The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1917-12-13
MORALS AND MOVIES
Speaker Is Effective in Converting Au-
dience to His Viewpoint - Members
Aid Friendly Society and Enlist
AS Soldiers Pals.

Fearless in his delineation and de-
nnnciation of modern morality-or
better, NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Colonel
nj. L. c. Funkheuser, the man behind
the movies in the city of Chicago,
won his way to the hearts and minds
OF his hearers on Tuesday evening,
when he addressed the members Of st.
Matthew's Men S Club in the audi
forum at Guild Hall. The speech
followed a meatless dinner which was
both perfect and patriotic in appoint
ments, menu, and service. The inspir-
ing address, coupled with spirit of
good-feilowship, common interest, and
Christmas generosity, made the meeting
the most successful and enjoyable SEES
sion Of the club for the current season.
Following the luncheon and preceding
the lecture of the evening, James
Cavanagh and Walter Hammond pre-
sented the causes of the Friendly So
ciety and the Soldiers Pals respec-
lively. Both speeches were logical
and impressive as is attested by the fact
that $60.83 was contributed to the
treasury of the Friendly Society and
fourteen men expressed their willing
ness to do an extra bit by becoming
Soldier IS Pals. Immediately following
the successful exploitation Of these
movements the club adjourned to the
auditorium of the hall where Lieut.
Col. Funkhouser told the stirring story
of his experiences as the guardian of
public morals in Chicago.
II am not a popular speaker" said
the visitor by way of introduction
'censors Of moving picture-plays rare
ly are. Nor am / famous. / am rather
notorious inasmuch as / am commonly
associated with crooks and criminals.
1t is an easy job to run any town as
clean as the public wants it to be, but
when one attempts to raise the morals
Of the public-weH that accounts for
my notoriety. You can't reform peo-
pie and please them at the same time
and that IS the reason so many peo-
pie in Chicago have special ham
mer and anvil devoted to me and
my staff of aids -
As aftting prelude to the oratory
of the evening, Howard sershon, ac-
companiad at the piano, by W. Wesley
LaViolette, sang "a Little-Old-F Fash
Toned Town." ''What Else Gould [
Do" and CAT Dawning" The num-
bers were exceptionally well rendered
and elected a wealth of enthusiasm
that attested the popularity of Mr.
sershon and his magnificent tenor
voice.
The speaker for the occasion was
presented by A. J. Palica, President
Of the club, who in few well-chosen
words, explained the Lieutenant-Co Colo
mel s words and prestige in Chicago.
Thus launched in his discussion Of
the wonderful work he is doing in the
reclamation and prevention of criminals
the Lieutenant Colonel proceeded to
present the details of his struggle with
IA policemen and 173 resort keepers
In his successful attempt to close out
the district in Chicago. In this
connection he declared that the great
trouble with parents and policemen at
the present day is their fear to enforce
obedience and their listless liberation
Of infringement of personal and civic
proclamations at the expense of lit
tie effort and possibly a great deal
of unpopularity.
Its time we were being hard-shell
fathers and mothers like our parents
before u.s. he asserted in discussing
the alarming condition of public NOR
atty at the present time. "The in
fuence of parents on their children
determines the standards of any com
munity and if fathers and mothers al
low their children to run amuck they
can expect them to hit the downward
path about nine times out of ten.
Cabarets are no place for either boys
or girls. Booze and dancing are a rich
mixture and will sooner or later en-
danger the moral safety of all who
indulge in the combination. / have
talked to enough scarlet women to
know whereof I speak and say what
/ do and do what I do to keep others
from taking the same route.
Lieutenant Colonel Funkhouser IS dis
cussion of morals in movies was es-
peeially good. Showing the supeior
permaneney of knowledge secured by
the sense of sight, he convinced his
hearers of the tremendous influence ex-
erted by motion pictures upon the
plastic mind of childhood. He review
ed the most 'fsalacious parts of
"The Little American ~ Cleopatra, :"
and "Cherokee Bill'' and persuaded his
audience tina the was wholly justified in
barring them from Chicago theatres.