Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-07-08
BRUTALITY IN ARTS FORM.

Naturally those officials who see no
reason for preventing actual and adj
verified prize 6ghts in and near this
city VIII find no reason for prohibiting
the production here Of the pictures OF
the recent more widely Advertised prize
hght in Nevada. To the extent that
they are possessors OF the Jewel
of consistency. they could not very well
give consent and approval to the real
article while frowning disfavor upon
the Photographic imitation
And yet there are reasons for the
hope that these particular motion pic
lures may be prohibited In this city and
state. The sentiment which was against
the big fight itself being staged here
ought to exist. and does exist. against
the reproduction OF IL on the stage of
playhouse. The exhibition Is not made
less revolving by reason of coming sec
ond hand from the camera. II is not
rendered wholesome and elevatlng be-
cause IL is shown from a film In a dark
ened show-house instead OF being per-
formed under the fierce glare Of a sum-
mer .sun. To be sure. the tobacco
tainted and liquor soaked breath Of tho
multitude OF sweating spectators at the
real arena may be wanting from the
artificial show. and the cries and COM
ments and applause OF the excited null
titude, as well as the growls and jEbes
OF the trained beasts within the ring,
may not DO audible. But we take IL
these are about the only details that
will be missing. Indeed. 80 faithfully
true Is the representation Of the Reno
contest presumed TO be that the referee
appeals TO II TO settle a disputed point
as 10 the actual position of the gladia-
tors and himself at the supreme mo-
ment OF the fights conclusion.
Moreover, there are reasons why the
pictorial production is even more repre-
hensible than the actual battle itself.
There is no occasion here. of course,
for any fear OF a serious outbreak OF
racial feeling. Such OF the colored
population as might attend the show
would not be numerous enough. and are
not likely to be foolish enough, to IN
dulge IN anything that might lead to
rotfng or disturbance. That "superi-
orty" of one race over another which
consists in the ability to stand the larg-
err amount Of punching and pummellng
without becoming insensible, is GER
tainly nothing much for anybody TO
boast OF. A wooden Indian could stand
more beating, and suffer less from II,
than either white. champion or black
champion; while an to the matter OF
strength. brainless idiot can KNOCK
OUT half n dozen college professors
coming at him all at once. There isn't
a great deal 10 quarrel about. therefore,
In the quality Of racial supremacy as
determined by these standards
We repeat. however. that ~ there
were good and strong reasons why the
battle itself should not be permitted
TO take place here. there are better and
stronger reasons why It's pictorial re-
production should also be barred To
mention one or two: Where there
might have been one spectator at the
fight itself, there would probably be a
hundred or more at the picture show
Can any right-minded person approve
OF thus multiplying and rendering
cheap and easy the opportunities for be-
coming acquainted with human brutal
ity I'm one OF It's most degrading forms?
Again: the most sordid and calloused
OF promoters" would doubtless see 10
II that boys and girls at least and
generally women also. were not ad-
mitted to the arena where the real
fighting was to be done; even these
seasoned WORTHLESS are not hardened
enough to want children as spectators
their exhibition Is "for men only"
Yet to the pictorial exhibition every
body would be welcome who had the
price-tender childhood and impress
sionablc youth as well as those older in
experience In both good and evil who
without exception would admit that
such scenes were not At for innocent
children or refined maturity 10 LOOK
upon.
The agitation which r. spreading
over the civilized world against these
particular moving pictures, and which
Is making itself felt in salt Lake. Chief
Of Police Barlow Is understood 10 say
ne regards merely as a Joke" II is
unfortunate that during the short time
Mr.. Barlow has adorned his present
position he has treated as a Joke a
number Of matters which other people
have looked upon as quite serious. II
Is not becoming In chief OF police to
fan into the habit Of being too jocular
OF frivolous all the time. He ought
10 try TO be earnest and serious once
in while. FOR thus ne Is enabled to
detect the more accurately an actual
Joke when II comes along. And real
ly this present agitation does not seem
10 be one Of those latter occasions.
/. CONDITyoN. NOT 4 THEORY.