Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-07-09
FIGHT PICTURES.
Motion Picture Syndicate
Will Not Show Them
In City Or Town Where Ad-
verse Legislation Obtains.
Champions Home Will Not Bar
Them Action In Other Places.

Chicago, July 8.-Stirred by the
growing sentiment throughout the
country against the exhibition of the
Jeffries-Johnson fight films, George
Kleine. William Selig and George A.
Spoor, representatives of the Motion
Picture Syndicate, issued this state
ment last night:
mo effort will be made to show
the pictures in any CITY or town where
adverse legislation has been taken. 1T
will not be necessary to get out in
functions, for this combine does not
intend to buck the law in any city or
slate. We do not think these pictures
are any different from those which
have displayed the Johnson Burns and
Johnson ketchel fights, but if we find
that popular sentiment is against them
we will lay them on the shelf and not
show them at all"
Unless Chief of Police Steward and
Mayor Busse chang their minds, the
motion pictures of the Jeffries Johnson
fight will not be barred from Chicago.
While the chief merely says: Il VIII
cross that bridge when / come to 1t,
it is said that personally he does not
think the morals of the city will be
| injured by the pictures.
In order to block the pictures, the
chief under the city ordinance would
have to declare them either immoral
or obscene. Assistant Corporation
Counsel Bielman pointed this out yes
terday in an informal opinion prepar-
ed at the request of Corporate Coun-
sci Brundage
| New York, July s.-''The statement of
Messrs. Kleine, Selig and Spoor as to our
attitude on the exhibition of the Jeffries-
| Johnson fight pictures correctly repre-
| sents our attitude as nearly as can be
| stated at this time" said William T.
| Rock of the Vitagraph Co. of America,
| in his Office today, shortly after his ar
| rival here from Reno with the original
films of the fight pictures in his posses
sion.
| II can think of nothing to add at this
time to the statement these gentlemen
made in Chicago" cotinued Mr.. Rock
unless it be TO say that while opposi-
ton to the production of the pictures in
certain localities is expected, it is my
belief that the general public sentiment
|
The people as whole think it will be
| found, want to the reproduction OF
the great battle, and while we do not ex-
| pect to combat adverse sentiment by le-
gal means, there is every reason to ex-
pect that the views will be generally
| shown
Mr.. Rock said that at a meeting of all
those interested in the fight pictures, to
| be held later it was expected that a def
| ME plan of action would be decided upon
! and announced The films themselves
| are turning out we'll, he added They
| We're got here in three days and seven
| hours after being started from Reno and
| We're promptly sent to the company's fac
| tories in Brooklyn where a dozen or so
| sets will be made for a starter Tenta-
tive plans have been made for a test of
| them early next week At
l. Philadelphia, July S.-A committee
from various civic organizations of this
| city which called upon Mayor Rey-
burn tooay to protest againts the pro
dnction in Philadelphia of moving pic
lures OF the Reno fight left the City
hall with but slight encourage cement
that the mayor would prohibit the pic
lures. Il understand the entire mat
ter and | will consider your request, -
answered Mayor Reyburn after he had
listened to half a dozen arguments by
those VINO asked that the fight pic
lures be forbidden by executive or
| der. The mayor said later to inter-
| viewers:
Il think the whole thing a night
| mare. l have had no request for per-
| mission to show the pictures and why
| should | make an announcement now /?
| 1T Will be time to take stand when
| an attempt Is made to show the pic
lures
The committee which visited the
| mayor was composed of seven promi-
| nent women and a half dozen men,
| including one Negro lawyer.
Nicksburg, Miss, July San ordi-
| nance adopted by the city council last
night prohibits the production of the
Jeffries- johnson fight pictures in Hais
city
Little Rock. Ark, July Sin a let
ter TO the prosecuting attorneys of the
IL districts of this state. Attorney Cen
eral Norwood yesterday instructed
that immediate legal action be taken
to prevent an exhibition of the pic
lures of the Jeffries- johnson fight.
Havana, July 8-The government
has prohibited the exhibition of JEFF
frles-Johnson fight pictures. The in
cltement of racial animosity was
feared.
Pretoria, July 8.-The South African
government has sent instructions to
the police throughout the Union to
prohibit exhibitions of moving pic
lures of the Jeffries- johnson fight.
Woonsocket, r. l., July S.-Mayor
Mullen has ordered the police to pre-
vent the exhibition of the Jeffries-
johnson prize fight pictures in this
city.
Norfolk, Va, July S.-Mayor Riddick
said today that although there is a
legal point involved, he will suppress
the Johnson Jeffries fight pictures if
1t lies within his power
Admission, Ala, July 8.-Addison D.
Snow, the colored maVor of Hohson