The Washington herald., 1913-12-23
Police ELIFT BAN
ON motion film
Traffic IN Souls" Presented
at the Belasco Without
interruption.
FINAL DECISION PENDING
Board of Censors viii Decide Today
Whether Moving Pictures May Be
Seen Throughout Week.
FINAL DECISION PENDING

Traffic in Souls" was shown at the
Relasco last night. Two performances of
the now famous white slave film were
given, one at Z and one at o'clock, and
both were attended by large-siZed audi
ences. There was no police Interference.
Tn ban put upon the pictures Sunday
night by the police board Of censorship,
because of alleged Objectionable features,
was lifted late yesterday afternoon at the
close of a conference in the ONCE of Cor
poration Counsel Symes, attended by Mr..
Syme, the three District Commissioners,
and Attorney Henry z. Davis, represent
ing the theater.
Last nights performances, though open
to the public were test productions" "
They were attended by Corporation Coun-
sci Syme, Assistant Corporation Counsel
Varnell, Capt T. ]. Hollinberger, and
Lieut. Harrison, both of the First pre-
cinct. These men acted as censors, and
their decision as to the fitness of the
pictures for public exhibition will be
made known today. Upon this decision
depends the question as to whether or
not the Traffic in Souls film is to be
shown at the Belasco throughout the
week. as originally scheduled.
Lieut.. Harrison said last night:
every Girl Should See It,"
Lieut. Harrison said last night:
Taking it all around, the pictures are
good There is nothing indecent or sug-
gestive about them. They present great
moral lesson. I believe the film can ac-
complish much good. The pictures give
food for serious thought, and every
woman and girl should see them"
Lieut.. Harrison intimated that while he
himself approved the film in its present
form 1t may be changed to some extent.
Assistant Corporation Counsel Varnell
suggested that If the other censors should
protest against the present form a few
cuts might be made.
If the attitude of the audiences last
night Is to be taken as a criterion. the
decision Of the censors today will be IA
vorable to the film, for at the conclusion
Of both performances those present put
their unmistakabIe stamp of approval
lyon the pictures by prolonged applause.
There were numerous women and girls
among both audiences, and all partici-
pated in the applause.
Audience on Lookout.
The action of the board of censorship
il. lifting the ban on the film, and in al
lowing it to be exhibited in public be-
fore giving their decision as TO whether
it should be shown the rest OF the week.
was unique and unparalleled in film
annals, In explanation this statement
was given out by Attorney Davis last
night:
The Traffic in Souls pictures would
never have been barred by the police
Sunday had it not been for the fact
that the censors did not see the whole
film. They did not wait for the sreat
moral lesson that this photo-play tea ches.
Now that the whole film has been seen.
10th by the censors and the public,
am absolutely sure there will be no OBJ
lection whatever to its continuance"
Sylvester's Move Praised.
There was general expectancy among
the audiences last night During the in
termissions between the different reels
scores Of heads turned around to see if
the operator was still "on the job
The District of Columbia Christian En-
deavor Union at a meeting last night
adopted a resolution indorsing the action
last Sunday of Maj. Sylvester and the
District Commissioners in barring the
Traffic in Souls" film.
Condemning what they termed ''the
tendency to commercialIze the movement
for combating social evil" and referring
to indecent and demoralizing'' films, the
preachers meeting of the Methodist
Episcopal Church last night sent a letter
TO Mai. Sylvester congratuIating the su-
perintendent of police upon his action of
last Sunday.