The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1919-12-23
Monday, December %, 1919.
A FEW REMARKS ON BANDIT MOVIES

THE ARDMOREITE very glad to observe that Mr. E. c.
McAdams has proposed to the State Bar Association law
making something akin to felony for any person or com
bnaon of to exhibit in this state or prepare in this
state exhibition elsewhere, moving picture films depicting
the careers Of eX-outlaws
If Mr. McAdams who is an able man, will follow up that
idea be of great deal service to Oklahoma not to
speak the nation large than he possibly could be
United We do not know of any service more
beneficial to the rising generation than Mr.. McAdams per-
form in this respect.
Since the editor this paper Oklahoma reside
nearly years ago. written several editorials against
the popular practice Of eXbandt putting their past msdeeds
the for the deedcaton of the multitude in this
state and in other states and countries.
The editor does not nveigh against these indvid
uals He has known considerable number Of bandits
bandits very much widely noted than any of those
in Oklahoma and has counted of them his friends and
has valued them highly such Nevertheless his frendness
has to the length of standing for the depletion of
ouawy before the Of youth and will that far
There many why such movies should be pro-
bed The chief in the opinion Of the present writer
IS that such pictures tend to create crazy notions the half
formed minds of both boys and girls speak of the half
baked mentaes of many persons of adult and years
This the chief that splendid old friend Frank
James, who upright citizen during last thirty three years
Ct his life spent his hardeaned money fighting the courts
against the stage depletion The Boys in Missouri
&nd such urid trash If Frank James alive he would
be the first to advise All Jennings Emmett Dalton Henry Starr
and other ambitious persons of that group against capazg
Another reason, likewise a legitimate one that such
movies give the outside world impression of
oklahoma Exhibited throughout the land this exoutaw stuff
creates the distinct impression and belief that Oklahoma
extremely wild and wooly region inhabited chiefly by
boys bold bad and gun both for against the law
This statement is made not from hearsay but from
knowledge. We from Missouri, and have been shown.
The eastern notion of Missouri is to few
that the bowling wilderness through which whr and
whoop the Desh devotee of bandtry ouawry led by
Jesse W. James his twogun wrath And righdown
here tell that the movies of Oklahoma ebands have
created already similar impression this the East
doubt in other sections far from this common
wealth.
East of the Aleghanes the famous citizen of Okla.
homa by far Mr.. Al Jennings Messrs Henry Starr
and Emmett Dalton aspiring to the proud-so speak
omnence of Mr. Jennings
The present writer personally all of these distin-
guished citizens He the only newspaper man that ever
interviewed Emmett Dalton at length while latter was
prisoner in the Leavenworh pententay He has heard AL
Jennings preach has listened to his in connection
with his movie performance and has talked shop" speaking
handitwse, with the who beat back And Mr. Starr
when he got out of prison. paid us party
call before he had learned to his cves sraighand his
press agent along with him. The late Thomas c. Young
er OF Lees Summit No. perhaps widely known as Cole
Younger notified the writer of this editorial by wire that he was
bound for home when the Minnesota permitted him
TO depart thence after having served quarter of century
IN the state prison for his part the Norhfeld bank raid
These facts are mentioned by way of leading up
point that we have enmity against the ex-outlaw
contrary for hmf he will settle down. as did Frank
it, But distinctly do oppose his practice of captaznr
his unpleasant past and trust that the legislature of Okla
roma will act the suggestion of Mr. Nc Adams state
(Cea Joet