The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-12-06
Mayor Bowen De-
clines to Interfere
With The Pro-
ductiOn
Showing IS BEGUN
Ministers and Doctors OPP
pose 1t On Grounds of
Public Welfare.

Twilight Sleep" that power which
is said to alleviate pain and put one
in Comitose condition, has had the
very opposite effect in Fairmont. 1t
has awakened this city to such an eX,
tent that by IL o'clock this morning
the city hall was boiling over with
heat and throwing off an awful vol.
ume OF steam. Rev. J. c. Broomfield,
heading the Ministerial Association,
the Woman's club and the physicians
of the city have come out openly
against the picture. They have visited
the mayor and have asked Ii the show.
ing of the picture could not be stOpp.
cd and seem TO have failed through
that channel.
The Mayor contends that he has no
jurisdiction over the showing of the
picture unless it can be proved that
it Is indecent. With this in mind
Manager William Miller OF the Grand
theatre last night showed the picture
to newspaper men and invited Mayor
Anthony Bowen to see the picture at
10 O'Clock this morning.
This morning the Mayor placed a
warrant IN the hands OF thiGf OF Pc.
lice Harr 10 close the theatre should
the film be indecent. Chef Of Police
Fred harr. Rev. Mr.. Mitchell and those
who saw the 10 U'ClOCN performance
stated that the picture is absolutely
decent.
The mayor upon his invitation want.
ed to tahC i mixed committee, that IL
Il comittcG OF married and single wo-
men and men to the theatre tins morn
fN,rr 81
Miller would not allow. he stating that
the picture is advertised as being IUr
women Only and tor men only there
being three performances for the for
mer and one night performance Tor
the men.
why were you not ready TO receive
the party al the theatre at ~ O'clocK
this morning." asked Mayor Bowen
Of Manager Miller this morning.
II am busy man and could not at.
tend 10 that matter by ~ CLOCK but
you are invited TO see the picture d,
IL O'CLOCK"
At IL O'Clock the picture was shown
to Rev. &. d. MItCneIl, CnieI OF l'OliCc
Fred Harr, newspaper men and dt,or-
neys, and member OF the FairmOnt
Audit company VINO is engaged in
auditing the books of the city. The
last mentioned visited the Grand for
the purpose OF informing those at the
city haiI as TO the picture.
When the picture was to be shown
Mayor Anthony Bowen and Rev. J. c.
BroOmiield were asked to go to tn"
Grand to see the picture so that all
could pass judgment on ii. The Mayor
refused to 90 saying that Miller mad
lefied him i'll the mayors own Office
this morning and that il Miller is evel
: brought before him he will get the
limit. Rev. Broomneld stated that he
was not in a position to go to see the
picture. Rev. Mr. Broomneld. how.
ever, added that the picture should no,
be shown.
Mayor Anthony Bowen got in touch
i, with various people at Clarksburg,
4 where 1t was shown, on the phone. lie
- asked do you consider the picture dc.
cent or indecent" the reply was,
well ii was Just what one could eX.
pect in such picture"
The position taken by the people
who oppose the film is that as the
treatment which is depicted has been
condemned by the best medical author.
tiles in this country and that therefore
propaganda OF such character is con-
trary TO public policy and can not do
good while ii may do great harm.
The afternoon showing OF the pic.
ture began at .: Is and the house was
crowded with women.