The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1915-10-23
LEADING POINTS IN
FILM PLAY DECISION.
Board Of Csnsors Acts In Defense Of
All the People.

The Hon. Charles G. Williams, chair
man Of the board Of censors Of the
state of Ohio. in rendering the decision
Of the said board Sept. % prohibiting
the so called moving picture show.
THE Birth Of a Nation" from being
played in Columbus or other cities In
the state. in part says: ..-.
1t devolves upon me as q member Of the
Ohio board Of censors to render my indi-
yidual decision as to whether or not the
film, "The Birth Of q Nation" should be
approved or rejected.
Many protests have been brought to our
attention from sources that indicate that
the entire colored race and those especial
ly interested in their advancement Sc
riously object to said film. Governor
Frank B. Willis has repeatedly called the
attention Of the board to the fact that
many protests against this film have been
entered in his department. .
He has also repeatedly requested that
this board give said film very careful at
tention, and If 1t should be found to be OF
such a character as to reflect upon the
colored race and tend to arouse racial
hatred and prejudice. as claimed. he has
urgently recommended that we reject the
same.
On the other hand. the owners of said
film have filed quite a numbe of recon-
mendations praisng this photo play. II
Is claimed by many reputable individual
citizens that said film ought to be exhib-
tied because Of its dramatic and historical
value. 1t is urged that 1t is the most
gigantic production from the standpoint
Of stage and spectacular achievements the
film industry has yet produced.
After having very carefully considered
the arguments pro and con and having
closely inspected said film as well as dis
cussed the merits of the same with the
other members Of this board (who have
equally considered all matters pertaining
to the same) I now render my decision
looking to the things portrayed in the film
itself. 1t will not be disputed but that II
has a great dramatic value and is stupen-
dous from the standpoint of camera
achievements. On the other hand, by nc
stretch Of the imagination can we gel
away from the fact that 1t reflects un-
favorably upon the colored race.
1t is claimed that the film should not
be Objectionable because Of the time thai
has elapsed since the period when these
episodes were supposed to have taker
place. With this l cannot agree: Many
soldiers of the civil war are still living
both in the north and in the south. This
film cannot but open the wound of III feel
ing between them and their offspring
Not only does 1t rekindle the feeling OF
sectional hatred. but it strongly tends tc
arouse hatred and prejudice among the
coming generation against a race that is
living in our midst, 10000 Of whom arr
in the state Of Ohio.
There are several millions Of this race
in the United States. and since the con
stitution Of the United States guarantee:
them equal rights and having taken ar
oath to support this constitution. l con
slider 1t wholly unwise, unjust. dangerou:
and harmful to officially approve film
that reflects upon them and incites hatred
toward them. retarding them In theil
progress as this film does.