The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-06
Censors Don't Approve 1t, but
Admit It's Not Obscene,
Lewd or Indecent.
BIG CROWD AT THE MATINEE
Mayor Declines to Interfere
After Committee Took Vote
on Resolution.

throughout the rest OF the week at the
Academy Of Music.
The Mayor had received number OF
communications calling attention to
the nature of tho picture and referring
to the fact that It's exhibition had been
temporarily prohibited In Washington,
and in order to assure himself OF the
propriety OF permitting its display In
Richmond, he appointed committee
of seventeen men and women to view
the first performance yesterday and
advise him "whether tho film was
proper one to be permitted to be shown
in Richmond"
Efforts were made by the local man
agemcnt~to hold Il private view OF the
film yesterday morning, but, owing to
the inability of the operators to arrive
in Richmond before the hour sot for
the afternoon performance, the COM
mittee was forced to content Itself
with witnessing the regular matinee
ut o'clock, when tho theatre was
crowded by a worry large and curious
audience, In which women greatly pre-
dominated.
Censors Watch 1t Closely.
During the two hours Of the per-
Torrance, the members of the commit
tee were closely attentive. following
every detail of the very frank melo-
drama supposedly based upon the
that confusion reigned over Its sub
sequent deliberations. Immediately af-
ter the conclusion OF the exhibition, the
members of the committee gathered In
the lobby OF the theatre. where they
were promptly joined and surrounded
by the Interested or merely curious on
lockers. only those most Interested. Mr.
Wells. MIR. Neil and Mrs. Wise, remain
ing Mt courteous distance.
At first, it seemed that there was lit
~ - - H. t~f f.nn n
committee at large. but as Major
Werner began to check off the list OF
his associates, objections multiplied or
grew audible. Confusion increased un-
til neither the Chief nor any mem
Der of the committee knew what any OF
the others thought about the perform
ance or It's propricty. Finally, Dr.
Douglas S. Freeman requested the com
mittee to enter the theatre and come to
some semblancc of order. and the MEM
bers filed into the space back of the
orchestra rail. with the exception of
Miss Sarah Roller and DR.. B. II. Melton,
neither of whom was able to attend,
the whole committee appointed by the
Mayor was then assembled
DR.. Freeman. because he was seated
on the program table, acted as in
formal chairman. and Douglas Gordon,
dramatic critic of The Times Dispatch,
recorded the several ballots-because
he had piece OF paper.
How They Voted.
| Out in the hall, a disjointed, uncer-
| tain sort OF poll had resulted in gem
eral confusion, so it was determined
to proceed with some formality. and
the roll was called, but without any
definite announcement as to the ques-
| ton which was being voted upon.
Those voting for were Mrs. w. A.
| Burrows, Douglas Gordon, Jay Lewis.
dramatic critic of the News Leader;
Mrs. S. w. Meek. Henry w. Rountree,
and Taylor Robertson, dramatic critic
of tho Evening Journal. Voting
against" were DIR. Freeman. Robert
Glass. of the Richmond Virginian; Rev.
| Father Charles Hannigan. Mrs. j.
Tyler Lobson, Miss Mamie Minor, DR..
| j. Il. Mastin, DR. II. ID. c. AIaclachlan.
and Mrs. w. @. Stanard-6 "for" and
| S against"
Then the members OF the committee
| began To explain why they had cast
| their ballots as indicated. DR.. Free
man. speaking on behalf of the Juven-
lie Protective Association, said that.
while he saw nothing indecent in the
picture, it undoubtedly brought to the
attention of youths OF both sexes mat
ters which it were better for them to
remain ignorant OF, and that he and
sentation of such scenes and incidents
could do no possible good, and might
result In much harm
In this view he was sustained by
Father Hannigan. who further stated
that the picture was absurdly exagger-
ated, and by Dr. Maclachlan who urged
that IT was not a subject for discus
sion or PRECIPITATION before immature
minds. DIR. Mastin took the same view
and protested against the stirring up
or such questions In public. Mrs Stan
ara asked If 1t would be possible to
limit the attendance to those over, say,
sixteen.
SECS Where II Can Do Good.
commended the picture In strong terms
declaring that he believed 1t capabie
of 1d,,n working h,, untold good in any com
falls laid for girls in great cities. Mr..
.hUor or r. allowing the picture to be
so absurd as dramatic spectacle that
It could do neither harm nor good. and
ION nothing obscene or indecent, he
didn't think that the police or the
Ma sfhn, had l,art any right to prohibit it.
,nent, which resulted in the taking OF
a. .IG,t ballot, the question being
decent" Again the roll was called. and
: mis- time the committee was ami.
Chief Of Police. voting "NoH' Nouns 'h'
But 9. majority of the committee wa.
not satisfied with the bare announce.
y
contained none Of these features. anf
the Mayors letter was produced anf
Y found TO contain tho request that n,
a ne advised whether or not the film wa.
4 Il proper one to be permitted to n,
= shown lii Richmond"
More Discussion, More Voting.
HSain discussion cnsucd and another
n ballot followed, the question being ;
= paraphrase of the expression ius
n quoted from the Mayors letter. No
: member OF the committee change,
MS or her opinion. and the result wa
e me same as that OF the first ballot
n Sym voting Aye" and six votin,
n Armed with the various results O
II inc committees deliberations, the Chic
$ Of Police FASTENED to the Mayor, VIII,
! immediately decided that, as the pic
/ .urc aid not contain anything lob
q scene, lcwd or INDECENT" no had N
II legal authority to prevent its exhibi
I. ZION. and so Informed the chief. where
Z upon the management of the Academ
{, OF Music was notified and went to worj
10 night performance "a
- In the dramatic coIurnn op tI,i, ,,,-x>o