Holbrook argus., 1910-08-23

representing the fight between Jack Johnson and James Jeffriee for the boxing championship of the world at Reno, New, on the Fourth of July.
 According to reports the pictures of this fight are to be made the main pre- text to injure sn industry that promis- es far greater benefits than the fanati- cal agitators and jealous opponents, who are instigating this clamor and persecution are capable of bringing about.
 After nearly forty years connection with the press, during which time l hava had an abundance of proof that the great leaders in the newspaper field are sincere in their observation that they offer Ia fair field aLd no favor," 1 do not hesitate to ask for space enough to make statement that will help fair minded men to rational conclusion as to the right of rabid reformers to cause trouble, and im- mense loss without further warrant than bare assertion based on distorted and grossly exaggerated reports of evil being, and further to be wrought by the exhibition of series of pictures that show what a man can do with the weapons nature gave him, instead of using the towards knife or pistol.
 During the past ten years the nov ing picture industry has developed from it's crude experimental stage as cheap amusement for the populace into form of entertainment that of people in all civilized countries.
 In it's vast diversity of attractive features the taste of vast majority is fully satisfied and the bearer of the slender purse is able to enjoy himself on equal terms with the richest.
 Like every other great innovation that threatens to diminish the power and revenue of established institutions, the moving picture was bound to meet with violent opposition by jealous, greedy and fanatical opponents; but, notwithstanding all the obstacles put in it's way, the moving picture is firmly established as the dominant entertain ment of the masses.
 The cause for the rapid and tremen- dous expansion of the moving picture industry is obvious. A man can take his entire family to such an entertain ment for tho price of one seat in the gallery of regular" theater. Thou sands upon thousands of men who had spent their leisure hours and money in saloons and gambling houses, whom the reformers could not bring to realization of their wrong-doing, now find it more profitable and agreed ble to spend their spare time and money in the "picture houses" with their wives and children.
 The usual program of pictures pre- scented at all the moving picture thea ters of the better class consist of three reels of 1000 feet of film each: one reel "drama''; the second "scenic" or purely educational series of pictures, and the third "comedy."
 Whoever will take the trouble to in- vestigate the moving picture theater without prejudice and talk with many of it's most intelligent regular patrons, as I have done, for the purpose of ascertaining the truth as to its infiu- ence, will be greatly surprised at the indisputable good done by this vicious ly lampooned industry.
 The dramatic part frequently is religious subject that is far more im- pressive and inspiring than the pre- pond derance of sermons head. Or it may be historical production that gives a much better conception of a race of men, or of events and the cus- toms of a period, than is fixed in the mind by the forced cramming of any text. Or it may be scenes that arouse ] patriotism; more cbivalric spirit in men who have found no such emula- tion in their earlier environment. Other of these dramas depict social condi- tions true to life that impress one strongly that evildoing is an error that sooner or later leads to misery and a disastrous end, while good impulses and noble deeds bring happiness and other rewards.
 The so-called irregular stage" at var ious times has claimed to exercise salubrious moral influence, but in view of the long vogue of its devotion to adulterous filth even it's most par tial supporters have not had temerity enough to continue that pretention.
 More good, wholesome plays that teach the advantage of praiseworthy moral conduct have been shown on the traduced screen during the past two years than have been seen on the