Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-10-28
Citizens Demand That Ly-
ceum's License Be Revoked.
BEFORE DISTRICT HEADS
Character of Performances at Bur
lesque House Declared Bad.
Management Of Amusement Place
Will Be Given a Hearing We'd
nesday Morning.

nesday Morning.
Encouraged by the initial victory won
when Judge Pugh in the Police Court
last week fined an actor appearing at
the Lyceum Theater for giving a per-
Torrance declared to be offensive to pub
lie deeency. local men and women who
are engaged in q crusade to raise the
moral standard of Washington's stage
appeared before the District Commission
ers today and asked for a complete revo-
cation Of the license held by the theater.
That the license be revoked already has
been recommended to the Commissioners
by Maj. Richard Sylvester, superintendent
or police. Action was deferred pending a
hearing to be given the management Of
the theater Wednesday morning at 10
o'clock.
Appearing before the Commissioners
Washington Truth Society. the Y. w. C.
A.. Monday Evening Club and pastors Of
churches of every denomination.
Those on Committee.
The committee included Bishop Alfred
Harding, the Rev. Charles ]. Mullaly,
8. j., moderator Of the Aloysius Club; the
Rev. Eugene A. Hannah, pastor OF St.
Martins Church. the Rev. Ignatius Fealy.
curate of st. Josephs Church: Chief
Justice Stanton j. Peelle of the Court of
Claims. the Rev. John v. Schaick, jr..
pastor Of the Church of Our Father:
Francis de Sales Ryan. vice president of
the Washington Truth Society; A. NJ.
Chesley, director of the boys department
Of the Y: M. c. A.; Miss Janet E. Rich
ards. Miss Elizabeth B. Brown. Mrs.
Mary 8. Lockwood. Andrew Wilson.
president of the Anti-Saloon League;
Rev. Randolph McKim. pastor Of Epiph-
any Church; Fred c. Croxton. represent
ing the Calvary M. E. Church; William
Washington Y. NJ. c. A: Susie Root
Rhodes. Rev. Charles Wood of the
Church of the Covenant G. X McLana-
han Of the board of deacons of the
Church of the Covenant. Henry B. F.
Mcfarland. former District Commission
err; e. s. Martin, director OF play
grounds; Florence M. Brown of the
Y. w. c. A.: Ellen Spencer Mussey.
of the Washington College of Law. II.
Bradley Davidson. Myron Jermain Jones
NJ. E. Endicott L. Gordon Leech. q. w. +.
Swartzell. H. A. Thrift, o. E. Darnall OF
the National Training School for Boys.
Jane Sharp Of the Y. w. c. A. Gordon
Law of the Y. NJ c. A. and Winfred
Dawson of the Y. M. c. A.
Names on Petition.
In addition, the names of other resi-
dents Of the capital were attached to q
Commissioners. requesting that the Ii
cense be revoked. Represented among
the latter were the Ri. Rev. Mgr. Will
liam T. Russell. rector Of ST. Patrick S
Church; the Rev. Eugene Mcdonnell, 5.
j., president of Gonzaga College: the Rev.
Eugene ]. Connolly and the Rev. Am
brose A. Beavens of the Immaculate Con-
president Of the Catholic Convert League.
The delegation was received In the
board room of the municipal building by
all three District Commissioners.
The request for the revocation OF the
license was explained by Francis de Sales
Ryan, representing the Washington Truth
Society, who, with Mr.. Chesley of the
Y. M. C.. A.. worked up the evidence
against members of q troupe appearing
last week at the Lyceum Theater upon
which one conviction already has been
obtained.
The Commissioners were urged by Mr..
Ryan to revoke the license of the thea
ter under authority contained in section
IS of the police regulations.
Cites Purpose Of Fight.
Several speakers followed Mr.. Ryan.
that the fight was not being directed to-
ward the cheap theaters directly, but
purely in the interest of improving the
moral tone of theatrical exhibitions given
in the capital.
Theater, was given permission by the
Commissioners to interrogate Maj. Syl-
vester and Capt. Hollenberger OF the po-
lice department concerning the license
tend theatrical exhibitions at any time.
Both officials stated that policemen are
given access to the theaters.
Mr.. Mayer defended the burlesque type
of theatricals, stating that the higher
class shows frequently are more vulgar
than those given in the burlesQue houses
He declared that none of those complain
ing to the Commissioners had ever made
a complaint to him or suggested changes
in the weekly bills.
He asserted that the burlesque show
arrangements do not cater to any one
class, but to the entire public. and that
they stand ready at all times to cooper
ate in the movement to raise the moral
standard of theatrical exhibitions.
Bill Changed, Is Charge.
The point made by the committee was
that, while the police officers who visited
the Lyceum Theater last Monday night
jections. the performance was varied
Tuesday night, features being introduced
of q character offensive to public de-
cency. 1t was Tuesday night that Mr..
Ryan and Mr.. Chesley visited the theater
and collected the evidence upon which
conviction was had in the Police Court.
Commissioner Johnston showed Mr.
Mayer a copy of a song reported to have
been sung at the Tuesday evening per-
Torrance. The manager declared that
when he heard the song it did not con-
tain the same words.
Commissioner Rudolph quoted from an
act Of Congress showing that whenever
it shall appear to the Commissioners that.
after due notice, the person holding SUCH
license shall have failed to comply with
such regulations prescribed by the Com
missioners for public decency the license
shall be revoked.
1t Is understood that the theater man.
agement will be represented by counsel
at Wednesdays hearing.