The Washington herald., 1910-07-07
new REGULATION
FOR FIGHT FILMS
Picture Men Threaten to
Defy Commissioners.
PASTORS TAKE ACTIVE HAND
Send Resolution of Support, While
District Officials and Legal COun-
sci Are Getting Ready 40 Oppose
Reno Exhibition-"There VIII Be
No Pictures" Declares Rudolph.

Following the announcement made yes
terday that the pictures OF the Jeffries-
Johnson fight would not be permitted in
Washington, trouble between the Com
missioners and moving picture men is
brewing. Some Of the latter are threat
ening TO make hght
The action taken, the Commissioners
say, is based Upon an act OF Congress Of
March /, 1901. and the police regulations.
The act reads: ANY license issued by
the assessor to the proprietor Of a thea
ter or other place Of amusement may be
terminated by the Commissioners when
ever it shall appear 10 them that, after
due notice. the person holding such license
shall have failed 10 comply with such
reguIat ions as may be prescribed by the
Commissioners for the public decency."
The section in the article of the police
regulations which the Commissioners and
superintendent Of police say covers the
case in point prescribes that mo enter
tainment shall be presented or exhibited
which shall In any manner be offensive
TO common decency." Upon these two
provisions the authorities say that the
fight pictures can be kept out Of the
District.
Say Law Is Insufficient.
The moving picture men contend that
there is nothing within these provisions
to prevent them from running the pic
lures as a regular part Of their enter
tafnment, provided that no disorder or
rloting follows the exhibition. Upon
their recourse to lawyers they are adj
vised, they say. that no court would
uphold the contention OF the Commits
sioners
Corporation Counsel Thomas said last
night It was his opinion that the provi-
sions of the law would not cover the case.
The Commissioners yesterday afternoon
had a specific regulation covering the
showing OF fight pictures drafted by
Counsel Thomas. It VIII be passed at
once, and viii give them the power to
revoke a theater license should robberies.
murders. or prize fights be shown. This
regulation. however. would not assist the
authorities in the present difficulty, as
thirty days notice would be necessary.
Within this time the pictures could be
shown throughout the city and the pro-
vision would be useless.
According TO adVices from William
T. Rock, president Of the fight picture
syndicate, ample legal and financial
backing VIII be given the city theater
proprietOrs. One OF the theater men
says he intends to run the fight pic
lures as a regular part OF his pro-
gramme on the frst day they reach
the city. He viii ask special police
protection to prevent any trouble be-
tween the whites and blacks. and is
determined TO run the pictures until
stopped by legal action.
BEGINNING of Fight.
The movement against fight pictures
began several months ago at the annual
meeting of the Police Association at Biz
mingham, Ala. At this convention a
resolution TO the effect that this assoc
citation deprecates and condemns the
moving picture shows that are making
false representation of the police. to-
gether with tragedy. burglaries. and all
immoral displays. as they tend to the en-
enlargement OF crime" The motion was
introduced by William A. Pinkerton, of
Chicago, who. In his defense OF the reso-
luton, included within his meaning all
reproductions OF prize fights and contests
of like nature
In this city the matter was taken up
. ~ 10 - Z nj
ton. The pastors yesterday adopted 8
resolution TO bar the pictures from the
city, and appointed a committee to wait
upon the Commissioners and the police
to protest against the negro champion
being allowed to enter the city. Rev. Mr..
Ball a week ago discoursed on the sub
ject
The W. c. T. L. the Twentieth Cen
fury Club, and various other religious
and social organizations throughout the
city put in their protest 10 the city
officials.
Commissioner Rudolph yesterday said
II think the result of the public showing
Of these films would be to stir up race
feeling. and If there is anything in Wash
ington that ought to be allowed to lie
dormant it is this race feeling. Owing to
the large negro population in this city
It is almost certain that serious trouble
would arise. You can say for me that
there will be no public presentation OF
these pictures
Some VIII Not Oppose.
While there are several moving pic
ture theaters determined to show the
films. several have declared against
them. The manager of an F street
| theater said last night that while he
doubted the authority of the police to
stop the presentation. he did not in
tend TO take the chance of stirring up
trouble like that of Monday night.
Many of the Pennsylvania avenue pro-
prietors have also taken the same
stand Others say that in the event
that they cannot be shown here they
are prepared to open up special pa
vilions at some of the resorts Just out