Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1913-03-22
INDICTMENT FOR
MOVIES, THREAT
Of PREACHERS
ministers viii Visit Shows on
Sunday to Secure Evidence
for Grand Jury.


John E White. that IL would ask for
Indictment of the owners of moving
/ picture houses which operate to-mor-
row, claiming violation of the state
statute covering Sunday amusements
we shall makes tour of the NOV
ing picture houses tomorrow" said
Rev. John E. White, pastor of the Sec
ond Baptist church, and gather evil
dence to present To- the grand jury
next week. We shall ask the indict
ment of the house owners, if their the
aters are being operated, claiming they
/ have violated the state law.
We are thoroughly convinced that
these theater owners are in league with
other powers that seek to destroy the
sanctity of the Sabbath They have
refused to listen to appeal Now we.
will call in the law"
Frank Hammond, spokesman for the
moving picture men, declared to-day
that the contemplated action of the
ministers was mere conversation"
we can not be stopped from operat-
ing our picture houses so long as we
devote the proceeds of such entertain
ment to charity" declared Hammond.
| Let the ministers come to the Sun
day shows Instead Of coming to in
vestlgate they may stay to be edu-
Gated"
Declare Plea Was Ignored.
The five members of the Ministerial
Association who appeared before rep
resentatives of the moving picture
houses yesterday and presented resolu-
tons requesting the closing of the
houses on Sunday to-day declare their
appeal went for naught
The ministers told the moving pic
ture men that if they operated without
the law they would be prosecuted, but
| if they operated within the law through
some subterfuge, 100000 church peo-
pie of Atlanta would be asked at once
to boycott the movies even on week
days
we shall endeavor to attract such
moving picture house owners to this
city" said DR.. White o-day that will
not oppose our plan TO keep the Sab
bath sacred in this city. These men
will be supported by our congregations
! If the picture men insist on opening on
Sunday"
The warning factions will get to-
gether again late to-day, at which time
the last word on the part of the pic
ture men will be spoken. They have
already framed their answer. according
to Frank Hammond, spokesman for the
picture house owners.
More Men Are Defiant.
I'VE shall open our houses to-mor-
row and conduct them the same way
as We did last week." declared Ham
mond to-day,
The request Of the ministers is not
within reason. We do not seek to
! desecrate the Sabbath All we ask is
the patronage of those persons 10
whom the Sabbath is a day of rest and
who have no other time in the week
to seek innocent diversion
! The presentation of the resolutions
was dimmed by the discussion which
! followed their introduction
DR. John E. White, in presenting the
papers. said in part:
We do not wish to appear in the
role of straight-Iaced Purltans, nor in
! the light of trying to enforce our opin-
| ions upon those Of different attitude
! We represent southern ideals and the
/ safeguard of southern moral stand
ards We have no blue Sunday in the
/ South, but free, kind, neighborly
Sunday. with rest from daily business
pursuits.
Your shows have been good. Il
/ have personally attended them. Il
must say, however: Sabbath breaking
will compel us to withdraw our pa
tronage.
! I'VE therefore hope we can reach an
amicable settlement of this question"
Churches Pay Choirs."
Frank Hammond as spokesman for
the picture men said in part:
The interest of the moving picture
men in Sunday shows has been one of
| purely business nature. We have the
highest regard for the church ana
religious beliefs. We 90 not wish to
appear to censor YOU for the stand
J you take We merely contend that ev-
cry man has right to his own opin-
ion, and that we have our opinion
( sunday moving picture shows are
not the worst evil that besets Atlanta.
Every Sunday the cycIorama OF the
Battle of Atlanta, with all its scenes
| of carnage is exhibited 10 the public
at Grant Park and admission is
charged
Your own churches pay your choirs
to sing as regularly as the Sundays
| come.
The boats on the lake at Grant
| Park ply every Sunday and charge for
/ passengers.
Candy. soda water and cigars are
sold on Sunday without protest in open
! disregard of the law.
You can buy candy enough on sun
/ day to make every child in the city
/ sick. but YOU can't buy a dozen oranges
| for bed-ridden friend to save your