Perth Amboy evening news. [volume] (Perth Amboy, N.J.) 1903-1959, 1919-01-27
DECLARATION
Of WAR DUE
TO MOVIES
Mayor Dorsey Asserts Himself
to Civic Workers and Battle
Is Started

An open declaration of war be-
tween the men in this city who desire
Sunday movies and those who wish
an enforcement of the Jersey Blue
Laws has developed.
1t took q Sunday motion picture
show, run yesterday at the Ditmas
thatre in State street to bring the
matter to a head and 1t would appear
at the present time that hosilities
have commenced, with Mayor Frank
Don 'ey takirS the initiative in favor
of Sunday shows. and Joseph +.
Walker and the League for Civic Bet
terment, which he represents, ready
to battle for the closing of the mo-
tin picture and amusement houses OF
the city on the Sabbath.
TIE showing of motion pictures at
the theatre yesterday, which attracted
little attention about the city among
the average run of people, threatens
to be a storm center from which will
radiate warm and interesting con-
test betweeh the mayor and the en-
who, as he h. rases II, "are trying to
grow wings on Perth Amboy."
The show yesterday was the subject
of comment everywhere, this morn
ing. Men were taking sides on the
question and these seems to be every
promise that 1t way develop into po-
litical battle as wen as civic one.
Interest was added to the argu-
ments today, when the five men to
whom the afMir seemed of the most
interest were interviewed with regard
to their views. These men, with
their views In brief were:
MaFor Frank Dorsey: Without
qualification, for Sunday movies; fight
10 the end that the people may have
what they want, and there is little
doubt I'm his mind that they want the
shows on Sunday.
Joseph +. Walker: OF the Civic
Iettermcnt League, who has taken up
.he cudgcl in their behalf and who H.
unaiterably opposed to the shows and
intends to rracoyJHishrdlu
s inteds to carry the fight further.
Prosecutor Joseph Il. Stricken:
Who said that a first offense Is not n
matter for the prosecutors Office. but
strictly up TO the local authorities and
il there is repetition, the matter
might be presented to the grand jury
by that Office.
Chief of Police p. j. Burke: Who
was told by the mayor to keep his
hands off and let the entire matter of
Sunday movies lie I'm the hands of the
mayor.
Mr.. Walker. who is president of
the League for Civic Betterment, Wis.,
tied Mayor Dorsey at his office in city
hall this morning to request that the
ceive a committee of the league to
discuss the matter. The visit opened
mp an argument that waxed warm.
In the course of the Interview Chief
OF Police p. ]. Burke was oNlled in
by the mayor to substantfate some OF
ais statements.
The mayor later gave his version
of the conference when he said:
81 really knew nothing of this show
at all. Mr.. Walker called at my house
on Saturday afternoon when I was
not at home. He reached me on the
phone later and asked me II / knew
that the Ditmas was going TO run a
show on Sunday. / told him that l
had not heard of IL and that / had
not issued any permit for such a show
as / had no authority to do SO.
Incidentally / told Mr.. Walker that
IL his league was successful in having
that ,articular section of the blue
laws enforced. dealing with the sun
day shows, that / would see that every
single section OF the law is enforced
/ will see to II that every store in
Perth Amboy is closed: that nothing Is
sold in the city which violates the lot
ter OF that law; that I would stop al
automobiles running in the city: thai
! would elbow no automobiles 10 ruf
into the city, or out OF II and / would
see that all trolleys were stopped, IN
accordance with the stricteSt lnterpre-
tation OF that law.
"I might add that Chief Burke has
informed me that there was not &
single arrest in the city yesterday"
IT then called up Mr.. Miller and
he told me that he was running the
show as a benefit. said, i suppose
you know that you are subjecting
yourself to indictment by the grand
jury and he replied that he knew
that 10 be true and that he would
have TO face the consequences. but
that the show was going on.
Later called Chief Burke and
ordered him to keep his hands off.
That / wished the entire matter TO
come through me and that ] would
handle II personally.
''I told Mr.. Walker this morning
that / had not issued any permit TO
run a show as have not the author
tty to do so. He said that the league
intended carrying the fight TO Tren-
ton. and i told him that / would be
there. too. 10 fight for the Sunday
movies.
II told Mr.. Walker that certain
(continued on page two.)