Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-12
Stop BAD PICTURES
Humane Conference Delegates
Discuss Effect on the Young.
FAVOR CENSORING FILMS
On Record Against Permitting
Vicious and Immoral Views.
FUTURE OF CHILD AT STAKE
Life to Come More Important Than
the Past, Declares Mr.. Car
stems of Boston.
FAVOR CENS0RING FILMS
FUTURE OF CHILD AT STAKE


a worldwide crusade against perniciouS
! moving picture films was launched by
the international humane conference at
its session i'm the New National Museum
this morning.
Thomas II. Agnew of New Orleans,
whose paper served as the basis for the
discussion, and the delegates who particle
pated in the debate, denounced those in
terests responsible for the demoralizing
scenes still found in many shows, but
they also recognized the possibilities for
good that exist in motion pictures.
The recommendation of the confer
ence, while they have no direct authority.
Will serve as quasi-Official ultimatum in
the various nations which are represented
at the meeting. 1t is the suggestion of
the congress that a censorial authority be
established to eliminate vicious and i'm
moral pictures. Violations, it is recon-
mended, should be punishable by a fine
or imprisonment, and such offense
should, if possible. be declared an offense
against the child and be tried in the
Juvenile Court
Mr.. Agnew urged the societies for the
prevention of cruelty to children through
out the country to exercise a constant
supervision over moving picture shows,
and said even where there are no laws
such supervision will have a beneficial
effect.
Favor Their Abolition.
Several speakers declared motion pic
cal views were overruled. Masujiro Hon
hiC <o thn.
interests who by motion pictures instill
hatred or suspicious dread of other ma
tons in the young mind He referred es-
peclaliy to films depicting japanese spies
THE state" said he, ought to take
steps to institute Censorship over this
Kind of exhibition. These shows are
popular particularly among the poorer
classes because they are a source of
amusement at cheap price. Conse-
quently the allurement is very great to
the child and the impressions gained at
these performances are generally lasting.
| hope this congress will be emphatic in
it's demands for an elimination of all
abuses
Other speakers pointed out that the
physical conditions surrounding the nick
elOdians were in most cases far from
IDEAL.
Henry Clay Preston of Brooklyn said
the paramount evil of the new theater is
the exploitation of the cheapest kind Of
meiodrama, together with every species
OF criminal adventure.
Should Look to Future.
Peter Goelet Gerry, chairman of the
day, introduced C. C. Carstens of Boston
as the first speaker this morning shortly
after $50 O'Clock. Mr.. Carstens, who is
secretary and general agent of the Mas
sachusetts Society for the Protection of
Children From Cruelty, told of the vari-
GUS services a protective agency may
render community.
He closed his remarks with the follow
ing statement: "Our societies have been
too much concerned with the child's past
history and with punishment of the Of
fender. We should lay more stress on
the child's future
Dr.. William o. Stillman, president of
in the discussion that followed this paper,
and declared that all humane societies
should not try to reform society by
force. I'VE should get at the base OF
the evil and endeavor to influence the
foundations for crime in a gentle man
ner,' said he in conclusion.
Rev William De Loss Love. Ph.D..
president of the Connecticut Humane So
ciety, addressed the assemblage on the
financial support due anti-cruelty socie-
ties and his remarks were well received.
NJ. j. White of San Francisco in his
report told of conditions in California
ana concluded by saying:
one class of dependents is causing us
no little concern. They are the little ones
who are brought before the juvenile
courts because of intemperance, i'm
morality and neglect of their parents.
Testimony without limit is presented in
court and yet too often the children are
turned back by the judge into the very
conditions complained of, with only a
warning to the parents. which in the
majoritNof cases the latter do not heed.
fnr
are brought time and again before the
courts, and eventually they appear not
as dependents, but AS delinquents.
Fault of Administering Law.
The fault complained of is not in the
law, but in it's administration We are
working by speech and pen to remedy the
evil There are two causes for this COM
plant, one is unhealthy sentiment and
the other is politics. In our efforts to
benefit children we have been often in
terfered with by the probation officers,
who seem to be possessed of the idea that
since their creation there Is nothing more
for societies such as ours to do but to
step down and out. In fact, their posi-
ton has in some instances been defined in
just so many words. Notwithstanding
ing them that the field is broad enough |
and the work sufficient for all to make |
themselves useful and not interfere with |
each other"
This afternoons session. which began
at 2:3O O'Clock, is the last one to be de- |
voted to questions of child protection. |
Among those scheduled to speak at this |
meeting are Thomas w. Wrenne of |
Nashville. Tenn: Owen r. Lovejoy of /
New York city, B. n. Baker of Baltimore |
and DR.. Max G. Schlapp. New York.
A lantern exhibition Of American and |
European slides, depicting child protection |
work, will be given this evening at Z |
o. clock, and at $50 o'clock reception |
will be rendered the delegates by Mrs. |
John B. Henderson at Boundary Castle,
10th and Florida avenue Beginning to-
morrow morning and continuing until Sat
urday. the sessions will be devoted to
questions pertaining to protection of ami
mails.
An addition to the exhibit which is at
Iracting attention is the display of useful
and Ornamental articles made by defect
i've children under the direction of the |
public school system. The board of edu-
ca ton has selected the best work of the |
pupils for the exhibition.
The Washington Humane SOCIETY has
also contributed to the exhibition.
Would Protect Mice.
A. l.. Partridge of San Francisco, won
the applause of the audience last evening |