Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1916-09-19
c. 0. P. PLOT To LIBEL
WILSON IS EXPOSED
BY NEW YORK WORLD
World Charges Republican
National Committee Is Back
ing a Film Which Misrepre-
Sents Conditions in Mexico
ny RALPH SMITH.

NEW YORK. y. ". Sept. IS.-The
biggest development OF the presidential
campaign Monday was the exposure by
the New York World OF a reasonable
scheme by the Republican national COM
mittee to raise the religious question as
a means % defeating President Wilson.
In a three column story bristling with
disgusting and despicable details, the
World exposes the plan Of the Repub-
lican national committee 10 use the mo-
tion picture TO arouse the resentment
OF the Catholics against the Wilson ad-
urinistrstion by depicting on the screen
alleged atrocities against Catholics, nuns
and priests In Mexico.
The World shows that the film vas
made az Sheepshead Bay by agreement
with the Republican national commit
tee and from a scenario written by Hal
Reid. II is the belief in New York,
among ali classes and without regard to
Z religion, that the prompt exposure of
,. this understandable motion picture will
act as a political boomerang.
Certain II is that many Catholics, aft
er informing themselves as to the ac-
EAA &GN OF the N0EAu @NOEEs were CHI
phatic in their condemnation OF the
methods of the Republican national COM
rmittee-
The unpatriOtfc zeal of the Republicans
in paying $4,000 for film that misrep-
resents and libels the president of the
United States and seeks TO kindle the
Tame OF religious prejudice may have
the same reaction against the q. .. p.
as did Or. Burchard's unfortunate and
untiEe!y Rum. Romanisn and Rebel
Hon Characterization applied 10 the
Democratic party in 1854.
That the Republican national commit
tee is responsible for the film cannot be
denied in the face Of the announcements
from Republican headquarters that Ed
Colby. member OF the campaign commit
tee had signed the $4,000 contract with
Reid. The only defense offered by the
Republicans for the film is that each in
cident shown on the screen is alleged to
be a true portrayal of incidents that
actually occurred In Mexico. But the
facts will show that the photoplay is
"A gross misrepresentation and those are
easily ootainable in Washington, and
will no doubt be made public
The most revolving scene shown on
the screen was staged at ROckaway
Point. Long Island. Residents there re-
ported 10 the World before il began it's
investigation that they were shocked
by scsndalous conduct Of the actors in
Reid's melOdrama- Several actresses,
dressed as nuns. were chased from
building supposed TO be a convent. and
were dragged. screaming and resisting.
and attacked in the bushes by actors
dressed as villa bandits.
Following this scene President Will
son is shown on the screen asleep at
his desk. An amazing feature Of this
despicable attack upon the dignity of the
presidential Office is that the part of
President Wilson is taken by national
guard officer. Captain Johnson, of the
Thirteenth artillery. New York national
guard. and that soldiers Of the same or
ganization. wearing the uniform of the
United States. appear in the scenes as
part OF the American army on the Dor
der
The Journal correspondent learns. In
connection with this expose. that the
facts were first brought 10 the attention
Of the New York World by man !denti-
fed with reputable moving pictures, who
said that the motion picture industry
would Be eternaIly dIsgraced by the
couutensncing OF such vile production.
The Universal Film Manufacturing cor
pOratiOn. according 10 the World story
today. refused to have anything TO do
with Reid's production and dismissed
him from its employ because he under
took TO take the commission from the
Republican national committee.
II is already assured that these pic
lures cannot he presented in any reputa-
BILE motion picture house in the United
States.
The officers Of the Motion Picture tx
hihItors' National league learned OF the
discreditable character Of the Reid pro-
duction before the World expose and
were preparing to announce through
their members that no such film could
ne shown under the leagues auspices.
This means that the Republican COM
mittee must depend upon hiring halls
and theaters where IL can give its I'M
patriotic show under its own auspices.