The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1914-02-20
johnson Writes Open
Letter ON Sun. Shows

er whose purse is in keeping with ths
small price Of sc and l0c thereby at
iording an opportunity to see the besi
talent of the country and the showins
Of all the late and important events
A great number of the best actors oi
today are leaving the footlights to join
the progressive movement OF motion
pictures And TO give you some idea
of this great movement it would be
well for some one to ask for copy OF
the Chicago Record Herald handled at
all Of the news stands. and you will sec
in this great daily newspaper two en-
tire pages devoted to this great pro
gressive movement.
Now these are the facts desire to
call to the public attention After the
Sugg theater had been in operation six
months, few weeks ago, | was asked
to meet with several gentlemen, rep
resenting several churches in Chicka-
sha, having with them a petition sign
ed by what | took to be members OF
the various churches, asking that the
sugg theatre run on Sunday from l
o'clock to 6 o'clock in the evening. 7
asked them if this was their PROPOSE
ton. and they said it was. SO I told
them so far as / was interested in the
Sugg theatre, it was all right and the
Sugg theatre would be willing to com
ply with their request A few days
later these gentlemen presented a petit
tloa 10 the same effect, asking that
sign it for the Sugg theatre. This I
did, interlining in the petition that the
sugg theatre would run from I o'clock
10 6 o'clock in the evening if the other
theatres would do this also, which they
stated would be satisfactory Later
the committee advised me that the pc
tition had not been signed by all and
the matter would be dropped A few
days later a notice was served on the
management of the Sugg theatre by
Oscar Simpson. county attorney, stat
ing that he desired the theatre to dis
continue running on Sunday.
Now the Sugg theatr has endeavor-
ed TO be fair and not ty and for the
past two Sundays closed its doors, and
since that time We have made some in
vestieation as to what the custom in
the principal towns OF Oklahoma is, as
we do not want TO go on record as be
ing radical We find that the motion
pictures are shown on Sunday in Okla
homa City. Muskogee, Tulsa. Shawnee,
Enid. III Reno, Guthrie and Lawtcn.
mention only the larger places. with
which Chickasha would compare in
population Now considering the com
bined population OF these towns as
against Chickasha, there is quite diff
ference. and they are all living and
abiding under the laws OF the same
state. And in locking around we find
various other lines Of business con
Quoted on Sunday, such as the street
railway. livery stablet restaurants.
hotels, drug stores. fruit, candy and
cigar stands and the feeding of cattle
Some one would say, "Oh, these are
The theatre can run six
days and meet the wishes Of the peo-
pie as well as seven days" That de-
pends upon your and my walk in life.
as to what would suit you and what
would suit me. Some of us take auto
mobile rides on Sunday. some buggy
rides. anything for diversion to rest
ourselves from the burdens OF care fo~
a few minutes Some enjoy the motion
picture show. Some one would say /:
is against the law TO operate motion
picture shows on Sunday. Yes, and the
law says that every person must rem
der their entire property for taxation
at a fair valuation for the purpose os
HOOA bAA NV
many do? Many do but many do not.
As for myself. wou.o not give a cent
10 90 to a moticn picture show on sun
day, and whenever the roads are pass
able myself and family 20 six miles
east OF Minco to see Mr. and Mrs }.
Il Bond. two good old people who rails
ID. me. who are now 20 years old and.
and we look forward to being with
them as much as possible.
Who has been interested enough in
he welfare and comfort Of the people
1f Chickasha to assist in the building
of city park. or some place whs--
here might be a little time speat in
rest and recreation? chickasha has
been backward in this respect We
ire at the bottom Of the ladder com
pared to other towns our size rs to
PARKS and public places Of rest. What
shall We do? We cannot stand still /
standing still is unknown TO the pro /
yress Of men.
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