The San Francisco call., 1909-09-08
MANAGER WILL
ELIMINATE BAD
LINES OF PLAY
Responds TO Storm of Protest
Raised Over 1.-The Girl
From RectOr's"
District Attorney Promises TO
Aid Movement TO Censor
Unclean Dramas


Section Sll Of the penal code pro-
hibits exhibitions offensive to de-
oeney or such as are adapted to excite
vicious or Iewd thoughts or acts"
District Attorney william H. Lang
don yesterday advised committee of
citizens that this law was not sufi-
cient TO stop the production of The
Girl From Rectors." AS a result Of
the existing agitation. however, a new
ordinance viii be drafted at once to
prevent similar inhiction in future,
while much Of the offensive dialogue
in the play viii be eliminated.
When Manager Fred FIeck announced
yesterday al conference with District
Attorney Langdon and Chief of Police
cook that he would eXpurgate offensive
lines and eliminate sslacious scenes the
question was asked il this would not
do away with practically the entire
play.
LAW MINIONS PoWERLESS
The law as il stands is powerIess to
prevent the continued performance of
The indecency labeled The Girl From
Rector's" This advice was given by
District Attorney Langdon yesterday
10 a deputation from the California
WOmen's club. consisting Of Miss Edith
Hecht. Mrs Louis Hertz and Mrs. +. NJ.
Malloye, accompanied by Rev. Cecil
Marrack. Dr. f. r. Ollie. J. c. Astredo,
J. G. Chown and DR.. L J. Sawyer. There
were also present at the interview
Chief OF Police Jesse Cook and Detec-
tives Bunner and Freel.
WORSE THAN BARBARY COAST
J. c. Astredo, who said he had seen
the show and that performances on
the Barbary coast were clean compared
with IL. urged that section 3ll OF the
penal code, prohibiting exhibitions of
fensive 10 decency or such as are
adapted 10 excite vicious or lewd
thoughts or acts" made the perform
snces contrary 10 law, and in this argu-
ment ne was supported by Rev. Mr..
Msrrack
The district attorney replied that as
the law had been construed the case
would, he was convinced be at once
thrown out Of court
II we proceed against q member of
the company and lose the case, as
we would. it would be a stock argu-
rnent for the show in Seattle and Port
land and every other city and state in
the country. After Emma Goldman,
who was preaching absolute anarchy
was arrested here she filed every house
in which she Iectured throughout the
state In the same way when this Of
fre served notice on the management
or the performane called The Thaw
Trial At the Central theater last year
The proprietor got out n Injunction re-
r. :
although there were but fair audiences
the frst two nights, for the rest of
-.the week the house was packed.
The only way for you to deal with
this situation" Langdon continued, lis
10 have an ordinance drafted similar
to that by which the nickelodeons are
controlled. and thus prevent other
shows OF this character from opening
here"
Before the deputation left Chief Of
Police Cook suggested that it would
be q good plan to summon the man
p ger Of the show and the proprietor
OF the playhouse TO the district attor-
news Office with view TO having them
eliminate some Of the more filthy parts
OF the play. LangdOn agreed TO act
in that way, and il was arranged that
the manager should be requested TO
meet the district attorney and the
chief Of police at the Office OF the for
mer at 1 o'clock.
DEFENDS HIS PRODUCTION
Fred Fleek, the general mana ger. and
John Campbell. the business manager
OF The Girl From Rector's'' company.
accompanied by Selby G. Oppenheimer,
business manager Of the Garrick thea
Ter. met with District Attorney Lang
don. chief Of Police Cook and De-
tectives Freel and Bunner in the dis
rrict attorneys office in the afternoon
LanEdon informed the theatrical men
Of the conference that had been held
earlier in the day He said the con-
sensus OF opinion was that the show
was Objectionable. but he doubted that
ne could secure a conviction under the
present law.
There's not a vulgar word in the
pisv.~ spoke up Fleck in defense Of the
obnoxious production The city censor
in Seattle saw the play two or three
times and did not find fault with it,
II there IS anything Objectionable 70
YOU, to the chief of police or to the
, ministers Of the city, l am willing TO
hange st."
Langdon then asked Fleck TO eXpur-
gate the play so that il would not Of
fend. Fleck was willing TO do any
thing that was fair
If I could have conscientiOusly is
sued a complaint / would have done
so. said LanSoOn. Dut 1 nave taken
the other course and asked you to mod
fly the play"
Then followed a discussion Of lines
and scenes in the play that had ap-
peared offensive TO the two detectives
and to the district attorney from what
:: re had heard from those criticising
The production. Objection was made to
one scene in which a woman takes Off
q lace coat.
There's dress under the lace coat" !"
insisted FIeck. "It may look to some
people like a nightgown, but il is not.
Why. il cost S200."
Langdon remarked that appearances
. were against the dress.
AGREES TO CHANGE 1T
All right, we'll cut. that and have
her keep on her coat" replied Fleck.
AND so il was as point after point was
brought up. the manager consenting to
eliminate whatever was distasteful-
- the conclusion Of the conference
IL was decided TO allow the show TO
proceed as eXpurRsted, unless new pro-
tests are made by an outraged public.
Il have not seen the play. nor do 1
know what is in it." said Doctor Ollie.
when informed OF the result of the
conference 4 hope they viii make tho
plsy cecent II they are going to con-