Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1916-11-01
REPUBLICAN film
TOO RAW TO SHOW
'WatchfuI Waiting Insult to
President SheIved by Ma
tionaI Committee.
1T DRAGGED IN RELIGION
Picture Prepared by Hal Reid Showed
Convent and Sisters Of Charity
in a Story Grotesquely
Revolving.

1t was remarkable piece OF caHl-
paign news the New York World let
loose few days ago-a story OF dirty
methods to bolster up the political
fortunes of floundering candidate.
According to the World the Republi-
can National Committee had null
tiple reel film prepared, entitled
"Watchful Waiting" to be distributed
by the committee and displayed under
the auspices Of, or by arrangement
with, the various Republican State
Committees. The Committees even
had prepared circulars advertising the
picture to be sent broadcast over the
country to County Chairmen.
According to this circular. the
''movie" story begins with the be-
trothal of John Martin to Marion Lom-
bard Martin, United States troop
err, is called to Mexico, where he Is
killed by one Of Villas followers.
Upon the death of her betrothed
Marion becomes a Sister of Charity
and is sent to Mexico to nurse wound
ed soldiers,
'In the meantime" says the circu-
lar, "the followers of Huerta shoot
down the American flag. Mr.. Wilson
organized fleet of battleships, which
he sends to Vera Cruz to demand
that Huerta apologize and salute the
American flag, but with orders to the
United States marines to withhold
fire. .. .-
Sometime later villa and his fol-
lowers make night attack on Column
bus, n. NJ. Immediately follows the
CarriZal fight. villa and his followers
drag the Sisters into the brush, leav-
ing them to die. Marion, rather than
meet such fate, kills herself.
"The heads of both the Protestant
and Catholic churches sent petitions
to Wilson. whose ears are deafened to
their entreaties, and he sleeps peace
fully at his desk.
"Views of both Col. Roosevelt and
Gov. Hughes will be taken in con-
junction with this picture but cannot
Denounced by Reid's Own Friends.
That film was prepared at cost
of $4,000, and its director, Hal Reid.
years ago was sentenced to prison on
charge of assault on a variety ac-
tress. He served thirteen months in
the Saltwater (Minn.) Penitentiary
when he was pardoned and eXonerated
of the charge.
Some of Mr.. Reds friends, when
told of his new photoplay, expressed
themselves, in substance, as follows:
81 do not believe that | have ever
listened to anything that shows so
much real rOttenness in politics as this
idea of the Republican National Com
mittee." -
1T is the most disgusting thing |
ever listened to-" ..
ut constitutes a series of deliberate
and studied insults to the Nations
chief executive"
II think it will go long way to-
ward beating Mr.. Wilson," said Reid
to reporter for the World. First,
show villa peering through the bush
es. Then there is subtitle reading
'Why didn't President Wilson stop
the war in Europe by putting an EN-
barge on all exports to all European
countries alike, except on foodstuffs?
Next l show Vera Cruz. A launch
filled with American sailors is seen
approaching the wharf. Then show
the wharf and MeXicans. armed, stand
ing there. They fire on the boat. I
show the officer in the boat picking up
the American flag riddled with buller
holes.
"And then ! show the President
asleep at his desk. | show that all
through, dozen times or more-the
President asleep. / show it after the
attack on Columbus and after Carri-
zal and after the nuns are attacked"
The motion pictures were taken
near New York. Some Of them were
prepared at studio Mt Cliffside, N. J.
Some of the Mexican" scenes were
photographed at Sheepshead Bay.
near Coney Island. Other pictures
were taken at Rockaway Point-the
Vera Cruz of the picture.
"A corker," Says Colby.
Everett Colby, as Chairman Will
cox's representative, was present at
the photographing of number of
the scenes. He called the film "a
corker." , w.
The day following the Worlds ex-
pose, the film was privately screened
for George w. Perkins, Herbert Par
sons, James B. Reynolds, Candidate
Hughes confidential secretary,
Chairman Willcox's private secretary
and other members Of the Republican
committee. A pow-wow followed.
A couple of days later, an expurgat-
ed. denatured and devitalized edition
was thrown on the screen for men,
bers of the Republican National Com
mittee. They found the historic
facts" sadly less interesting than the
advance notices promised. They did
not even gaze on the picture of
pseudo President Wilson asleep at |
his desk, while the toning down of
the scene of the attack on the Catholic |
nuns had robbed it of any value as
thriller.
SO the committeeman agreed that. |