The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-07-07
PROMPT ACTION ON TIE PICTURES.

PROMPT ACTION ON TIE PICTURES.
The prompt action of the Richmond Board
of Police Commissioners i'll directing Chet OF
Police Werner not to permit the exhibition here
of rhe JohnsonJ etfries prize-hght pictures Is
in every way to be commended. 1t shows that
lie s.,ty administration is in sympathy vita the
better sentiment Of the people at large, now
finding general expression throughout the
country II indicates purpose before evidenced
ii, protect the people of Richmond so far may
be possible, from debauchng influences through
the medium Of places of public entertainment
III is To be hoped, and we believe, that the ac-
lion Of the authorities will be cheerfully con
CURED in BY the homogeneous of the various
moving picture establishments They owe such
concurrence to the community and to themselves
Even upon purely financial consideration, bet
ter Judgment would seem TO advise against the
production of the pictures At the best ''the
I fight would draw crowds for only brief period
II would draw Objectionable crowds and give
fhe houses bad name 1t would drive away
regular and respectable patronage for class Of
people irregular and not respectable. The houses
that carried the films would not recover
from the effects of having exhibited them.
Aside from this consideration, however the
markable and gratifying sentiment finding eN
preston throughout the country at large, City
after city has spontaneously taken similar ac-
/ ton Governor after Governor Mayor after
Mayor have recommended their suppression.
& Among these Governor Mann and Mayor Rich
Z arslson have spoken for Virginia and Richmond
promptly and effectively. The general protest,
In fact, indicates not only consensus of opinion
That the pictures in themselves dangerous and
undesirable but what is better it proves revul-
sion Of feeling against the practice of prlze-hght-
I. ING, upon the latest manifestation of which the
q pictlirts are based While it may be admitted
that in some jurisdiction the question Of legal
right to prohibit such pictures is a close one,
while ii is true that the picture syndicate has
javcsted largely in the films, the situation Is
" me Which, should be resolved in the first instance
iii accordance with clear public sentiment.
q That sentiment is against the pictures. They
should BIO certainly suppressed until the courts
81 say that there Is no way by which this may
Is legally be done We have no idea that the courts
b will say any such thing, since the police power
ought 10 be broad enough TO cover the case, but
iii the meantime the picture syndicate should
be left to make such legal fight as II considers
worth while. It has blindly spent much money
upon the theory of giving the people an entertain
II nihnt that they did not want If il chooses to
q throw good money after bad, rat is a mstter for
y the syndicate. with which the public has nothing
std do, and in which it is not interested.
VI The ground upon which the pictures are pro
hibifed in Richmond is that their exhibition
will tend to promote race prejudice and riot
" While that is certainly the tendency, the re.
straint shown in this city, where there are thou
san1s Of negroes at the time of the fight itself i
I'LL the more admirable in contrast with what &c
h CURED in other places. We do not believe that
q the pictures would create trouble which the
u thew might do So and it is the function of thC
NJ police TO prevent the chance Of trouble, as wei
as to suppress trouble after it has occurred. The
~ better ground is that the pictures the repre-
III sentation Of actual acts which, if committed il
& Virginia, would constitute a crime. The statute
q against prize-fghting NOT, conceive
passed to protect the thugs who might be inclined
N It engage in il 50 much it. to protect tht
people from the debauching sight Of such con
tests The pictures furnish such sight and
h apart from everything else, are in violation o
he spirit Of tie law. if not Of It's actual ietrer
= Al Ii matter for congratulation that anyone wish
y Ing To see how prizefght looks will surel,
~ have 10 travel out of Virginia as he would i
@ re wished 10 see the actual fight itself
M NEEDS A CHANGE OF HEART.
The movement among South and Contra