Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-05
WASHINGTON MAY BAR
PRIZE FIGHT PICTURES
Police Chief Says He Will Pro.
hibit Exhibition-Mr. Ru-
doIph May Acquiesce.

Impressed with the scenes on the
streets Of the District last night fol-
lowing the receipt of the returns from
the fight at Reno, District officials to-
day seriously consider barring exhibi-
tions of pictures taken at the ringside.
Their decision will probably be known
tomorrow.
Police Chief Sylvester is most pro-
nounced in opposition. He has an
nounced that he will do his utmost to
prevent the showing of the pictures
here.
None of the Commissioners will give
his opinion for publication. Commits
sioner Rudolph, who studied the effects
of the fight announcement on the
crowds last night. said this morning
him to prevent stirring up feeling such
as prevailed in the crowded streets
yesterday afternoon.
Several ministers have asked the Com
fight. on the ground that such pictures
are demoralizing.
Sylvester Has Not Seen Rudolph.
When Maj. Sylvester said last night
that he would do all in his power to have
the moving pictures of the fight kept out
Of the District, he had not communicated
with the Commissioners. Commissioner
Rudolph had not seen the chief Of police
this morning when he spoke of the pic
lures and discussed privately the adj
visibility of prohibiting theaters to ex-
hibit them.
The matter would, in the routine of
events, be brought up by Commissioner
Johnston. Commissioner Rudolph. up to
now, has said that IL there are any peo-
pie who do not care to see pictures of
q - --I
However, he said this morning that the
temper of the excited crowd last snight
had made him think little more deeply
on the subject. He had begun to listen to
those who believe that stirring up the
race question as the fight has done will
be far from beneficial to the community.
Prohibition by Police Chief.
81 am going to inform the proprietors
of theaters here that they will not be
permitted to show the pictures" said
Mai. Sylvester this morning, 'and let
them fight 1t out. The order will also
apply to train holdups and sensational
burglaries."
Mai. Sylvester says he thinks the con-
duct Of people in all sections of the coun-
try last night give clear indication OF
the ugly feeling caused by the result of
the fight. The showing Of the pictures, he
says, would mean an awakening of that
feeling and the probable renewal Of last
nights troubles.
''In this city, added the chief of police
where children under sixteen years of
age, una ccompanied, are permitted to at
tend theaters. the conditions are such
that incalcuiable injury would undoubt-
edly result The showing OF the pictures
would affect the minds of the children
and would also renew the hostile feeling
on the part OF many white men.
mo good and much harm, he added.
''can only result from exhibiting the pic
lures"
Maj Sylvester explained that his pro-
posed action is to be taken because he
believes the elimination of such pictures
from the theaters will prevent the demor
alization OF the youth Of the city. as well
as Of older persons.
View Of Assessors Office.
b. F. Adams. acting assessor for the
District, said that he knew Of no provi-
sion Of law which would give the Com
missioners authority to revoke a theater
license. When the owners of the theaters
have complied with the legal require
ments and have obtained the necessary
licenses. SO far as he knew, the licenses
could not be revoked.
The corporation counsel, he stated. has
held that signatures obtained are good
for succeeding years and do not have to
be obtained each year.
'"The police" he added, may be able
to proceed against the proprietors Of such
places under another law"