The Washington herald., 1909-03-14
Censorship of Moving Pictures

Whatever may happen In the case of
the regular theater. the moving picture
shows throughout the country will prob
ably all be under strict censorship before
many years. The popularity Of these
shows has proved extraordinary, and their
influence over the minds and behavior OF
the young has become a subject for con-
sideration In most Of our large cities.
When Investigated by the police. or other
guardians OF the public morals. they have
been found horrifc or vulgar. rather than
indecent though the latter charge has
sometimes been brought against them.
Fortunately, the managers Of these shows
have exhibited a willingness to conform to
whatever standard of propriety the com
munity may set. In New York and De-
Toit for example. they have agreed to
submit all their picture films to a com
mittee Of censors, and TO abide by the
verdict. Detroit has detailed members Of
the police force TO conduct this examina-
ton. A volunteer board Of censors, com
posed OF members OF civic societies, will
do the judging in the Metropolis.
The reason for this willingness on the
part Of the moving picture show mana
gers to conform TO a censorship appears
to be a business one. The manufacture
OF the films used in the reproduction OF
these pictures Is concentrated in the
hands of few firms, constituting what
amounts practically to a trust AS these
firms control the output. they are the
sole judges Of what shall go on the mar
ket and Of what shall appear in the
shows. Individual managers have no
power of rejection with any prospects OF
redress; they must take what comes to
them But If a censorship Is established,
1t is claimed that they will be able to
turn back rejected films 10 the manufac-
turers. and insist on having pictures up
to the moral standard required by the
local censOrs. II this is a true repre-
sentation Of the situation, it will be seen
that the censorship benefits the manager
as well as the public, and will operate
to improve the tone Of the moving picture
output
The move for censorship over these
places Of popular amusement recognizes
the moral influence Of pictorial and his
trionie art. an influence which is probably
greater than most of us know. That writ
ten and pictured examples OF crime and
passion frequently excite latent criminal
instincts is understood by every student
Of criminology. A negro recently appre-
hended in Texas for conducting an ex-
tensive swindle confessed that he had
been led to the crime by reading a
description Of like offense in a popular
magazine. Burglaries in this town have
been traced TO theatrical representations
OF HOUSEKEEPING. It is. therefore, Of
importance. from the purely police stand
point. that the commission Of crime
should not be portrayed in a public man
spicuous offender against this rule. When
a criminal act gives notoriety obtain
allie In no other way. it is pretty certain
that the pleasure Of a brief though IN
enviable fame is the motive OF many an
offense otherwise unexplainable. While
It may not be possible or expedient to
suppress newspaper accounts OF actual
crime, 1t Is possible and expedient TO sup
press pictorial representations. particu-
larly when they are prepared for the
amusement Of the poDulace. Censor