New-York tribune., 1913-05-25
fDAVID BELASCO WANTS A PLAY
Dramatists, Attention. Must Be "Crook Play"
But with a Difference Manuscripts Will Be
Welcomed-An Opportunity for Women

tons VIII he essential continued Nr
Beasco. - myself who have hai a
fairly general knowledge OF police meth
DDS for many years, nave been absolutely
appalled, by the facts ! have gathered
during the last few years Of careful inyes.
tigation. Some poor Geyil. in a moment of
stress. caused perhaps by weak streak
in his nature or the awful power Of cir
Cumstances. will forge a check for a small
sum Of money. He is detected and sent to
prison for years. When released he is
dragged back to court time and time
again whenever the Police Department
sees iii 10 make a cleanup Finally he
finds it impossible 20 keep an honest posi-
tion and becomes Jim the Peuman or
MEX the Slick or some sucE notorious
character.
Give me play that will SNOW tho evii
OF prisons and afford clew To a better
way of treating such fellow Give ne
play that will send its audiences home
thinning Of Their unfortunate brothers aid
sisters. not as parahs and creatures OF d
different race. but as men and women
who have been weak and can be made
strong. firmly believe that crime is
disease just as truly as smallpox is
disease and somehow some time. II will
be considered and treated as such.
when We have our play on the
boards" went on Mr Belasco. smiling
little at his fancy. but still intensely ear
nest in his manner. I'VE shall have the
government spending some OF its moneys
in perfecting a cure or a treatment for
those who are criminally inclined. And
why should ii not? Ii spends millions and
millions OF dollars 10 find some weird con-
coction that will rid us OF a tiny potato
bug or weevil. Why should it not find
cure for crime?"
Isn't your play going to be rather
large order?' timidly asked the visitor,
who had begun TO feel rather like GRIM
inal needing regeneration under the COM
passionate eyes OF Mr.. Belasco.
Not If ii is written by a large play
wright" answered Mr. Belasco promptly
"Fm speaking OF mental calibre, you
know. not Of physical proportions.
Let me tell you another little secret
ne continued. warming up TO his subject
again. Il have had what you might call
a hunch' that this play will be written
by "A woman II IL is written at all. | don't
know why | say SO, except that | have
long associated the eventual bettering OF
prison conditions with the influence OF
women in the offices of responsibility IN
public institutions for criminals. Inc
present vicious treatment of criminals
would cease Immediately II trained ana
capable women were placed IN charge oi
the prisons and workhouses, and the poh-
tician and his grating undersrappers
ousted. This may sound as though
were adv ocating suffrage. | do not mean
ii SO. What | want to express is my con-
viction that women are naturally ntted
for the positions which involve the exer'
else OF infinite patience and true under
standing OF mans real nature. The trus
woman stands for faith, hope and cnar
ity 10 us all, and she should be permitted
10 bring these influences 10 the barren
places that exist in our civilized communi-
ties to-day"
~ suppose YOU are prepared Tor deluse
of plays on the higher treatment OF inc
criminal" suggested the visitor
Let them come along answered MI
Belasco cheerfuily. 80 much the oettei
for me, as shall then have bigger neu
TO select from But. mark my WORDS
The play | am looking for is bound "
come. and when It does come IT VIII oe
the biggest thing in the history ot tne
stage from the very FIRST moment II MAKES
its appearance.