The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-04
Supt. OF Police Is
 Firm M Decision
CcOntinued from Pase i,

""-AAAANANA SA~~AA@AANNAN met with strong opposition from the Knights of Columbus, which claims that Spain in Flames" and e com. panion picture, Defense of Mad- xid", are communistic. The commit tee is the same one which arrrnged for Q speech here June IS by Rev. Michael OFlanagan, exposed by Rev. pr. Eugene P. Cryne, pastor of St. Patricks church, as Q sus- pended priest whose faculties have never been restored. Father Cryne yesterday produced a quantity of evidence to show that the Irish ex-priest is not in good standing with the church.
 Socialists Like Picture
 The socialist party of Waterbury last night joined those favoring the granting of a permit for the picture to play here. Others who protested to Supt Roach against his ban were Dr. Emily Pierson, of Cromwell, and pr. Lena Halpern, of New Ha- ven.
 After conferring yesterday after noon with Supt. Roach for more than an hour the five ministers talked with Attorney John Gaffney, Of the Knights of Columbus, and Attorney Joseph Hackett, chairman of the American committee of the American Legion, and sought un- successfully to have these organiza- tions to withdraw their protests against the granting of a permit.
 The clergymen planned to meet this afternoon to decide what further steps should be taken. n refusing to grant the permit. Supt. Beach told the applicants that he had no objection to their taking legal action If they wished.
 First Applicants
 In further explaining his refusal to grant the permit, Supt. Roach said today that the original appli- cation was made by two men who were unable to speak English well and who were unable to state what organization they represented. Later, he said, he found that the plans were in charge of a Frank, who was "bushy -haired". He investi- gated, he went on, and found out that Frank" was Frank Blacker, of l09 East Main street, an elevator operator, who said that he was sec retary of the local chapter of the North American Committee to Aid spanish Democracy. Blacker then rave the names of Rev. Messrs, Smith, Jackson and White as the heads of the local committee.
 Supt. Roach said he told Blacker to inform the clergymen that he had secured all available informa- tion and had found that 1t was too controversial to be shown here, so he was refusing to issue per- init. The picture, he said. has been banned in the states of Washington, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. and refused showings in many cities N. J., and Worcester, Mass. among them Columbus, O., Trenton,
 The superintendent said today | that in Columbus a similar con- troyersy arose, and the film was shown before group of represen- tatiye citizens of various denomin- ations and political beliefs. That group, he said, voted against allow lIlk LklC RACbuAC IO M oAAS"AA'
 Rev. MT. Bobilin Quoted
 In support of the picture, Rev. MT, Bobilin was quoted as saying:
 "As long as the film does not undermine morals or advocate the overthrow of government by vio- lence no group has the right to tell another group they can't see sorrething of this sort. That's counter to the democratic principle. Anything having to do with politics or the struggle of humanity to win better conditions for itself should be allowed full and free presenta- ton. We are setting dangerous precedent by banning film of thls nature. There's too much of that sort of thing i'll Europe and that's what's the trouble with Europe now. That's why a lot of people left Eu- rope in years gone by to come to this country. Banning a film oi this nature in this way is undemo- cratic procedure"
 Catholic Transcript
 The official organ of the Cath oiic diocese of Hartford, The Cath olic Transcript, declared unequivo- cally that Rev. Michael O'Flanagan, scheduled to speak here June 10 under the auspices of the North American Committee to Aid Span ish Democracy, "is not priest Ill good standing" The Transcript ar- ticle, on the first page of this weeks issue, is headed, Warning"
 Father O'Flanagan has been ex- posed as suspended priest by Rev. Dr. Eugene P. Cryne Of this city, who yesterday produced great deal of evidence to support his claim.
 The Transcripts article follows:
 WARNING
 The Transcript has been in- formed that the Rev. Michael o. Flanagan, an Irish priest, will sneak in Waterbury on June Is, on behalf of the Red side in the Spanish war. Father O'Flanagan is not a priest in good standing. His bishop recently cabled to Archbishop Curley of Baltimore the information that Father o. Flanagan has been suspended for some years. 1t need hardly be added that suspended priest is in no sense an official representa- tive of the Catholic Church. The Transcript urges it's readers to pray for Father O'Flanagan. and the few eccleSiastics, all in bad standing, like him, who are sO- liciting support for the Red side in Spain.
 R. o. Smith, secretary of the socialist party in Waterbury, de- clared that banning of the film ''smacks not little of Fascist tac- tics of suppression" He also stat ed: {, .The socialist party of America, Waterbury local, supports the s,k l