Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-21
HARPER IS UPHELD
IN BAN ON STRATON
Auditorium Directors Ap-
prove Refusal to Let Pastor
Speak in Hall.

Action of Robert NJ Harper in deny
ing the use of the Washington Audi
torium by Rev. DR.. John Roach Straton
for an address against Gov. Smith was
unanimously approved" by the board
of directors of the auditorium corpora
ton at a meeting last night, MIR. Har-
per announced today.
At the same time Mr.. Harper, who Is
president of the corporation, denied a
charge by Elmer E. Rogers of the Scot
tish Rite News Bureau, that he barred
DR.. Straton because otherwise 1T
would make him (Harper) appear mer-
censry to his Smith co-workers." The
auditorium head also declared he
could not recollect having. made re-
ported statement to Rogers to the ef-
feet that If he allowed "a man like
Straton to use the hall he would bring
down upon his head the wrath of the
Roman Catholic Church"
Harper's statements we're prompted
by the issuance of letter attacking
him for his action. and sent to the
newspapers by Rogers. The letter said
that I'VE feel that Col. Harper is for
getful of these constitutional provisions
Ifor free speechD and that he is ex-
ercising a power in derogation of them,
and that. as a disciple of democracy.
he should be the first to come to the
defense of freedom of speech, letting
the chips fall where they will"
Called "a Censor"
His refusal to rent the Auditorium
Tor the use of DR.. Straton appears to make
him censor of political thought and
feeling linking him with opinions de-
structive of our free institutions" the
letter declared.
Rogers said he was chairman of a
Protestant lay committee appointed to
make arrangements for the appearance
of Dr. Straton before mass meeting
here this month
! Il called on the manager of the
Washington Auditorium to engage the
Auditorium for the evening of either
September % or September 90" Rogers
letter said. The manager informed me
that the hall was available for either
of the two nights, but that it would be
necessary for me to name the purposes
and the speaker. as the board of direc-
tors of the Auditorium would have to
pass on the matter. / gave him the
name of the speaker and stated the sub
ject would be The Moral Issues of
This Political Campaign
'As was leaving the hall Col Robert
Harper. chairman of the board of direc-
tors of the auditorium came in. The
manager Immediately told him of my
mission. Col Harper said that he would
not allow DR. Straton to occupy the
hall for the purposes stated: that DR.
Straton was abusive in his remarks
concerning AL Smith: that If he allowed
a man like Straton to use the hall he
would bring down upon his head the
wrath of the Roman Catholic Church.
Moreover. Col Harper said that he was
supporting Smith for President. and If
he rented the hall to Straton it would
make him appear mercenary to his
Smith co-workers.
Ex-Nun Incident.
Col. Harper then briefly recalled the
unpleasant experience he had with Ger
tain authorities of the Roman Catholic
Church because he rented the audi
torium to an ex-nun for several nights
last Winter He said that he had been
caught between two fires, that OF the
Roman Catholic Church and some
Protestants. When he complied with
the demand of Roman Catholic author
tiles for an apology for renting the
auditorium to an eX-nun he was I'M
mediately called upon for apologies Tor
anoIogizing to the Roman Cathollc
Church. The Protestant position. how
over was that Col. Harper exercised ms
natural and legal rights in renting ms
nuhjic auditorium to those who sought
il for the expression of freedom OF
spcech guaranteed in the first amend.
ment to the Constitution of the united
States and that no apology was due the
Roman Catholics"
Harper Makes Statement.
Harper told The Star today that the
Auditorium is open at all times 1of
honest discussions OF public questions
hut that it is not to be used as place
for self-appointed individuals to villlfy
The candidates of either party"
"If they adhere to the bona noe IS
sues of che campaign in the proper
wav for the enlightenment of the peo-
nle they are welcome" he said.
"The Auditorium is owned by more
than 400 business men. We want pub
lie discussions there on any important
public question. but the discussions
should be made by persons who are
accedited TO make them, and not by
self-appointed agents who wish to
wreak personal spite against either OF
the candidates.
THE candidates cr1 fccrcdited repre-
Continued on PagA4. Column H.