The Twin City star., 1916-09-30
AUTHOR OF FILM
ANSWERS CRITICS
Motive Was Race Defense, Says
0r. ". 5. Smith.
PICTURES As EDUCATORS.

New Jersey Minister Gives Seven Rec
sons In justification Of His Intsrsst
In Photo Play Known as 1.-THE Col.
orsd American Winning His Suit
Kind to His Enemies.
The Rev. w. 8. Smith. d. D.. pastor
Of the Monumental Baptist church of
Jersey City. N. j.. Is one of the most
active ministers In New Jersey In all
good movements for the advancement
Of the race along all lines. He Is well
and favorably known throughout the
state and has Leen pastor OF the above
named church for fourteen years. DR.
Smith Is the author Of the photo play
produced by the Douglass Film com
pany. entitled The COlOred American
Winning His Suit" The story was
written In answer to "The Birth Of q
Nation"
As the author of the play and for his
| activity In its promotion DR.. Smith has
been criticised by some Of his fellow
ministers. who do not believe that q
preacher should write moving picture
stories or engage In their promotion a.
q business. DR.. Smith does not neg
lect any Of his duties as pastor OF the
Monumental Baptist church for other
vocatiOns. lie IL naturally industrious
and uses his spare time In study and
thought for the good of the race: hence
he bears the criticism of his fellow
ministers In a generous. true Christian
spirit.
Having replied at length to his crit
les previously. DR.. Smith again says:
II shall once more endeavOr to clar
ify the visions Of saints and sinners on
the subject. ! have for q good many
years noticed that the motion picture
was being abused rather than used
and have long had q desire to see II
used In the way most helpful to the
public. About eighteen months ago the
picture known as The Birth Of q Ma
ton had its first appearance before
the public. That picture does most se.
verely criticise the Negro and his
friends.
1T has stirred up III feeling and race
riots In a great many cities. Much
time and money have been spent t,
break 1t, but 1t still plays on. | con
ceived the ilca that holding mas
meetings, making big. loud and len,
speeches. riOting and throwing bricL
bats and overripe eggs all failed a.
answers to the picture. My reason
for the interest ! have taken I'm NOV
ing pictures follows:
"First.-Because I consider II to be ),
legitimate business that Is closely al
lied to ministerial and eduratiOna
work and an agency through whlr'
one may go about doing good. a.
only discussing The Colored Amerifu
Winning His Suit
"SecOnd.-Because through II
can answer The Birth Of a Nation
and all similar pictures that seek t.
criticise and degrade the Negro rHr
and it's friends.
'Third.-Because II is medium
through which one may speak to mil
lions Of people and plead the Negroes
cause to the world at large as In n
other way.
Fourth II IL an instr
ment through which we can portra.
the better side Of Negro life. showing
his progress from the depths OF pOv
erty and ignorance to the heights he
has climbed In fifty years time along
MI lines In religion. educatiO business
and wealth.
Fifth. Because pictures speak
universal language that Ia understood
and read by all.
"Sixth.-Because 1t can enter places
and get hearing where doors are
closed against ministers and those who |
wish to plead our cause.
"Seventh.-Because II Is a God given
agency. the greatest yet known to man.
FOR the transmission Of truth and |
along all educational lines.
1t one may look back through
The ages. It brings all Of the world to :