The Washington times., 1928-12-06
IGLEANINGS|
SCREENINGS
BY ANDREW r.. KELLEY

form are preparing to lombard
Congress for a blue law Sunday
in Washington. '"There are few
places in America where there
is so little regard shown the
Sabbath as at Washington, the
National Reform Association
head informed a Pittsburgh au-
dience. "The District of Column
bia had no Sunday laws, such as
have all the States, to protect
the people and their right to
rest, and if they desire to do SO,
to worship God. AS a result,
selfish commercialiZed interests
have crowded in upon this day."
This is the forerunner of an
other flank attack upon the
Sunday theater and Washington
must stand supinely by while
Congress threshes it out. Per-
haps l am a little dull, but |
have never been able to see why
the good people of Green Bay,
Wis, should be concerned over
how we pass the cay given us
to be idle, provided, of course,
we dulv observe the laws.
The richest town in the world
has no movies at all, although
it has bootleggers. 1t is Brook
line. Mass. Time and again
the plutocratic population of
this pretty settlement has voted
in town meeting against the
granting of licenses for motion
picture theaters. So they motor
to Roxbury Crossing, or perhaps
Brighton. or some neighboring
suburb for any required doses
of Gilbert Garbo. The point is
they have the sacred right of
voting on the question of movies
or no movies. 1t seems little
irritating that Brookline should
also have official voice in what
the District of Columbia should
do about such questions. Par
ticularly as the District resi-
dents are impotent in the mat
ter.
Nations and men have fought
and died for the right of self
determination and up on Capitol
Hill embalmed in the archives
are memorials passed by Con-,
gress upholding the justice of
the principle. But none of this
is applied in any degree to the
500, ,0O0-odd residents of Wash
ington. The city is the guinea
pig of the reformers. All civic
nostrums and experiments de-
signed to make the Utopian
city-symbol of righteousness and
Puritan morals-are tried upon
Washington. It's citizens may
writhe and fume over the in
justice of being unwilling VIC
tins of these crusaders but
they are sterile factors in the
body polite.
Washington is safe target
for such attacks. She is, in
fact, the weakest of the city
sisters. | can imagine choleric
outbursts on the floor of the
House and Senate if Chicago,
New York, Boston, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Birmingham, Balti-
more, Los Angeles or any ,one
of hundreds of our American
municipalities represented by
Congressman were similarly
branded, or the persistent sub
ject of meddling.
Nobody on Capitol Hill feels
particularly aggrieved over the
sordid picture of a Washing
ton Sabbath given to the good
citizens of Mr.. MELONS village.
No votes are to be had by the
negatives of the nation who
reside in the District of CO.
lumbia, so why worry about
them. Complete indifference ex-
lists in official circles and the
indictment stands unchallenged
in Congress.
To one who finds time to
worship, rest a little and also
go to the theater on the Sew
enth day this gloomy picture OF
the Washington Sunday seems
like unnecessary viewing with
alarm. Frequently see faces
on Sunday night in the theater
which are recognized as those
observed in the surrounding
pews earlier in the day.
One of the best Sunday
movie critics in this town is
the upright son of a Metho-
dist minister and he also knows
how to teach a Bible class.
On occasion he looks over the
Sabbath musical comedies. He
may need protection for his
spiritual rights but l doubt
whether he can be convinced.
Coyoo churches here even have