The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1910-07-07
Leaders in the Movement Now
Plan for Enactment of Laws
Prohibiting Boxing Bouts IN
All States.
AGITATION WILL CAUSE
LOSS OF 2 MILLIONS
Picture Machine Companies
Plan to Fight the Case in
Court-Have Been at Enor-
nous Expense.
tAmerican News Service,


Boston. July Tin spite Of tho ap-
parent success which attended the ef.
forts of the church influences to sup
press the prize-fght pictures reports
today indicate that the first
strenuous storm of indignation against
the films is losing its force and many
large cities are changing their atti-
tude. The argument that the exhibit.
ton of prize-fight pictures is no more
and fully as lawful as
publication by the newspapers OF the
progress OF the fight by rounds ID hav-
ing considerable weight
This fact has not discouraged the
leaders of the movement against pugil.
ism, however, who today began lay
ing plans for the enactment and en-
forcement of anti.prize fight laws In
every state In the union.
Since the United Society OF Chris
tian Endeavor under the direction or
its general secretary. William Shaw,
sent out from this city an appeal
against the fight films. twenty-nins
cities have oficially put the pictures
under the ban. and six states have
taken or prepared to take action to
bar the films.
d At the same time tAst the flght on
the pictures Is being waged from
coast to coast, there has been started .
strong movement against the appear
ance OF Jack johnson. the only negro
worlds heavyweight champion ever
seen, on the vaudeville stage. Minis
ters want him barred In one city
Washington, d. C.--and others led by
Atlanta, have said through their ON
cials, I'VE don't want him here"
Cities That Allow Pictures.
The campaign has failed, to all prac-
tical purposes however, in several OF
the largest cities OF the country. Re-
newed efforts to secure the prohibition
of the pictures today resulted In the
information that therei little pros
pect of success for the movement in
several cities besides the large ones
that first refused to bar the films.
Besides New York, Philadelphia and
Chicago, the pictures will have field
In many cities
Definite word was received IN ROs-
ton today that the owners Of the Alma
who have purchased the flghters' In
terests In the pictures, the promoters
retaining sixth interest, have deter
mined on legal battle in an effort to
break down the opposition.
viii Fight In Courts.
Although no definite plans have
been announced by the picture men,
it is expected that the contest will bc
taken to the federal courts II II
claimed that the prohibition is uncon-
stitutional, discriminative and beyond
the police powers OF municipalities or
states.
A Boston man prominent In the
moving picture industry. today said:
First and last, this agitauon-H the
prohibition is upheld. means q loss Of
fully $2,O0O.OOO to the moving pic
ture business The present owners
Of the films paid the fighters $4,000
for their share and that outlay was
added to materially by the cost Of
taking the pictures and preparing
them for the market. They are being
brought east on special train from
renQ-
The loss to the owning company u
estimated by museum man 10 b
more than 100000 in prospective
f1m4 OF course In many cities sti1l
open to the films It will not be : dead
losss But there Is added to this the
loss Ito the picture house proprietofs.
At d conservative estimate this would
be more than equal to the loss q the
owIkrs : It Is probable that the pic
turk business. Wholesale and retail
wilss fail to get fully $2.50OnO0 which
| it would have had had JeRrfes won
and had there been no agitation"
With the pictures barred IN Boston
and several other Massachusetts cities
Governor Draper II was learned today
would like TO extend the ban over the
entire state. He II afraid, however,
| OF legal obstacles. believing that such
drastic action would have no basis IN
the law.
Support of Churches.
The movement already has the tacft
support Of the entire church world.
Leader Of the Epworth league q the
INethodist church have taken steps to
Join the movement, following the lins
| OF action adopted BY tho Christian IN
deavorerx
The Christian Endeavorers arc elat-
ed over the replies received from Gov.
Ansell Of South Carolina, Gov. Donag.
I hy Of ArkansaS, Gov. Mann q yIr-
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