New-York tribune., 1913-09-11
THE FIGHT" TO CO ON
TONIGHT, DENATURED
Deputy Police Commissioner
Will See if "Red Lights"
Are Really Out.
THE LURE FOR GRAND JURY
Special and Secret Perform.
ance To Be Given-Chief
Magistrate McAdoo Not
Censor, He Says.

The two plays which have been closed
because Of charges that they were i'm
moral and indecent-"The Lure" and "rne
Fight'-wil give performances tonight.
The performance OF The Lure will be
a special and secret one, put on solely
for the members Of the regular Septem-
Der grand jury. They will attend as in
dividuals, accompanied by c. F. Bost-
wick. Assistant District Attorney, and
stenographers who will transcribe the
lines for future reference.
This is IN accord with the arrange
mcnt made by Samuel Untermyer, attor-
ney for the Shuberts. to have the grand
Jury pass upon the play, and withdraw II
permanently If sixteen OF the twenty-three
members Of that body agree with Chief
Magistrate McAdoo that the play Is i'm
moral and indecent.
The other play, in an expurgated ver-
sion will have a regular public per-
formance tonight, al which Deputy Com
missioner Newburger. representing the
Police Department, will have a stenog-
rauher with him to take down the lines
Of the denatured performance. New
burgers report on THE Fight in its
original form was accepted by Chiet
Magistrate McHdoo as evidence upon
which H. serve a warrant on William
Harris. the theatrical manager
Bayard WELLER. the author; Mr. Harris,
the producer. and Max d. Steuer, counsel
for tho Harris firm. united yesterday in
the statement that the new and revised
version OF THE Fight" would have every
thing Objectionable eliminated from IT,
Mr. 6teuer offered yesterday, in letters
10 Chief Magistrate McAdoo and Police
Commissioner Waldo to send copies OF
the manuscript OF the revised version 10
those officials. I'm advance OF the perform
ance tonight, If they would agree 10 ex-
anime them and pass upon the play from
that angle. Both officials refused the offer,
however with protestations that they did
not intend to set themselves up as play
censors.
The Chief Magistrate went further and
said he would have nothing more to do
with the play unless the police came to
him again and sought new warrants
II told them ! would not read the al
legged revised version" said Chief Magls-
trate McAdoo. " and that | did not intend
to even attempt 10 set myself UP as
sort OF censor. II they put on a play
under that name il will be for the police
to look into il, and IL they find that IL
contains anything indecent or immorsl
10 lay their evidence before magistrate.
Il will not furnish them with any
moral character for their play in ad-
y
hands. II a play is put on that is prop
erly expurgated. so that the indecency
complained OF before is eliminated. OF
course there would b.. 40 evidence UPON
which TO base a complaint"
For the Police Department and its attl-
tude on the prospective performance OF
the expursated edition Of THE Fight
Tonight. the only announcement made
was that Deputy Newburser would at
tend the performance There will not be
any attempt on the part OF the police
20 prevent the performance tonight, and
II tha play is revamped sufficiently SO
that in Newburgcrs judgment there IS
nothing to complain OF, 1t will be permit
ted 10 continue I'm that form
II any OF the matter previously com
plained OF is left in, however, Commits
sioner Waldo will take steps to close the
theatre Immediately after to-nights per-
forrnancc. and Will make an effort TO have
the theatres license forfeited.
II other Objectionable matter, not in
cluded in the previous version OF THE
Fight is found I'm the revised version
the police will proceed with another COM
pIaint 20 the Chief Magistrate and ask
new warrants In that event the matter
will he treated as an entirely new case
10 be prosecuted i'm addition TO the one
now on the books against the Harris