The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-13
..-uROES PETITION
CITY COMMISSION TO
STOP D|XON'S PLAY
Resolutions Adopted by
League-Repudiate Utter
ances of Ross Advising
Preparations for Conflict

The birmingham Negro Civic and Edu-
cational league, an organization composed
of prominent negro leaders of the com-
munity, in its monthly meeting last night
went on record in a strong and emphatic
ms nner against stirring up race prejudice
of any kind. This action was expressed
in strong letter to the city commission
protesting against the rendition OF
Tx mas Dixons play. The Leopard
Spots, and in equally strong resolutions
repudiating the sentiments expressed by
the Rev. I. n. Ross. of Washington in an
address which he delivered last week at n
celebration of the anniversary OF the birth
of Charles Sumner
In the letter to the city commission,
which was signed by Oscar w. Adams,
president; w. b. Driver, chairman of the
executive committee, and w. W. Hadnott,
secretary, the Civic and Educational
league requested an interview with the
city commission and expressed some
strong sentiments against the Leopard
Spots. The letter read:
I'VE feel sure that with us. you stand
for peace and good will between the
races in this community, and we wish
you to feel that the negroes of this COM
nudity do not desire any uutoward mani
festaton of i'll will against them, such a $
the presentation of this kind of play is
likely to bring about
The Leopard's Spots appeals to moth
ing that is worth while and constructive
in American life. 1t breaches no lesson
that will go far in the upbuilding of
character in the youth of the land; but
on the other hand, renders them totally
unfit to live out Americas broad demo-
cratic principles by firing up in their
breasts uhholy and unreasonable passions
of race prejudice. This the Leopard 8
Spots does by painting pictures wholly
at variance with the facts of history and
presenting scenes that have never oc-
Cured in southern life and never WILL t.
Preaching lessons that neither white
nor black people have ever wished to see
IN practice. 1t is at once a menace to the
well being of both races in the south and
lie upon southern history and civiliza-
tion. To be perfectly plain. we view with
alarm any play that will present on rhe
stage of any theatre a scene wherein a
ileSIO Is SHOWN making love TO a white
woman, and in view of the fact that such
a contingency is as far from the mind of
the average negro as 1t is Impossible of
occurrence in actual life, we can see no
good to be attained by parading it before
the public.
Surely it would appear that in justice
to the negroes of this community, who
have no other way of protecting them
selves save through you gentlemen of the
commission, that any lawful action that
would prevent this play being presented
in the Birmingham theatre would be ,e-
garded as just and equitable to all con-
cerned."
Rev. l. n. Ross, pastor &C large negro
Methodist church in Washington, was re :
ported to have stated in a meeting there
last week that the negroes ought to pre-
pare for war, stop buying pianos and MIL
sical instruments and purchase guns and
ammunition and fight for their rights.
With reference to these sentiments strong
resolutions were passed. which read
Rev Ross is not authorized by the
race which he proposes to represent in
the use of such sentiments, nor does he
represent the negroes OF the south in
that to which he gives expression. Speak
ing for the colored people of the Birming-
Ram district, and we believe for those
or state and the whole SOUTH we
utterly repudiate such sentiments. 1t is
our hope and policy 20 adjust all our
racial matters by cooperation, concilia-
ton and not by alienation. Nothing can
be gained by force and violence, and least
OF all do we desire 1t.
I'VE have thousands of white friends
anC we want nothing said or done that
will in the least impair our relations. We
deplore much that the negro suffers in
many ways, yet we recognize that only
by the preservation Of amicable relations
can these be corrected. We call ON our
race everywhere to give no heed at any
time to such expressions, no matter from
whom they come and to go on our way
peaceably in the paths OF industry and
Of duty and in due time all difficulties
will vanish