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

sons In justification Of His Interest
In Photo Play Known 40 "The Col.
ored American Winning His Suit"
Kind to His Enemies.
The Rev. w. S. 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 Lecn 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 a
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 as
lect any of his duties as pastor OF the
Monumental Baptist church for other
vOcatiOns lie H. 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
mi n CT ORC In a 4 h,iS 10
spirit
Having replied at length to his crit
les previously. DR.. Smith again says:
~ shall once more endcavOr to clar
ify the visions Of saints and sinners on
the subject. have for good many
years noticed that the motion picture
was being abused rather than used
and have long had a desire to see II
used In the way most helpful to the
public. About eighteen months ago the
picture known aS The Birth Of Ma
ton had its first appearance before
the public. That picture does most Sc
verely criticise the Negro and hi>
friends
1T has stirred up III feeling and race
riots In great many cities. Much
time and money have been spent {,
break 1t, but 1t still plays on. con
celved the ilca that holding mas
meetings, making big. loud and en-
speeches. roting and throwing brirl
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 st-Becausc consider II to be !,
legitimate business that Is closely al
lied to ministerial and educatiOnI
work and an agency through whir
one may go about doing good a.
only discussing The COlOred Amerifu
Winning His Suit
"SecOnd.-BecalIse through II
can answer The Birth Of Nation
and all similar pictures that seek t
criticise and degrade the Negro re-"
and it's friends.
""Third.-Because II IL mediun
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.-Because II II al instr
ment through which we can pOrtr;..,
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
all lines I'm religion. education. business
and wealth.
Fifth Because pictures sreak II
universal language that is 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 IL God given
agency. the greatest yet known to man.
for the transmission Of truth and
knowledge along all educational lines
Through 1t one may look back through
the ages. 1t brings all Of the world to