The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1916-02-16
Manager OF the Grand Opera House
Has Something to Say About
"The Birth Of
Nation"
DEFENDS THE PICTURE
No Reflection Against the Coiored
Race, But Rather Shows Prog
ress Made Since tho
Civil War.

Messrs. Dodge and Baker, managers
of the Grand, present their side OF
The Birth of a Nation" controversy
In the following communication to
The Gate City:
A very complete going-over OF the
situation regarding THE Birth Of a
Nation" being shown in Keokuk. has
been made by the management OF thu
Grand. We find, first, that We, whose
business it is to give to Keokuk the
best and cIeanest amusement that the
country offers, are being looked to by
very considerable number of the
city's best people. both white and
Fcolored, to show THE Birth of a
Nation
Second, those OF the colored people
who have started and are carrying on
the campaign against the picture ap-
pearing here, includes only part,
and by no means, all OF the better
class, thinking colored people Of Keo-
kuk. This is clearly shown by the
very sensible letter published in this
paper yesterday from B. l.. Anderson.
And there are a number of the color
ed people who also have spoken to us
voluntarily.
Third, the petition of the ministers
prise. We did not know that they con-
templated such an action and no OPP
portunity was given us to state our
case. II it is true that none OF them
have viewed the picture, then we feel
that their action was taken without
thorough consideration of all angles
In the matter Had we been able to
present The Birth of a Nation" IN
Keokuk at time not conflicting with
the revival meetings to be held here,
we certainly should have done SO.
When our contract was made, the re-
yiyal dates were not set definitely to-
begin at such an early date. Now we
have large amount of costly print
ing on hand. have gone to consider
able other expense and are bound by
a contract, which to break. would
probably mean an expensive lawsuit
for US.
Again. the Grand has always used
every effort to keep its attractions
clean This fact is we'll known. Bur
lesque shows and pictures OF an I'M
clean nature, are not shown at the
Grand, even though such attractions
are always well patronized at any
theatre.
Finally, the following list of well
known Keokuk men and women have
given US permission to use their
names, in endorsement OF The Birth
OF Nation" stating that they can see
no good cause why It should not APP
pear in Keokuk. az elsewhere. These
people have actually seen the picture
and we think are therefore in best
position to judge. Out OF the number
who could be seen, only one man OBJ
itected to our using his name, and
while he was in sympathy with our
position, for personal reasons, he
| asked that his name be not used. The
list follows:
H. T. Graham. Hubert Schouten.
Alvin Kraft, e. S. Baker. l.. W. Klein,
| G.. s. Abel. B. F. Smith, Ira W. Wills.
Frank l.. Gr1ffey. L. H. Aver, Jr., M.
r. Justice. James Fulton. Ed Kirchner,
.Jno Irwin, Stephen Irwin, Mrs. W. C..
Hayes. (nee Miss Bird BerryhilD, Roy
Pemberton.
In several cases the wives Of these
men are also included.
| II it is necessary to meet any petit
ton that the colored people may get
cut by petition from us, we know
NV what has been told us, Just how a
| majority Of the Keokuk men and
women stand. The local business
mems association are cooperating
with us to make the week of March
| 5th to 18th a feature business week,
realizing that when The Birth OF
Nation" appears here then, there will
be many visitors in town from the
surrounding territory.
| The picture itself actually contains
nothing detrimental to the colored
race True. It shows some negroes as
Williams and some white men also.
Rather. It reflects credit on the black
man of today-that he has risen from
the conditions Immediately following
THE civil war. to where he now stands.
/ The true conditions of fifty years
| ago. or more does not effect the
l -. ai.a az tho reonle of today