South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-13
MOVIE COLONY Is
NOT REALLY BAD"
Police and Reformers Declare
Residents of Hollywood
Are Law-Abiding.

Los ANGELES. Jan. i2--when
Roscoe t'FaltyD Arbuckle was ar
rested and tried recently at san
Francisco on a manslaughter charge
growing out OF the death OF Virginia
Rape. following a gay hotel party
given by the rotund comedian. the
allegation was made that the Los
Angeles hlm colony had been the
scene OF many orgies Tar worse than
ArbUckle's entertainment.
From some Of the most influential
Du.p.ts OF the City o. the Angels
were hurled demands that Holly
wood. that section OF the city which
contains most Of the large motion
picture studios IN Southern Califor-
MIA. clean house quickly and make
a good Job Of g."
And now. with four months hav-'
ing elapsed since the pastors shout
"a their warnings 20 audiences Of
millions OF persons who read them
en- al sections OF the country. the
question naturally arises: Was
Hollywood really bad. and II so.
has 10 cleaned up?"
Four Answers.
AS an answer the international
News Service records observations
from four sources and from men
who stand high In their respective
fields OF endeavor. In epitomized
form these findings are:
John II. Peiletier. executive
secretary OF ne Morals Efficiency
association OF Los Angeles: Eighty
percent OF the residents Of the
Hollywood film colony are as sub
stantial people as can be found any
where. Some OF the balance lead in
different lives and by their loose
conduct bring rCprOach on their
righteous brothers and sisters"
Capt. George K. Home OF the
Los Angeles police department:
Practically all OF the Southern
California people deriving their
livelihood from the motion picture
industry are clean and upright citi-
zens."
3-Rev. Neal Dodd, rector OF st.
Mary's OF the Angels (EpiscoraD
church. located in the heart OF the
film colony: "A constant associa-
ton with all sorts Of movie folk
has led me 10 believe they compare
favorably with any profession on
earth"
Admit BLACK sheep"
4-De Witt Jennings. chairman
Of the Los Angeles governing board
OF the Actors Equity association:
yes there are some black sheep IN
the movies But the number is very
small. considering that from 100000
to 500, 600 Southern California peo-
pie are said 20 depend in some way,
in whole or IN part. on the motion
picture industry for their livelihood"
Mr.. Pelletier. who. before he be-
came Identified with the Morals Eff
ficiency association, an organization
maintained by prominent public
spirited citizens OF Los Angeles. was
Supervisor Of the United States
Hygiene board, has made an ex-
haustive study OF the Hollywood So
cial conditions.
Some time ago." said PeIletier in
an interview. IT discovered that
there was a pronounced traffic in
drugs fin the Hollywood colony. I
learned that there was a traf1cker I
who visited Los Angeles every two
months through Los Angeles Har-
Dor. and who brought large guam
titles OF heroin and cocaine, much Of
which was destined 70 be sold IN the
movie colony. I broke up this ring
by obtaining one hundred and twelve
bottles Of cocaine and heroin from
this man. myself. TO be used as evil
dence.
Rum Runners Stopped.
I also discovered that liquor des-
tined for the Hollywood colony
was being smuggled into Southern
California through the activities Of
two lesser officers Of the United
States navy AS I'm the case Of the
drug ring. prompt action by the
authorities put an end to the rum
running by the naval officers.
Information has come 10 my Of
nee Of orgies held in the Hollywood
colony from time 20 time. Unfortu-
nateIy the tips on these affairs
were invariably too late for raids. I
have been told that at some OF these
affairs. where drug addicts have
gathered, hypodermic needles, to-
gether with heroin and cocaine. have
been passed about on trays"