The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1912-08-05
Those Wishing Closing of all Shows
On the Sabbath to Have Chance
to Place Signatures.
THE MAJORITY WILL PREVAIL,
Tom Smart Says City Fathers Will
Act in Accordance With Will of
People as Expressed.

With petitions being circulated by
the theater people and others to be
circulated this week and next by
| those who wish the theaters closed on
Sunday nights, it appears that the
council will be called upon to Judge
between two active classes of peo-
pie when the roll is called August
10 for the passage or rejection of the
moving picture and dance hall ordin-
ance. At the council meeting to-
night, it is probable that contem-
plated amendments will be intro
duced.
Opinion on the ordinance seems to
be divided only on the question of
whether or not the theaters shall be
closed on Sunday nights. The dance
hall provisions have been accepted
without protest and there does not
appear to be any opposition to regu-
lating the age of children which can
attend dance halls and theaters, But
the Sunday night closing provision
has practically divided the city into
two factions on the basis of personal
preference.
While the opinion that it would
be better for the youth of the city
it they did not go to exciting places
on Sunday evenings and that the clos
ing of all theaters on Sunday night
would make for better moral tone
in Bemidji, there is a large group
of people in Bemidji who appear in
favor of a compromise measure which
would allow the theaters to do busi-
ness on Sunday and yet eradicate
many Of the causes of criticism.
This group favors the elimination
of all vaudeville, which is produced
in two of the three houses, on Sun
day night and the showing of pic
lures which are harmonious in spirit
with the Sabbath day. It believes
that many of the vaudeville troupes
duce sketches which are in accord
with the reverence which is due Sum
day and that if the theater eliminated
the vaudeville and showed only pic
lures which are not exciting in char
acter, an equitable compromise would
be reached. .-..
Bemidji ladies are taking more
active interest in this ordinance than
in any which has been proposed in
recent years. While the men as
whole are mostly reserved in their
statements for or against the Sunday
closing feature, the women generally
appear to favor closing.
Mrs. G. R. Sanborn said: at is
a good thing. Let the council pass
the ordinance. 1t will help better
our city"
Mrs. J. J. Conger said: ri am in
favor of closing the theaters on Sun
day, of course. I think the young
people ought to go to church in the
evenings and older ones too."
Mrs T. J. Martin said: 81 think
that closing the theaters on Sunday
would be the proper thing. They
offer too many attractions to the
young people and are the ruination
|of Christianity among thousands of
them"
Asked if she was in favor of clos
ing theaters on Sunday evening, Mrs.
John Gibbons said: Certainly. Peo-
pie could find other amusements that
would be more helpful
Many other Bemidji ladies' were in
terviewed yesterday and in but one
case was there any expression Of
opinion of keeping the theaters open
on Sunday. The women are plan
ing to present petition to the coun-
Gil IN opposition to that being circu-
lated by the theaters Tom Smart
stated yesterday that the council
would act according to the wishes
of majority of the citizens.
The ordinance will receive its Sec
ond reading and be open to amend
ments tonight.