Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-02
NICKEL SHOW SCORED
Rev. Zed Copp Gives His Opin-
ion of Moving Pictures.
DEMORALIZING TO YOUTH
Speaks Before Commts sioners for
Women's Missionary Union.
NO WAY TO REACH OFFENDERS
District Rulers Explain Helplessness.
Women Clerks in Liquor Stores
Objected To.

Motion picture shows and the hve-cent
theater shows we're characterized as gen.
orally demoralizing and the practice of
employing women clerks In liquor stores
was also scored at conference today
between the board of Commissioners and
members of the Womens Interdenomina-
tional Missionary Union Of Washington.
Rev Zed Copp. in speaking for the MEM
bers of the union declared that - per
cent of the motion picture shows are de-
moralizing and filled with vile ideas of
life and tend to cheaper crime and pro-
duce a vicious life.
Classification of Character.
He personally visited some shows sew
eral months ago. Classifying the char
acter of the performances he said:
would say that per cent are in
structive-pure. wholesome amusement
and beneficial to every one. Twenty per
cent are amusing. The remainder are
bad and immoral
He named a number of exhibitions as In
the latter class. He contended that these
shows appear particularly attractive to
girls of tender age and young men, who
learn to make the motion picture places of
amusement their rendezvous. These ex-
hibitions should be prohibited, he main
tained.
Mr.. Copp said he was ashamed and his
cheeks were af1ame upon leaving one
show
In answer to a question from Commits
sioner Macfarland. he said that out OF
the twenty-five motion picture theaters he
visited only eight.
Women Ready to Waive Modesty.
Mrs. John Culbertson explained to the
Commissioners the object of the confer
ence, saying the character of motion pic
lures shown in this city is such that steps
should be taken to eliminate the objec-
tionable features. She said that Mr. Copp
who is familiar with the subject. would
describe visits made by him and that the
women present would waive their modesty
in order that the facts, no matter how
embarrassing. might be furnished the
Commissioners.
Commissioner West said that was not
necessary. as Mr.. Copp could, in private
inform the Commissioners of such facts
and they would be looked into wlthou,
s,ibjectins the ladies present to any un-
necessary embarrassment
Before Mr.. Copp spoke Commissioner
Macfarland suggested that he use discre-
tion.
Following Mr.. Copp, Mrs Margaret Ell
lis of the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union addressed the Commissioners She
devoted her attention to what she termed
the degrading employment of girls In
places where liquor is sold" practice,
she declared. which is the entering wedge
of establishing the English barmeid sys-
tenn in this city.
Rev. S. H. Woodrow of the Metropolitan
Congre ga tional Church, the next speaker
scored the class of exhibitions furnished
by the motion picture shows and declared
the worst shows are generally given on
Sundays
Commissioners Are Helpless.
Commissioner West said the Commits
sioners are without authority to prose
clfte the theater mana gements and can
not take the responsibility of acting AS
guardians for children. inasmuch as there
is no law limiting the age of patrons of
such theaters
Rev. Donald c. Mcleod of the First
missioners that he is shocked at the way
spoke were Dr. Wilbur Crafts OF the in
ternational reform bureau. and Mrs
Washington Topham. representing the
Sunday schools
In conclusion Mrs Culbertson read a
letter from Rev. .Randolph II. Mckim of
Epiphany Church. in which he said the
cheap theater is corrupting the youth of
She also asked that the
Commissioners appoint a committee to
look over all pictures before they are
used in the theaters-to be known as
censorship committee. She said the ap-
pointment of such a committee was sug-
gested to President Roosevelt last week
and met with his approval.
At the conclusion Commissioner Mac
farland stated that the Commissioners
would do everything to remedy conditions
within their present powers, and consider
what II any new legislation could be rec
Two things asked he said.
could be done only by Congress-namely
the absolute closing of theaters Sunday
and the prevention of the employment of
women in liquor stores. Personally he ia
vored both propositions
AS to the police censorship of moving
and slot pictures. he said IT was not
hour by hour and day by day
examining pictures shown In more than
Twenty-Five different places scattered over
the city.
Commissioner West Acts.
At the conclusion Of the hearing Com
missioner West addressed a communica-
tion to Maj Sylvester inviting his atten-
llDl 10 the law WHICH uCcil dpSioN GU
march,. 1901. and which provides for the
revocation of any license issued To the
proprietor of theater or other public
place of amusement whenever il shall
be shown that the person holding the
license has failed to comply with such
as may be prescribed by said
for the public decency.'
Commissioner West directed Mai. Syl-
vester TO institute thorough supervision
over the character of entert a inments pre-
sented at the so-called five-cent theaterS
and to promptly report when the law is
violated Commissioner West stated that
the regulations on the subject forbid the
presentation or exhibition OF anything
which in any manner is offensive to COM
mon decency.
1.-The proprietors of these thcaters have
already been notified said Commissioner
West that their licenses will be revoked
If they violate the law and the police
department will bring such violations
promptly TO the Commissioners in order
that action may he taken. As | stated
at the hearing this morning. the Com
missioners have no authority to c,ose
nor can they arbitrarily. refuse to grant
a license for the estfse elishment of Il
theater no matter what INC price Of ad-
mission may be. They have however
I he power 10 supervise the character OF
the entertainments given, and this power
Will be fully exercised"