Birth of a Nation Promoters After Mayor Thompson
All Sorts of Influence Being Brought to Bear Upon City Executive in Order to Have Him Change His Mind and Allow Obnoxious Pictures to Be Exhibited
FILM SHOWN FRIENDS
Mayor, However, Refuses to Attend Private Exhibiton—Harmony Loving Citizens Do Not Believe That He Will Allow Money Sharks to Turn Him From the Right
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Source: Chicago Defender, editorial, 29 May 1915, pgs. 1-2.
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The efforts to inflict upon Chicago the race-hating, prejudice-breeding moving picture film known as "The Birth of a Nation," will not down in spite of the fact that Mayor Thomspon has announced that he will not permit the exhibiton of this film The promoters have again inaugurated a campaign of publicity looking toward changing the attitude of the administration and wringing from the Chief Executive a permit to exhibit the film.
Newspaper accounts report that the promoters gave a private exhibition of the pictures at the Illinois Theater on last Sunday to which were invited the representatives of the daily newspapers and officials connected with the city administration. Mayor Thompson did not attend this private exhibition but he is reported to have indicated his willingness to view the film should it be arranged conveniently where he could see it.
The promoters insist that the Mayor has heard only one side of the
case and that he has taken the word of those who declared the film would
incite race prejudice and possibly riots.
What One Rev. Stewart Says
Rev. Dr. Stewart Edmonson, pastor of the Evanston Ave. Methodist
Episcopal Church, was one of those permitted to attend the private
exhibiton of the film. Commenting upon it in the Chicago Examiner, he
said: "There are some things one naturally wishes one might have
been eliminated. The Negro 'Gus' pursuing and frightening 'Little
Sister' to her death, is an ugly pciture and instinctively when seen,
because of its dire and hateful portrayal, one wishes and declares that
by education and every God-given power we propose to keep every race of
mankind above that kind of thing. The intention of this photo-drama is
to bring before the young the horror of that spot in our country's
history that, please God, never will be experienced again. Its effect
upon children is difficult to estimate in an satisfactory measure.
Financial Gain Only Aim
"There are heroes of the War displayed but the other ugly and
devastating pictures erase much, if not all, of this glory."
The comment by Dr. Stewart is mild and in a small measure tells the
rest of the horrors which this photo-drama displays.
Leave It to the Mayor
The eagerness on the part of the promoters to reap the financial
harvest which this much advertised film will produce, is responsible for
the vigorous efforts now being made to induce the Mayor to change his
mind and permit the exhibition of the picture. It is to be hoped that
the Mayor will not deflect from his former position and intention to
prohibit the exhibition of this objectionable "movie." That it
will tend to incite bitterness and race hatred there can be no doubt.
The horrors of slavery and ante-bellum days are blots upon the Nation's
escutcheon that all true Americans, black and white alike, are anxious
to forget. Certainly the Mayor, in this day and time, when efforts are
being so vigorously directed towards bringing to a closer understanding
the two races, will not permit an injection into the peaceful relations
of these peoples in Chicago, the exhibition of a "movie"
picture photo-drama, surcharged with venom, spite, bitterness, and race
hate.
[End of news article]
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Page compiled: 18 February 2000
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