using python rather than pythonw

Whenever I run a program that imports matplotlib, it requests pythonw rather than python. Here's the message:

This program needs access to the screen. Please run with
'pythonw', not 'python', and only when you are logged in on the main display
of your Mac.

Is there any way of getting around this? In particular, when I am running python remotely on the terminal, it will not let me use matplotlib since access to the screen is required. However, I would like to be able to generate plots to file (remotely) without ever showing them on the screen. Is there something I need to set in order to satisfy this?

Thanks,

ยทยทยท

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Christopher J. Fonnesbeck ( c h r i s @ f o n n e s b e c k . o r g )
Georgia Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, University of Georgia