The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-03-22
BIRTH Of ANAT|ON"
DEBARRED FROM CAPITAL CITY.
BLACK BILLY SUNDAY" AND COLORED CITIZENS SCORE Al
SIGNAL VICTORY IN THEIR FIGHT BEFORE THE CITY
COMMISSION.

life's blood his dying devotion to
Old Glory the flag that gives pro-
lection to every race saving her own
black subjects. 1t was then that
Black Billy cried out with bitter in
dignation that while President Will
son is battling for the League of Ma
tions to give protection to the Serfs
of Europe while Negroes are being
ing lynched here in America the
Land Of the Free and Home of the
Brave, with the exhibition of the
Birth of a Nation to stir up racial
hatred against Negroes. America be-
comes the Damdest Hypocrites this
side of He'll; this Statement was
greeted with prolonged applauses
that made the rafters of the old
Tabernacle resound with the enthu-
siastic approval of the immense gath
ering, which was a protest against
such pernicious picture as the Birth
of a Nation being exhibited here in
the Capitol City. Black Billy in his
characteristic way had struck the
death knell, he had scored a victory
for the Negroes of Austin, after form
er defeats, and had proven himself
the man of the hour, he closed his
masterful plea for square deal and
mans chance. He warned the South
that the hour was coming when a
race that had proven invincible figh-
ters would not submit to their wom-
en- being lynched as they had struck
the blow for the world freedom, they
would strike it for their own pro-
lection; the big audience went wild.
DR.. Crawford, the Chairman, in
commenting on the remarkable ad-
dress, endorsed the speaker and call
on Pastor l.. l.. Campbell, who spoke
briefly and told of the passing of
such Negro haters as Vardamen, Cole
Blease, Ben Tillman and others who
rode into public favor by cussing the
helpless Negro. He then called on
Mayor Woodbridge for an expression.
The Mayor came to platform amid
intense silence and in words of COM
mendation, said that he endorsed the
words OF Black Billy, and that he
and his colleagues had decided to
enact a City Ordinance that woud,
forever prevent not only the Birth of
Nation but any other picture or
play from being exhibited in the city
of Austin, under the penalty of hav-
ing the play houses license revoked
for the violation of the ordinance,
this statement of Mayor Woodbridge, |
was received with thunderous ap-
plauses and cries of goodI good! |
The Mayor further said the Commits |
sioners had also agreed to appro-
pirate a substantial sum of money |
each month for the maintenance of
a Recreation Center for Negro boys |
and girls thus the Colored citizens
have scored signal triumph and
when the meeting closed, hundreds
of enthused men and women sur
rounded the fearless Negro Evange-
list and warmly congratulated him,
not only ON the fearless defense,
but on the great victory achieved
for the race. The Committee men
who fought in the trenches were DR.. /
L. W. d. Abner, Lawyer Dawkins,
Major P. Graham and Drs. s. L.
Brown, L. H. Harberts, and the Ma
tional Association for the Advance
ment of Colored People, have by
their united support achieved big
victory after three defeats in their
attempt to debar the exhibition of
the Birth of a Nation here in Austin,
but in this united effort they have
forever closed the doors against all
such strife breeding pictures here
in Austin for which these fearless
leaders have won the undying thanks
of Negroes everywhere, and the name
oP pIock pfIlv Sunday will 1.-Two on
in the memory of decent race loving
men and women for the good that
he is doing when those that would
dare to cast as person upon his
name are sleeping in unmarked
graves, un-wept and forgotten, nil
lions will be still singing his praise.