
ness and gentleness in the handling
of all persons arrested rather rhan to
use force in bringing such culprits to
the lookup. He stated, however,
that this method had proven a
failure in so far as the handling of a
certain class of rough, disorderly
persons who invariably resist by
force, arrest and when being brought
| in, subject the neighborhood to dis
graceful spectacIes, and that for
| this class in the future the police
force would have positive instruc'
TORS to use their clubs in order tc
; promptly subdue any unruly person
1 Mayor Tate stated further that had
this method been pursued in making
); the arrest of the negro on Saturday
might last, there would not have
been any occasion for Officer Witch
er's going to the assistance of the
other officer, which was in a meas
ure the cause of his death. 1t wa
the opinion of the Mayor that officer
of the law had just as much right tt
protect themselves from bodily in
jury in making arrests as any othe
! persons, and if in the performance
! of his sworn duty it became neces
sary to use his gun or club, n
would be expected TO do so.
"The Mayor took this occasion t
= say that the better class Of our col
= ored people, who by the way are tn
= largest majority of their race in High
Point, deserve much credit for tnel
S thriftincss and that they were de
+. serving of every reasonable consd
g Grafton afforded by the protection g
= the law. He also stated that it wa
r a noticeable fact that much OF tn
$ criticism heaped upon the admins
. traton and especially en- the polio
b department came from class of Law
breakers or their friends, and that i
the future this class OF persons, VIII
. as a rule are OF little use to the com
t munity and VINO load up on Cocaln
and mean whiskey at every oppor
S unity, might expect in the tutur
e less gentle and Considerate nanC
ling than has been accorded thel
e heretofore.
"A special effort. is . to be made
5 run out of town or put on the roa
every vagrant. white or black, an
it is also the purpose of the city
! increase the police force as soon
practicable and to rigidly enfore
=, every requirement against congrega
= ing or lettering on the streets or els'
= where. A number OF. the membe
!, of the Council spoke emphaticalI
- in endorsement of the Mayor
, views" &"