Arizona republican., 1916-05-02
5 ORDER |S IGNORED BY
 FILM MANAGER


 ated by Ordinance No. 30. and consist :ng of he city commission, the city . manager and chief of police, has the . power to prohibit the showing of even | a portion of the film, The Birth of | q Nation" is likely to be determined [ by the courts of Arizona, following the | failure iaSt evening of the manage ! ment of the film to obey an order is sued earlier in the day by the censors, | directing that portion of the film be | impressed Although the order was in full force and effect, no effort was made to arrest any person connected !. with the company last evening. am aouncement being made that a warrant would likely D" issued this morning At the same time came another an- uomcement ;hat the management would not cut one inch from the film 'mtil it had been officially determined that the board of censorS had full au- th rity to make such an order and had the power to carry it out.
 The clty commission organized yes terday morning &t 10 o'clock and ad- iodrred within a few minutes without transacting any business. But before the members could leave their seats. Mayor "orrstein announced that the board of censors would be in session for the purpose Of considering protests against the showing of The Birth or Nation at the Flks' theater There were in 'hc audience at the time about fifteen CT twenty colored citizens Witr the consent of the mayor some of these gave their views on the showing of the film. Mrs. Frank Shirley, Mrs Ella White. Rev. F. T. Walker and others addressed the board urging that the further showing of the film be pro- hiaited. The hoard then went into ex- ecutive session in the office of the city manager Shortly before noon, word came from the room that the board had declared recess and would lecoEvene at ? o'clock for further con- sideration of the protests
 At ? o'clock the board reconvened and shortly afterwards emerged and presented d report and order directing the omission from further showing of that portion of the finn depicting an attempted assault upon a white girl by a negro" And for this the gather ing ol colorcd people in the commis- siCn chamber expressed its sincere thanks.
 lt has been represented to the RrarG of Censors." says the report and order that the motion picture play entitled "The Birth of a Nation" which has been advertised for production at the E,ks' theater in this city for two weeks beginning April 30th, 1916. is irmorai. vicious and will arouse race prejudice and race hatred. and is likely to result in strife and riots Numerous petitions have been file1 bv colored resident, O. the city asking that the play be suppressed by order of the board
 Continuing the report states: "A ma joiity of the Beard. under the ordi- nance. has witnessed the initial per formance of the play and have con- sidered the petitions asking for its
 surort ssion. The matter has been carefully considered and discussed vi.h the view of ascertaining to what extent if any. ;he play is so far of
 fensi.e in any of the respects men
 ,ioned in the ordinance as to require
 that as ; matter of morals and for the
 good order and safety of the city and of the inhabitants thereof, 1t be sup
 pressed for it 4s to be remembered I that the purpose for which the board Is | outhorized to act is not primarily tC = jnG,1re against the production of ob-
 iectionable plays that may be offen-
 siva because they may violate goot
 taste or be offensive because Of any
 particular viewpoint as to politics, re :, lirion or social questions, but to pre- z, vent breaches Of the peace in the torn 't of riots or disturbances of like char
 octer growing out of race differences ., or which may be so grossly immoral
 Tn be indecent. obscene, lewd or sug h gestive. hd h .The board has considered the pla ,- in two aspects:
 a ..E-irst as to whether it be indecent d obscene. !evd or suggestive. or whethe f it docs so tend to excite race hatred
 prejudice as to endanger the peace 10 good order or safety of the city or th st inhabitants thereof
 "A majority of the board are or tn a. oDiniOn that the Ict or reel which DOT 70 travs an attempted assault by negr ,+ mon white girl is objectionable ur TO der the ordinance. in that 1t tends ot arouse and excite race prejudice an 60 fo, that reason, so much Of the pla 2 as does portray such attempted assau in beginning with the preparation oi IT ed young girl to go to the spring TOT n. buckct of water and ending with U ct scenes showing her body lVlng Tn U ts. living room of her home, (the purpo' ie hc;np to eliminate the character or u is girl from the play from he tune si O. makes preparation for her visit to Il nd spring) should be omitted that WI ,w such omission the play is not so O of iectionable in other respects as to
 quire it's suppression.
 -c- "IT IS THEREFORE ORDERt n- that 90 much of the photo-play entltl ,ix THE BIRTH OF A NATION nc ns heinz produced at the Elks' theat' he as portrays such scenes to-Wlt: zen .Tte attempted assault by the n of gro upon the white girl. beginning WI re- the prepartion of the young girl ith start to go to the spring for busl )nc of water and ending with the see ere showing her body lying in the hVi in room of her home, be omitted and
 not exhibited; and that with su
 omission the photo play may be pi IT duced as exhibited at the initial p'