The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-10-10
PICTURE SHOWS
ORDERED CLOSED
THEATERS REQUIRED TO
DISCONTINUE BECAUSE
OF EPIDEMIC.
SCHOOLS ARE IN SESSION
Superintendent of Health Clothed
With Authority to Close Schools
and Public Meetings If Necessity
Demands-Doctors Declare Such
Action Unnecessary.

Action Unnecessary.
All theaters and motion pictur
shows in Ardmore will be closet
today.
The city schools will not be CLOSED
Tor the present.
This conclusion was reached b,
the mayor and city commissioner!
at their regular meeting last night
{. W. Richards, uperintendent o
the city schools, appeared before the
mayor and city commissioners ant
said he did not think it was best
10 close the schools. He made the
same statements that he had giVer
in an interview published yesterday
IN The Ardmoreite. He told OF the
precautions taken. the provision oi
- better water supply. of the in
stallation OF the individual drink
ing cups. The rules posted in each
school room and the instruction and
oriIl being given the pupils, and
s,ated that he believed the children
would be better off in school than
running about the streets and al
lowed to congregate in various
places.
The mayor told of the many tele-
phone messages coming to him,
some from persons demanding that
the schools be closed at once, and
Others protesting against such
measures. He cited cases, one of the
principal of one of the schools and
his family being i'll with the disease,
and another case from the Second
ward, where there were cases of in
fluenza existing in home OF a fam
ily which has children attending
school.
Debate Closing of Schools.
Superintendent Richards told the
mayor that it would be well for him.
when reports of this kind reached
him, to ask the relators where they
got their information.
E The mayor said it was his private
opinion that the children were bet
ter off in school :.
s Superintendent Richards said
Doctors Hardy. Won Keller, and
Roadway had informed the presi-
dent of the board of education that
there is no necessity for closing the
schools.
The mayor then announced that
when the city and county health Of
Gcers said it is necessary to close
she schools he will do so.
s \ resolution was then offered
that all theaterS, picture shows and
like places be ordered closed and
that shows contemplating coming
10 the city be prohibited The reso-
Mtion included a section to the ef-
feet that the schools might be closed
when the perintendent OF health
should deem it necessary There
was contention over the second sec
ton OF the resolution, but it was
finally adopted as read
This resolution operates so as
to close the theaters and picture
shows without delay, although Com
missioner Carter thought they
should be given time to cancel their
contracts and head off shipment OF
films now on the way and Com
missioner Fraley said this was not
4 case where the matter OF few dol
lars loss to the picture shows should
weigh against the public health.
Shall conditions become such as
TO close the schools. the superin-
tendent OF health will be, by this
resolution, clothed with full power
to act. but it was argued last night
that this was not necessary as he has /
that right.
Superintendent Richards wanted |
it clearly set forth that the schools /
are not to be closed and feared the /
in the newspapers OF any
reference to it, citing the fact that
former publications had led many ,
OF the negro pupils to the belief /
that the schools were closed and /
large number of pupils did not at .
tend the daily sessions.
The entire controversy ended with .
the statement that the shows will .
be closed and the public schools .
will be kept open for the present, .
with the superintendent OF health .
with full power to close all
places where people congregate,
when he shall deem it necessary,
Woodrnen Endorse Cleanup
Resolution.
A communication was received
rom the Ardmorc lodge w. o. w,
getting a resolution adopted unani-
nouslv by the organization. indors-
ng one adopted by the Old Guard
demanding the cleanup" OF Ard
more. The communication, on mo-
ion, was received and filed,
4 resolution approving and adopt
ng Poulters Company's plat OF block
81 \. was adopted.
Tohn Hoffman again asked for
yater and sewer service at NUM-
er of houses he has erected, 1T
vas ordered supplied.
The mayor complained OF condi-
ions about his home on West Main
rect and in front OF the Hoffman
roperty. in the way OF there being
O outlet for the storm water. lhis
as been referred 10 Commissioner
arter and the city engineer, at a
,rmer meeting, and Mr.. Carter said
hen the city engineer was able te
Ike the matter in hand, the werk
ecessary TO reliev the present Sit
alton would be done.