Evening star., 1923-01-30
UPSHAW ASSA|LS I
CRANDALL TRIBUTE
Declares "In Memoriam" for
Knickerb0cker Victims Like
Barren Fig Tree.
HITS AMBASSADOR PLANS
Says Stroke of Lightning Upon
Empty Theater Would Be
Just Retribution.

Returning from a speaking date in
Virginia, Representative W. D. Up
shaw Of Georgia was shown Harry
NJ. Crandalrs I'm Memorian" and
statement concerning the Knicker-
booker sufferers
TOO late" said Mr.. Upshaw, who
lost a niece in the tragedy. "Too late
and too empty"
Upshaw's comment follows:
Mr.. Crandalrs In Memoriam'
brings cold comfort to the Knicker-
booker sufferers. 1t comes about 4
year too late, and, like the barren fig
tree, brings nothing but leaves In
deed, one phrase can properly de-
scribe it-too late and too empty.
II know nothing of the current
charges which Mr.. Crandall numbered
and answered, but / do know that II
he has lifted his finger in an agsr-s-
sve effort to properly memorialize
the dead and comfort the sufferers
who survive, those of us on whom the
blow fell heaviest have never heard
of 1t.
Says Crandall Missed Chance.
How beautiful it would have been
IL. while the flowers on ninety eight
new-made graves were fresh. with
their-beauty and their tears and hun
dredS of hearts were bleeding for the
manned and the dead, he had called
all the sufferers together in one OF
his chain of theaters' and said to
them: My heart Is bleeding with
yours. My grief is all the greater be-
cause your unspeakable sorrow came
and my maintenance. j stand ready
to do anything and everything in my
power to bring you comfort. To show
you where my heart is. i will begin
by giving a benefit week or two
weeks or even a month in my chain
Of theaters to help you who may need
financial help"
THAT would have been human and
tender and practically sympathetic.
That would have enveloped the name
Of Harry Crandall with radiant halo
of generosity. What If 1t had reduced
his pile of dollars? II would have
gloritied all that he had left. But In
stead, some of those who have gone to
him for needed help have been given
the vacant stare and the marble
heart"
One manned man in a meeting of
the sufferers testified that the knicker-
booker proprietor said to him when he
asked: What are you going. to do
Crandall Look at my condition as a
result of the faulty construction Of
your theater' To which CrandalI re-
piled: You ought to be glad you have
that much left. You are better of than
those who are dead.
Scores Projected Theater.
Alas! And for answer to the plead
ing letters of the sufferers that an
other theater should not be erected
on the site of the Knickerbocker, Mr..
Crandail gives out the announcements
that the Ambassador, imperial with
splendor, viii stand there-a house of
roliicking gaiety, as "a memorial of our
sorrow and horror.
Surely an apartment house or soma
other business investment could have
been made.
Mr.. Crandall has nobody but him.
self to blame If his callous conduct to-
ward the Knickerbockerr. sufferers
makes them and many of the SYM
pathetic public feel that a stroke of
nghtnlng upon the empty mbassador
would be a just retribution and a fit-
ting answer to appeal for public nat
ronage There are some things in this
world higher than commercial values
ana the sacred sentiment that keeps
vigil over an unspeakable sorrow Is
such a priceless heritage"