The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-08-26
PLEDGE SUPPORT
To CLEAN STAGE
W. h. Rapley and W. h. Fowler
Plan to Bar Objectionable
Plays.
ALoYsIUs TRUTH SOCIETY
OFFICIALS ARE PLEASED
Success Attends Efforts. to Prevent
Vulgar Productions Being
Shown Here.

Pledging his personal influence and CO.
ment OF the Aloysius Truth Society and
The Washington Herald. w. H. Rapley,
manager Of the New National Theater.
yesterday announced that the house un-
der his direction would, during the COM
ing dramatic season, see to 1t that no
Objectionable plays would be staged in
that theater.
supplementing Mr.. Rapley's views
came a statement from w. II. Fowler,
treasurer of the New National, empha-
sizing the warm sympathy of the house
for the upiift movement being promoted
in this city, and expressing cordial ap-
proval of the attitude of the Truth So
ciety and The Washington Herald.
Mr.. Rapley and Mr.. Fowler were Wig
orous In declaring that there should be
no place on the stage Of a respectable
theater for the problem play, the i'm
moral and suggestive comedy, and plays
that offend against the dignity OF wom-
anhood. o..
-- VIII Bar Vulgar Plays.
The National stands for what is high
est and most exclusive IN things theat-
rical," said Mr.. Rapley. "Only the best
the very cream of dramas and amuse-
ments-is considered fit for the Capital
City's theatergoing public, and time,
labor, and expense are not sparet' In
obtaining the best and most wholesome
for our patrons.
Under no circumstances or conditions
would / have 1t otherwise. The moral
status OF our house comedies with my
own personal sentiments of morality.
Personally, 1 abhor vulgarity, coarse
ness, suggestiveness. and everything
risque and indecent, in word or action,
i am In no sense a prude. but the form
of amusement which tries to appeal by
moral uncleanness succeeds only in re-
pelling me.
Even in the event that some essential
ly good and commendable play booked
for this house should have in it line
or word that might he considered objec-
tional. / would personally have the unde-
sirable feature stricken from the bill.
officials Are Pleased.
The purpose of the stage is to elevate
and instruct, not TO degrade and suIly.
Every movement. therefore. that tends
to perfect the purifying of the stage is
commendable and deserving Of support"
Oficers OF the Aloysius Truth Society Of
Georgetown University expressed them
selves as greatly pleased over the theat-
rical outlook for 1912-13. Francis de Sales
Ryan, vice president Of the society. said:
Many clean and morally wholesome
plays are booked for Washington this
season, and theatrical experts and critics
whose views regarding cheap and tawdry
exhibitions of lewdness and indecency on
the stage are similar to our own, will be
consulted in the work of listing plays for
commendation."
Rev. Augustus ]. Duarte. S. J.. presi-
dent Of the Truth Society. said: There is
assurance that Washington, during the
coming season, will furnish an object les
son in public morality for the whole
The citizens of the Capital owe
a debt of gratitude to Mr.. Rapley, Mr..
Fowler, Mr.. Berger, Mr.. Taylor, and Miss
De Witt, who have contributed material
ly toward making Washington a city
beautiful morally as well as artistically."