The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-03
Mr.. GE|SLER'S
ATTACK FALLS
Of OWN WEIGHT

The sensational attack made yesterday.
by Rev. w. f. Geisler pastor OF the
church. which Chief of Police
Frank A. Matthews family at
tends. upon John b. Nash, and
incidentally upon the police commits
sion because OF It's decision not to drive
Nash out of business. caused little COM
ment in police or business circles today.
In the course Of a sermon To his little
congregation the Rev Mr.. Geisler
spoke strongly upon the subject Of THE
Penny Vaudeville and other evils" chiefly
upon the penny vaudeville, and In part
said:
THE apology that has heen accepted
for the insult in the picture at this place
is an added insult from those who made
no use of the opportunity TO administer
punishment. Punishment Of that sort to
a criminal by anybody whose business
il is 10 know what is going on in these
places is most silly.
That kind OF punishment would cause
laughter II II were not 80 serious
man who takes away from a person by
putting into his brain a poison that may
one day drag him down to degradation
does that one more harm than he who
takes away a limb or a life
Members OF the police commission this
morning refused to make any comment
on Rev. Mr.. Geisler's structures, not de-
string apparently 10 be drawn into any
controversy now that they have done
what they considered their duty 10 the
fair-mnded, spirited people OF
the community.
John r. Nash also refused TO say any
thing concerning the statement that the
picture which caused all the trouble did
more harm than could be done by him
who takes away a life"
Others were less reserved. One gentle
III.
10 statements OF that character? Here's
the police commission, wel-balanced
body OF practical men who believe in do
ing the right thing as they see II, without
visionary attempts at reform such as
some ministers of the gospel delight TO
undertake.
They have passed upon the question
from the practical, common-sense view
point, and have done what they consid-
cred their plain duty in the matter with
out attempting to unnecessarily punish a
man for what could not be proved against
him.
Between the police commissioners who
follow the law and the ordinary rules OF
fair play and a minister of the gospel
who believes even the deliberate exhibit
ton OF a bad pitcure is worse than KILL
ing man, whose view, whose judgment,
would you takN?
THE commissioners are, as ] have said,
DfdCtlCal
sense a judicial body, IN daily contact
with men and affairs, and they are bet
ter able 10 Judge what had best be done
in such circumstances as confront them
from time TO time than are a large ma
jorty OF the most intelligent and con-
servatve ministers. TO say nothing OF the
viewpoint Of the narrow minded and i'm
practical kind.
IT understand that the apology OF Mr..
Nash and his explanation OF the crcum-
stances under which the picture got into
a machine without his knowledge or con-
Sc mt and the discharge OF the offending
ma nager were satisfactory TO the priest
and gentleman who made the complaint;
and they were satisfactory. so far as /
could judge from public comments and
newspaper statements, to the people OF
Providence generally; but the pastor OF
tho church which Chief of Police Mat
thews attends-a man whose name figured
to some extent during the Cristy Mat
thews trails much wrought UP and re-
fuses to be comforted The best thing
for the commission to do, IL would seem.
would be to behead John Baptist Nash
ami present his head on charger 10 some
OF his enemies"
The police commission. as already stat
ed is exercising the closest possible SUI
pervision OF the pictures shown in all the
penny vaudeville places. having taken
the matter directly under Its supervision,
ana lS only 700 dHAlouo w lOOtiNh Npiii-
plaints from citizens who object to the
kind of pictures exhibited. to investigate
the complaints and cut out all objection
able features.
Neither Chairman William IT. Luther
nor Col. Harold j. Gross, 1t appears. can
imagine why all this outcry should be
started at Just this time, though they
probably must remember that the first
complaint against Nashs place came at
lust about this season last year, when
Chairman Luther was a candidate for re-
election to the board, just as Col. Gross
Is TODAY. and was opposed in minis
ters' meeting by this same Rev Mr.. Gels
Ter, pastor OF the little Methodist church
that Chief Matthews attends.