Mexico weekly ledger., 1916-01-27
ACTRESS BACKS UP THE
REV. c. C. .SELECMAN

lftG1REiolo DANAC III HE
REV. CT c. SELECMAN
Los Angeles, Jans z4.-A sorrowing
mothers narrative Of her daughters
attempt at suicide was one of the fac
tors that caused Rev C. C. selecman
to attack the morals of the moving
picture camps from tie pulpit Of Trim
lity Methodist Episcopal church, South,
recently, according TO a statement
made by Rev. Mr.. Selecman, Satur-
day. Mr.. Selecman formerly lived in
Mexico, Mo.
"Get better clothes, no matter how
you get them," the daughter, an ambi-
tious young moving picture actress,
reported her director as commanding.
This modification preyed upon her
mind so much that, while in state of
despondency, she slipped away to one
Of the parks and attempted to commit
suicide. Physicians saved her life.
1t was only one Of the instances that
led up 10 the sermon that has aroused
the entire delivered last Sun
day night.
The girl was present to hear the SER
mon. The young actress, who is well
known on the screen, wrote letter to
DR.. Selecman Friday, commencing him
on the campaign he had begun for the
elimination Of vice in the moving pic
ture studios and offered her assistance
in the work.
DR.. Selecman again heard from this
sad young woman when she called
upon him personally. Then she barred
her life to him, even more in detail
than she did in her letter.
The letter, without her name, is
herewith published and, according to
DIR. Selecman, is one Of the strongest
arguments obtainable substantiating
his charges that present conditions in
some Of the moving picture camps in
and around Los Angeles are a menace
to the morals of the young girls and
women The letter follows:
My Dear Mr.. Selecman:
Il feel that must tell you how thor
oily am in sympathy with you after
hearing your sermon about the moral
conditions of the movies" Every
word that was said by you could be
vouched for by me personally.
"Altho very young, / have been in
the movies for nearly four years
and / have been fortunate enough to
Withstand temptations that have as
sailed me during these years.
Il would love to help you in this won
derful crusade and if it were not for
the fact that my very bread depends
on pictures think | would have the
courage to prove to you that you have
been too mild in your statements. !
know the picture game thru and thru.
all right-minded people in the'movies'
know the sad state of things and de-
plore them, but they'have not the cour-
]
age to come out and say SO.
"Several persons who have denoun-
ced you openly in the papers in defense
of the movies, whom know person.
ally have risen from obscurity to fea-
ture stars because Of favors solicited
to managers and stagasdirectors.
''Do you know that a little girl earn
ing steadily $40 per week in any other
business will have saved more money
at the end of the year--if she is thrift
ty-than an extra at supposed So a
day job3 A girl going out to a pic
ture place hangs around all day; she
may get work two or three days per
week, but il she works but half day
, she gets $l.5O, even tho she has been
there several days. Car fare, lunch
con, mai up and street clothes and
the wear and tear of the game make it
much worse than any other profess
sion.
"One manager told me that / must
have better street clothes, evening
clothes, etc. But / can't get them on
my salary l told him. 4 can't help
that he answered. Other girls get
them on smaller salaries. ] don't care
how you get them-but get them"
l had to quit that position.
"There are good people in the 'mov-
les as well as in other businesses, but
the laxity with which most of them
are run is a menace to the morals of
the girls. AS long as the big directors
and managers are called 'sultans with
their harems,' SO long will the smaller
men think it proper to initiate their
bosses.
Success for you in Your very great
undertaking. l know You will not
weaken. If all who wanted to help
you were sure it would be confidential
as TO their names and companies, you
would get lots Of help, am sure.
Anything | can do to help you win be
done by yours sincerely, MISS y.
Ezz..s.l.s.as......;--........z x