The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-12-12
PEOPLES FORUM
The Picture Show.

muuicatiou which appeared In you
issue OF the 9th inst. spoke his
own sentiments, he is an anarchist
pure and simple. But it is more
than probable that he forgot what
spectacle he was making of him
those good people who discussed |
the propriety of stopping by legal
means, the reproduction OF brutal
pr.zc fight in one OF our picture
shows
First. he tortures this discussion
into IAN agitation to stop the picture
shows OF our city" This shows that
he did not start out to be candid
for no one thought OF stopping the
picture shows. He has nothing to say
In fcnsc Of the prize fight, except
that It Is not as bad a. football
lut the brazcn cffrontery with which
he breaches the doctrine that It Is
nobody's business what we see. is
what makes his piece worthy of no.
tice, and the flippancy with which
he applies the name of "Bigot,'
shows the object of his communird-
tion. IT his theory Is correct any
one would have right to come
here and exhibit reproductions Df
the most obscene orgies of the dives
of Paris. and II anyone attempted
to stop It. he would be compared
to the bgots OF the middle ages.
who burned heret.cs at the stake.
Who Is to Judge of what ought 30
be- prohibited? Somebody, or some
tribunal. must decide what is prop
y cr. or rather. what Is improper. No
l restrictive law was ever passed
4 that did not make some one feel
that his rights were being trampel-
e ed upon, and according to the doc
'- Il right 10 kick The line mus. De
/, drawn -umcwhcrc, or thern must
r b, no such thing as law. Just
where that line should run, Is always
' matter of legitimate discussion,
y hut after the proper tribunal has
g decided. and that proper tribunal
O. Is our law making power then no
good citizen will oppose its enforce
~ ment
v lie tells US very grandiloquent y.
that scientific education came aud
the Inquisition disappeared. DOES
he not know also. that scicntif,1
- education has banished public hans.
y, ings. bull fights and prize fights.
from nearly every state In this
, union? Why? Because these same
scientists say these things have a
bad influence on the formation Of
character
q Now, whether this exhibition
e should have been prohibited. Is
q useless discussion, for It has already
e. happened and done its harm or
good, but the right of our law max.
ing power to control such things, is
y one that no good citizen can or
will question The governor of the
y, state of Texas called special ses.
sion of the legislature to pass a Law
p prohibiting prize fight, aud no
one called him bigot
r. I'm many states there is a rigiu
+ censorship over the pictures nat
a are exhibited, and in an states. the
II law making power has always as
Il serted the right to prohibit things
" that are considered hurtful to the
morals Of the people. Many wise
" men are of the opinion that sensa.
" tional accounts of crimes in ojr
newspapers ought TO be prohibited
" by law, and all states have some
y line beyond which newspapers ana
pictures dare not go.
" But this correspondent boldly
y takes the ground that the people
who attend these places have a
- right to be free from all control in
that matter. lie is certainly an an
archist of the most pronounced
type. lie can not be a democrat or
, republican, for they believe the
, state has a right TO make laws IN
81 these subjects. lie Is not social.
, ist, for they claim the state ougit
To- regulate everything. ! once heard
preacher and a state senator In
p Texas discussing the prohibition
, question. The senator forgot himself,
like the writer In question. and gran
diloqucntly exclaimed: Nobody has
g. right to say what l shall not
drink, eat or wear"
Ie The preacher quietly interrupted.
rs Let the honorable senator start
Is down the avenue in the morning.