Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1910-07-06
FIGHT PICTURES.
war ON Films Of Reno MiiI-Denounced
by Mayor of Observation-Disclosures Of all
Cities Asked to Prohibit their Exhi-
hffion-

bitiOn.
Boston, July 6.-Denouncing prize
fighting as brutalizing, and the exhibit
ton OF pictures Of the Reno fight as no
less so, Mayor Fitzgerald, OF Boston,
today announced that Boston would
see nothing of the Jeffries-Johnson
battle.
Prize fighting in itself, said Mayor
Fitzgerald, in explaining his position, is
brutalizing and for this reason is prohi-
bited in and about every state in the
union. In a few months no state in
the union will permit a prize fight.
Boston ought to take the lead in ban
ishing pictures OF these contests which
necessarily have a tendency TO degrade.
Consequently, / do not think that the
pictures of the fight will be given in
Boston"
The mayors announcement fol-
lowed the inception of a general
crusade against the fight pictures
which has been begun by William
Shaw. General Secretary Of the Chris
tan Endeayor Society. Mr.. Shaw has
sent appeals to President Taft, Theo-
dore Roosevelt, Governor Hughes, Of
New York, and Mayor Gaynor, Of
New York city, urging their influence
against the use. OF the moving pictures.
Today be sent to mayors and govern
ors all over the country the following
telegram:
Race riots and murders already
generally follow the announcement
Of Johnson's victory. Moving pictures
OF the prize fight will create more vio-
lence. Will you join in a general APP
peal to authorities, cities and towns to
prohibit the fight pictures as the law
provides9 Help save our young people
from the demoraliza6ons shows. Wire
answer"
Pittsburg, Pa, July6.- Jeffries-John
son fight pictures will not be exhibited
at the moving picture shows here lift
is found they incite riot or encourage
crime, according to Director OF Public
| Safety John NJ. NORM, and S%Uperinten-
dent Of Police Thomas A. McQuade
here today. Let each nation choose
his champion pugilist, he suggests, and
pit him against other champions when
ever international disputes arise. In
this way we can avoid the maintenance
of armies and n%avies, and save millions
of dollars and thousands of lives"
New York, July 6.-Led by the
United Societies Of Christian Endeavor,
with 1000, 600 members, and the In
ternational Association OF Police Chiefs.
a movement is on foot to prevent the
exhibition Of the pictures OF the JeffrieS-
Johnson fight that promises to be in
ternationaI in its scope.
The American Vitagraph Company,
which own the films of the fight, is
believed TO have expended a quarter Of
a million dollars in purchasing the eS-
elusive rights and in taking the pictures.
Jeffries was paid S66, 666, while John
son got 500, 200
Richard and Gleason got a cut and
still own one-sixth Of the rights. In adj
dition, the moving picture concern
spent a small fortune perfecting ma
chimes for making Improved pictures,
sending a score of expert operators to
Reno and in other incidental expenses.
The picture people. expected to take in
81. 900. 900 during the first month the
films were on exhibition. This sum is
sure to be reduced materially if the
agitation against the production OF the
pictures continues to spread.
Some OF the larger cities that have
put the stamp of disapproval on the
pictures are Washington, d. c., Gin
c%innati, Boston, st. Louis, Atlanta,
and Baltimore.
Mayor Robert F. Maddox, of At
lanta, Ga, acting with Carlos Mason,
chairman Of the police board, has re-
fused to allow the pictures to be shown
there.
St. Louis. July 6.-Action will be
taken by the st. Louis police board TO
prevent the exhibition Of the Jeffries-
Johnson fight pictures here.
Lincoln, Neb., July 6.-"The John
son-Jeffries fight pictures will not be
exhibited in Lincoln" declared Chief
of Police Malone today.
Columbus, o., July 6.-That the
Jeffries-Johnson fight pictures repro
duce a barbarous affair; that they
would have q demoralizing effect on
youth and hat they will breed racial
troubles, are some Of the reasons being
urged today why Mayor Marshall
should forbid the presentation of the
pictures here.
Chairman Reynolds, Of the police
board, Of st. Louis, has called a special
meeting Of the police board for tonight
to prevent the exhibition OF the pic
lures in that city. The mayor Of the
city also has added his protest against
the pictures.
In many southern cities the agitation
against the fight ipictures is increasing.
Baltimore is almost sure to bar the
pictures. The board OF police. COM
m%issioners has asked Mayor Mahoolto
take aation and the chief executive re-
piled that such request from the com
m%issioners would meet with hearty APP
prevail II
The craze has extended abroad. In
Johannesburg, South Africa, the bio
graph halls themselves have prohibited
the pictures. The latest race feeling
in South Africa would burst into a
flame, the managers declare, if the
pictures were placed on exhibition in
that country.