The Winslow mail., 1910-08-20

representing the fight between Jack
Johnson and James Jeffries for the
boxing championship of the world at
Reno, New, on the Fourth of July.
According to reports the pictures of
this fight are to be made the main pre-
text to injure N industry that promis-
es far greater benefits than the fanati-
cal agitators and jealous opponents,
persecution are capable of bringing
about.
After nearly forty years. connection
with the press, during which time l
hava had an abundance of proof that
the great leaders in the newspaper
field are sincere in their observation
that they offer "a fair field aid no
favor" l do not hesitate to ask for
space enough to make statement that
will help fair minded men to a rational
conclusion as to the right of rabid
reformers to cause trouble, and inn
mense loss without further warrant
than bare assertion based on distorted
and grossly exaggerated reports of
evil being, and further to be wrought
by the exhibition of series of pictures
that show what man can do with the
weapons nature gave him, instead of
using the coward's knife or pistol.
During the past ten years the NOV
ing picture industry has developed
from its crude experimental stage as
cheap amusement for the populace
into a form of entertainment that
appeals to the most intelligent classes
of people in all civilized countries.
In its vast diversity of attractive
features the taste of a vast majority is
fully satisfied and the bearer of the
slender purse is able to enjoy himself
on equal terms with the richest.
Like every other great innovation
that threatens to diminish the power
and revenue of established institutions,
the moving picture was bound to meet
with violent opposition by jealous,
greedy and fanatical opponents; but,
notwiths standing all the obstacles put
in it's way, the moving picture is firmly
established as the dominant entertain
ment of the masses.
The cause for the rapid and tremen-
dous expansion of the moving picture
industry is obvious. A man can take
his entire family to suoh an entertain
ment for the price of one seat in the
gallery of Irregular" theater. Thou
sands upon thousands of men who
had spent their leisure hours and
money in saloons and gam bling houses,
whom the reformers, could not bring
to realization of their wrong-doing
now find it more profitable and agreea-
BILE to spend their spare time and
money in the picture houses" with
their wives and children.
The usual program of pictures pre-
sented at all the moving picture thea
ters Of the better class consist of three
reels of LOCO feet of film each: one
reel drama" the second a "scenic"
or purely educational series Of pictures,
and the third comedy"
Whoever will take the trouble to in
vestigate the moving picture theater
without prejudice and talk with many
of its most intelligent regular patrons,
as [ have done, for the purpose of
sscertaining the truth as to it's influ-
ence, will be greatly surprised at the
indisputable good done by this vicious
ly lampooned industry.
The dramatic part frequently is
religious subject that is far more i'm
pressive and insI iring than the pre-
ponderance of sermons head. Or it
may be a historical production that
gives a much better conception of
race of men, or of events and the Gus
toms of a Leriod, than Is fixed i'll the
mind by the forced cramming of any
text. Or it may be scenes that arouse
patriotism; a more chivalric spirit in
men who have found no such emula-
tion in their earlier environment Other
of these dramas depict social condi-
tions true to life that impress one
strongly that evild DING is an error that
sooner or later leads to misery and
disastrous end, while good impulses
and noble deeds bring happiness and
other rewards.
The so-called Irregular stage" at var
ious times has claimed to exercise a
s4lubrious moral influence, but in
view of he long vogue of it's devotion
to adulterous filth even it's most par
tial supporters have not had temerity
enough to continue that pretention.
More good, wholesome plays that
teach the advantage of praiseworthy
moral conduct have been shown on the
traduced screen during the past two
years than have been seen on the