The Washington times., 1915-03-17
PHOTOPLAYS AND
PHOTOPLAYERS
Censorship Que stion
Should Be Left to
National Board,
Says Ldenmle
By GARDNER MACK.

The decision of the United States
Supreme Court upholding the work
OF State censors Of Ohio and practi-
cally deciding that the censorship of
motion pictures is a matter that Is
entirely within the province Of the
State authorities, has been accepted
In very satisfactory spirit by the
manufacturers of the better class of
films.
The decision is important as it set
ties for all time the question of
whether or not censorship is consti-
tutional. The court holds the Ohio
law to be entirely constitutional. The
question with the film manufacturers
now, therefore, is how so to CO.
ordinate the various State and
municipal laws that sort Of
general understanding can be had.
There isn't the slightest question
but that the multiplicity of censor
ship works a hardship on the honest,
Well-meaning manufacturers who
constitute the majority Of the max
ers Of motion pictures nowadays.
1t Is desirable that some standard
Of censorship should be adopted
throughout the country. President
Carl Laemmie, Of, the Universal
Company. believes that the work of
the National Board Of Censorship
covers all the requirements as out
lined in the Supreme Court decision.
1T would be undignified to criticise
the decision of such an august body
of men," Mr.. Iaemmle declares. but
desire to point out that every ques-
ton raised by the court is covered
by the National Board of Censorship
at the present time. The National
Board of Censorship is better quail
fed to criticise moving pictures than
any other body.
TT understands the criticisms of
moving pictures from actual expert
ence: 1t is free from political in
their time and attention to the criti-
cism of pictures are prompted with
only one object, and that Is to see
that the patrons of moving picture
houses receive clean and moral
amusement for the reasonable ad-
mission now asked.
1T is the only agency which has
attempted to work on a national
scale. For five years it has continu-
ously examined the bulk of the films
put on the market, and it has worked
free from political influence and for
the great good of the millions. 1t
does not speak from theory but from
extended experience.
81 fail to understand how a State
board Of censorship could operate
better to the advantage of the NOV
ing picture patron. the manufacturer
and the exhibitor than does the pres
ent National Board of Censorship,
which operates on the basis of
agreement with the manufacturers
submit all their productions and
abide by the decisions of the board.
1t Is a wise business policy on the
part of the manufacturers which ac-
cepts one unbiased criticism rather
than a multitude throughout the
country.
some things which should not have
pictorial presentation In public places
and to all audiences. We fully ap-
preciate this, and l do not think
that the National Board of Censor
ship has once erred in this matter.
The great number of feet of films
which they condemn weekly-and In
some cases even entire productions
testifies to their diligence in this re-
spect. - . A..
people of this country to decide for
themselves whether OF not the Ma
tional Board of Censorship Is doing
its work, and whether there Is need
Of having State boards of censor
ship There are few who Will de-
clare that moving pictures. as pre-
sented today. are other than an eiu-
cational, amusing and entertaining
art
1--WE do not deny that when NOV
ing pictures were in an embryonic
state they possessed certain bad
Qualities. But the morbidness and
displeasing influences have been
eliminated with the gradual growth
of the Industry until today we md
a very high standard has been es-
g. ~