The Bridgeport Evening Farmer

Federation of Catholic Societies Condemns a Certain Class of Plays

Denver, Col., August 1.—The American Federation of Catholic Societies has entered a vigorous protest against a certain class of plays produced on the American stage. The letter is addressed to all theatrical managers in America and is a scathing criticism of the stage. It asks that all Catholics aid in the crusade. A copy of it was made public here to-day by the Catholic Bishop of Denver.

The letter asserts that the American stage is deteriorating and says in part:

"We deplore that plays have been produced which mock at sacred things and moral principles which the Christian holds in the highest respect.

"There are still theatres missing their high and noble aim and debauching the minds and hearts of the theatregoers and especially our young persons. When plays like 'Salome,' 'The Blue Mouse,' 'The Soul Kiss,' 'The Girl from Rector's,' 'The Easiest Way,' 'The Girl in the Train,' 'The Girl in the Taxi,' 'Alma, Wo Wohnst du?' and 'La Samaritaine' are praised and heralded as attractions we feel that the theatrical producers and managers are menacing the public morality and the welfare of the nation, for these plays, being based on abominable sexual perversity and setting up a standard of morality which is open licentiousness, will gradually accustom the spectators, first in thought, then in deed, to disregard and discard all Christian modesty, and will thus prove the grave of the nation.

French Stage Condemned.

"The importation of risky German and French farces and comedies like 'The Foolish Virgin,' 'The Woman Passes' and similar plays exhibits such a morbid standard of moral looseness that we may justly expect them to be denounced by a sane American public.

"Our county federations that have some times requested the managers to stop salacious plays have been quieted with the excuse that the nasty play had been expurgated, but the subsequent facts showed what could have been anticipated, viz.—that the moral filth and poison were inherent in the play.

"We are aware that many times the excuse is given 'The people want these plays. Give the people what they want.' We most earnestly protest against this allegation. There are thousands, nay millions, of Americans who are disgusted with these putrid exhibitions.

"The American people can expect to continue as a happy and thrifty nation only on the sound principle of Christian morality. We therefore demand of the theatrical producers and managers that vulgarity, indecency and immoral suggestiveness be entirely eliminated from all plays, programmes, advertisements and posters. We also request the Bill Poster's Union, in accordance with the promise made to the American Federation of Catholic Societies, to take notice of our demand.

Call for Assistance.

"We earnestly request all the members of our affiliated societies not only to avoid such offensive performances but to withdraw their patronage from any theatre which lends itself to offensive productions.

"This open letter will be forwarded to all the principal theatrical managers in the name of American Federation of Catholic societies."

The letter is signed by Mr. Edward Feeney, of Brooklyn; Mr. Thomas Cannon, of Chicago; the Rev. F. Heiermann, S. J., Toledo; Mr. Charles Denechaud, of New Orleans; Mr. Anthony Matre, of St. Louis of the National Committee on Public Morals; the Most Rev. S. G. Messmer, D.D., Archbishop of Milwaukee; the Most Rev. William H. O'Connell, D. D., Archbishop of Boston; the Most Rev. James H. Blenk, D.D., Archbishop of New Orleans and the Right Rev. Jas A. McFaul, D.D., Bishop of Trenton, N. J.

An attempt was made to communicate with various theatrical managers in this city last night relative to the circular letter, but only George H. Tyler, of Messrs. Liebler & Co., could be reached. He said he had read a few weeks ago of a movement on the part of a Catholic society to condemn certain plays, but had not yet seen the circular.