Evening star., 1924-06-09
TOXIC BOYCOTTS U. S.
MOVIES AS PROTEST
Theaters Say Action Follows Pub.
lie Demand-0fficials Probe
Dance Riot.
ANTI-AMERICAN WAVE RISES
Thousands Pay Homage at Grave
of Exclusion Ban Suicide.

BY he Associated Press.
TOXIC. June 9.-Attributing their
action to public demand" owners of
motion picture theaters in Toxic, at a
general meeting today. launched a
boycott against American films
Beginning July 1. the theater pro-
prietors will not buy or rent Ameri-
can films or show them in their the
aters, according to a resolution passed
at the meeting. Another resolution
was passed pledging the owners to
Cooperate in an effort to make the
boycott nationwide.
The boycott is believed to be due
partly. at least, to intimidation OF the
theater owners by patriotic" bands
incensed at the American immigra-
tion measure excluding japanese
from the United States.
Theaters Forced TO Close.
Several motion picture theaters
showing American films were forced
to close when they were invaded by
gangs of ronin political ruffians)
Saturday evening. Later the Toxic
theater owners sent a committee to
Osaka to urge extension of the boy
colt to that section.
Thorough investigation will be
made of the demonstration staged at
a dance in the Imperial Hotel Satur-
day evening by group of political
ruffians," the Japanese foreign office
informed the Associated Press today.
Leaders of the Great Forward
Society" and the Iron Heart So
ciety'' organizations. said to have
founded the demonstration in the ball
chief of police today. They denied
the demonstration was staged with
any intent of intimidating or insult
ing foreigners and declared they only
wanted to shame the Japanese who
We're dancing there with a number of
Americans and nationals of other
countries.
Rioters Mostly Students.
All but six of the demonstrants
were students of Chuo University
most of them jiu jitsu experts. The
leaders were older agitators. 1t is
demonstration does not warrant any
prosecutions.
AS an outgrowth of the demonstra-
ton the imperial hotel mana cement
has announced that no more public
dances will be held there.
The ruffians entered the ballroom
when the dance was at its height,
took posse sSion on the floor, bran
dished swords and made several pro-
fame and bitter anti-American
Tokio's Sunday largely was given
over to various phases of anti Amer
lean agitation.
Throughout the day the grave in
Aoyama cemetery of the unknown
ted suicide by hara kiri as protest
a against enactment of the American
exclusion measure. was mecca for
thousands of pilgrims, who came to
pay their devotions to the man who
has become martyr in the public
eye.
Crowd mt Suicides Grave.
A mammoth crowd attended a pub
lie memorial service over the grave.
Hundreds of wreaths were banked
around the small mound of earth
where the body lies. Viscount Kato,
newly named premier, and former
Premier TakahaShi sent wreaths.
The Kokumin "Taibeikai'. or Ma
tional Association to Direct American
Policy and the BLACK Dragon So
ciety," another patriotic organiza-
ton, were the principal promoters of
the public services.
Mounting the pulpit of the Ginza
Methodist Church after the services
yesterday, the group announced that
they intended to campaign for a
of the Japanese Christian
churches from American bodies
among all the native Christian or
ganiZations.
Buddhist priests held an anti
American meeting at the Central
Buddhist hall in Toxic last night.
Several organizations of modern
women" have combined to form a
Japanese mutual love association"
with the avowed purpose of promot-
ing an American boycott