The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-05-03
Belare Bridgeport Martins Ferry and Ohio Side News
|C0UNC|L HEARS CO[ORED PEOPLE
ON COMPULSORY THEATRE SERVICE
PROPOSE AN ORDNANCE GIVING
COLORTD PEOPLE EQUAL PRIV1-
LEGES WITH WHITES IN ALL
THEATRES.
Matter Deferred To City Solicitor To
Investigate AS To Councils
Authority In the Matter.

An ordinance proposed by the National
Association for the Advancement OIL
Colorcd People. having for its purpose
compulsory service to the general pup
lie by all theatres was referred 10 tue
city solicitor by council. in session as q
committee of the whole last night. The
solicitor was instructed to look into inc
legality Of tho proposed ordinance ana
will report To the councllmanic commit
tee Mt a future meeting 10 b" called oy
Mayor G. ". Ncstcr.
Council met as 4 committee Of the
whole to hear the petition Of more than
four hundred representative colorcd Gill.
zens, who had filed signed and certified
petitions. Attorney K. ]. Graham ap-
pcnrcd as spokesman for the National
Association for the advancement OF COL
ored people. .
In addressing council Mr.. Graham said
thor were hut two questions 10 be looked
into. one whether council had the legal
power 10 pass such An ordinance, inc
other whether council should pass such
an ordinance. having the authority 10 90
SO, -
He maintained that under sections IS.
40 Al and 81 of the city charter that
council had tho right to enact the pro-
posed charter into law. Attorney Ora
ham then read the proposed ordinance:
Section one provides that all theatre
owners be- compelled to cater to the
general public.
Section two provides that all persons
who present themselves decently ana
sohcrly must he admitted.
Section three provides that it shall be
unlawful TO deny entarncc or full &C
cumodationS to any except for reasons
applicable 10 all pcr.nns.
Section four provides that il shall be
unlawful TO deny or inctr another TO
dcny entrance. Accommodations. etc.
Section five provides that II snail nc
unlawful 10 post. publish or exhibit or
10 cause another to posi-. publish or cX-
hihit written, printed or engraved words
10 the effect that tho theatre caters TO
any particular class. creed or race OF
does not cater 10 any particular class
creed or race.
Section six provides fines Of from IS
to 500 and Jail or workhousc sentences
OF not more than Sixty days LOT ''o'a-
ton of the ordinance.
Section seven provides that on second
conviction for such violation the license
Of any theatre so violating the ordinance
he revoked by council and that such the
afro bc not licensed thereafter.
After rcnding the ordinance Attorney
Graham stated that since tho theatre
owners were not represented or present
h. did not desire to argue the matter.
Mayor c. ". Ecster then said I as
sumo then that mono OF the members or
council have. anything 10 say on this
matter and suggest that 1t bc rctcrrcd [
the solicitor tho solicitor 10 advise coun-
cial as to his opinion ut the next meet
ing"
Councilman Chester Thompson arose
IN suggest that If such action was taken
that the solicitor make Il report as soon
as possible.
Councilman Hahig suggested that tho
theatre owners should he asked TO mp
pear b. fore the committee. Mayor Yes
ter said they had been notified OF the
meeting.
Attorney Graham then suggested thar
Solicitor NJ. u. Cullinan had copy or
the proposed ordinance for an entire DAY
and might be- prepared To render an
opinion. Mr.. Cullinan said that nc was
not ready to pass on the legality OF TINS
or anv other ordinance within such a
short time. Tho motion To refer the
matter 10 council was passed and coun-
ell adjourned subject to the call OF the
mayor.
About fifty colorcd people were pres
eat 10 witness the hearing.