Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-22
EXPOSURE CAUSES
G. O. P. TO TRIM
FILM OF WILSON
New York Worlds Exposure Of
Film "WatChfpI Waiting"
May Cause Republicans to
Abandon Reds Play
By RALPH SMITH.

BIZ AALFA o4a4GAs
NEW YORK. Sept. 19.-The New York
World exposure of the Republican ma
tional committees plans to represent in
motion pictures President Wilson asleep
at his desk while Catholic nuns are as
saulted by villa bandits caused conster-
nation and chagrin yesterday in Repuo-
Iican circles Frantic efforts were
made to disavow responsibility but the
World today follows up its exposure
by printing the circular sent out from
Republican headquarters offering the
film for production.
Tuesdays World story I'm part is as
follows:
Having censored the moving picture
film entitled "Watchful Waiting" to such
an extent that most of the work describ-
ed I'm yesterdays World will have to
be done over again, some of the men,
hers of the Republican national commit
zee yesterday denied that the picture as
described had ever been approved.
WORLD HAS PROOF.
Former Senator Everett Colby, of
New Jersey. in charge Of the Repub-
lican moving picture campaign, was the
spokesman for the committee.
His statements were to the effect
that it was preposterous to say that
anything indecent would be produced,
and while he refused to give any de-
tails whatever OF the picture he had
viewed earlier in the day. he inferred
That if il did contain the scenes spoken
Of in the World. the committee would
not for one moment sanction it.
THE World has come into possession
of a,circular prepared at Republican ma
tional committee headquarters in which
the Hal Reid photoplay Is described.
This circular was to be sent to county
chairmen all over the country. That IL
has been generally distributed is not
asserted. but at least one copy of it
has been sent out TO a town far distant
from New York.
This is the way the Republican ma
tional committee described its proposed
campaign move in its circular:
STORY OF FILM
"A story of Mexico and the United
States under Wilson administration. a
dramaticism of historic fact involving
Huerta, CarranZa, Villa, Wilson, Roose-
welt and Hughes.
The story begins with the bethrothal
of John Martin to Marion Leonard. John
Martin is a United States trooper and
is called to Mexico. He is killed by one
of Villas followers. Upon the death
of her betrothed Marion becomes a sis
ter Of charity and is sent TO Mexico 20
nurse wounded soldiers.
"'In the meantime the followers of
Huerta shoot down the American flag,
arousing all true Americans to action.
Not so to Mr.. Wilson. Ever conscient
to his policy of watchful waiting, Mr..
Wilson organized a fleet of battleships
which he sends to Vera Cruz at a cost
OF over one million dollars C$1,00O,000)
to demand that Huerta apologize and
that he salute the American flag, but
TO withhold fire. The only apology that
Mr.. Huerts made was to send back sew
enteen dead marines to New York City,
nor did he ever salute the flag.
still after all of those outrages, Mr..
Wilson permitted Mr.. Huerta TO live in
peace and comfort on Long Island.
"'Some time later. Villa and his fol-
lowers. fully organized, make a night
attack on Columbus, n. NJ. burning the
homes of the unsupported Americans
numbering them and with a licentious
away to a fate more horrible than death.
CARRIZAL FIGHT.
Immediately follows the Carrizal
stuck to his method of watchful wait
ing. Villa and his followers make an
attack on the convent and drag the
sisters into the brush, using them TO
suit their purposes. and leaving them
to die. Marion, rather than meet such
a fate. kills herself. Missionarys are
dragged from their homes and killed.
1.-The heads of both Protestant and
Catholic churches signed petitions to
Wilson whose ears are deafened to their
entreats. and he sleeps peacefully at his
desk. even though Lincoln and Grant
reminded him of America-That was.
Views of both Colonel Roosevelt and
Governor Hughes will be taken in con-
junction with this picture, but cannot
be described at this writing
Now for Mr.. Colby's explanation:
The film has never been accepted or
approved; this film has not been passed
IN. There has been no meeting of the
committed
lis Il true that the film which YOU
witnessed this morning shows nuns be-
irE dragged of by Villas soldiers?
Naturally, we will not show any
thing that is indecent said Mr.. Colby,
moi answering thS question.
4" Nor would we show anything that
is offensive. That would stand to rea-
SON
COLBY SILENT.
But DID the picture you saw today
show the scene referred to-?
I'm not going to give you any Of
the details of the picture at ALL said Mr..
Colby.
1--WE may nave to reject the whole
thing. ! can't say
Are those changes to be made be-
cause Of the publication in the World?
"'Oh. no. said Mr.. Colby.
- would not think of changing that
picture because of the story i'm the
World
THE picture as shown to some of the
members of the committee yesterday by
Hal Reid, the author. answered the de-
sCription printed in the World and the
committees own circular.
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