New-York tribune., 1913-09-10
RED LIGHT PLAYS HALT;
MANAGERS MAKE TERMS
"The Lure" and "The Fight"
Will Await Decision Of
the Grand Jury.
TWO PRODUCERS ARRESTED
But Lee Shubert and William
Harris Are Released After
Agreement with Chief
Magistrate McAdoo.


Agreement with Chief
Magistrate McAdoo.
The two plays which Chief Magistrate
McAdoo decided should be closed up as
Indecent and immoral"-"The Lure and
THE Ffght"-surrendercd temporarily
yesterday. pending future developments.
Lee Shubert and his counsel, Samuel
Untermyer. on behalf OF THE Lure, y
agreed to keep that play of the boards
until the regular September grand jury
has passed upon IT. In the event of an
adverse decision from that body. Mr.. I'm
termyer said. The Lure" would ne per
manently withdrawn and the companies
playing II disbanded.
William Harris and his counsel. Max
d. Steuer. while agr, eing TO close The
Fight" for the immediate present, and
while requesting the same privilege OF
submitting their play to the grand jury
did not bind themselves to anything more
than a temporary surrender, and Steuer
practically announced later that Bayard
WELLER. the author, would rewrite The
Fight" with the idea OF eliminating the
parts said to be objectionable.
In an expurgated edition, therefore. ac-
cording 20 their plans Yesterday. the Har-
ris firm will produce The Fight to-
morrow, but Mr.. Steuer was anxious 70
make II clear that they would invite po-
lice criticism.
Mr.. Untermyer did not evince any such
desire 10 have the police pass upon MS
clients play. and. on the contrary n
his letter TO the chief magistrate, said
that the matters now under considera-
ton. as well as such previous simi ar
theatrical affairs as Mrs. Warren's Pro-
fession." emphasized the need OF some
kind OF a play censor.
Police Commissioner Waldo was not
called upon 10 act because OF the agree
ment Of both managers with Chief MaE-
istrate McAdoo that they would not pro-
duce their plays until later. and he would
not say what action he would take IN
connection with the proposed revised YER
sion OF The Fight" until production
OF II was attempted.
Two Managers Arrested.
The warrants for Lee Shubert and Will
tam Harris. which Chief Magistrate Nc
Adoo announced on Monday would be
sery.d were served on those two man
ayers Yesterday. The service was formal
and while bail was set In each case AT
$500 the bail was not demanded. and the
III
own recognizance.
Mr. Tntermyer made the arrangement
with the District Attorneys Office TO have
the case against The Lure presented
direct 10 the grand jury. and while inc
formalltles in the chief magistrates OF
fee would naturally carry tho case 10 the
Court OF Special Sessions. the grand jury
action will take precedence.
C. I. Bostwlck. the Assistant District
Attorney who has charge OF the matter
and Charles c. Mott, who IS hct!ng DIS
trict Attorney IN the absence OF Mr'
Whitman. said it was likely that the man
ayers. authors and actors OF the TWO play
would come before the grand jury as Wiz
nesses. waving immunity from prosecu-
ton. and thus put before that BODY 'heiT
Interpretation and explanation OF the
lines Of the plays after they were read
&c the grand jury.
Mr.. Bostwick pointed out that as grand
fury session must be secret under the
law, any public presentation OF the play
70 be attended by the grand jury would
not he proper, but he said there would be
nothing TO prevent the grand jurors as
individuals attending "A special perform
ance Of each play. Both managers are
eager 20 accommodate the grand Jurors In
this respect, and It is possible that such
snec,al performances for the grand jury
will be given within the next few days
The grand jury will reach the show cases
tomorrow.
After the hearing before Chief Magis-
,rate McAdoo yesterday Mr.. Cntermyer's 3
letter 10 him was read into the record
after which Mr.. McAdoo made brlef
statement and agreed 10 tho plan proposed
by the Shubert lawyer. to apply to both
cases
Mr.. Untermyer made his argument
chiefly on the basis that hosts OF social
and charity workers and prominent men
and women who read and approved the
plav before Il was produced and have
since witnessed its production are OF the
cpinion that II teaches n great moral les
son. and that its production VIII aid
them I'm their work Of reform"
Public Censor Needed, He Says.
I'VE need badly public censor in this
CITY," Mr.. Untermyer's letter went on.
"Tbere is almost unanimous demand for
the continued production Of this play
among the splendid. self-sacrifcing re-
form workers who are best acquainted
with the evil OF which II treats"
As Mr. Shubert was about 10 leave tho
chief magistrates office a sergeant from
Police Headquarters. who had not under
stood the arrangement made between Mr..
McAdoo and the two managers. said he
would have to take both Mr. Shubert and
Mr.. Harris to Police Headquarters. Their
lawyer hurried to the chief magistrate 4
office. and had him call in the sergeant
TO explain to him that the matter was out
of police hands for the present
Mrs. Harris. the wife OF the late
Henry b. Harris, and Bayard WELLER, the
author OF "The Fight" waited outside
the building at No. 300 Mulberry street in
an automobile while the proceedings
were ON before Chief Magistrate McAdoo.
The warrant for Mrs. Harris. which Mr..
McAdoo spoke OF on Monday. was not
served. as II was decided that for a test
Of the questions at Issue II would be
enough to have the manager OF each play