The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-06

methods of that body and enclosed
Folders and samples OF the censorship
sheets showing how the board does
its work. The Pennsylvania board
passes on about LOCO films weekly.
about OF whiah-aEe- eFisinai--
For Federal Censorship.
Among mayors of cities who believe
there should be a-~Federa1 censorship
OF motion pictures are Mayor Kiel. OF
1T. Louis, who SAYS:
In my judgment il is the duty OF
the nation, of every State and munt&
efpal government to so regulate mo-
ton pictures AZ 70 reduce TO mint
mum all possibilities of corruption to.
the young mind
Other mayors who believe there
should he Federal regulation of the
movies include Hindley. OF Spokane:
Wright OF Worcester. Mass; Jost. OF
Kansas City. Dahlman, OF Omaha: Nye
Of Minneapolis; Edgerton. OF Roches-
Ter; VIII, of Syracuse; stephens OF
Albany; Blankenhurg. of Philadelphia
and Alhee. of Portland. ore.
These and others agree that the
existing forms of censorship fail to
eliminate the evil the suggestive and
the communicating in pictures; that
the so-called National Board of Gem
sors. and other present boards are
iHenicfent. though they aid consider
ably. The municipal board of CEN
NorshIp Is endorsed as well as n Fed
erai board.
Cardinal Gibbons support.
The Twentieth Century Quarterly In
it's issue OF March. 1915, under the
heading Catholic support OF Move
mont for Federal Consorshi pt-says.-
"protestants will need TO look 10
their laurels No other denomination
has given such prompt and earnest
support by letters of it's leaders. and
aggressive work of its societies and
press as the Catholic Church, Besides
the three strong helpers quoted we
note that the movement for State CEN
sorship in New Jersey was led by the
Society of the Holy Name.
The international Reform Bureau
has received the following letter dat
ed February 10. from Cardinal Gibbons
In response to request for his sup
port OF efforts to secure efficient cen
sorship OF motion pictures:
Whatever will make our American
people better, and therefore happier.
am. of course for. Films and NOV
ing pictures have a wide formative
influence. and hence ! should like to
see them instructive and moral. at
the same time entertaining and ar
tistc. To secure such we must both
try 10 stop of the food of degrading
pictures anu appeal III our people TO
demand good films.
People should Demand It.
Like food for body. that the gov
eminent says must be pure: like cor
respondence in our mails, which the
government says must be decent and
not obscene, so too. the mental food.
the correspondence that is carried
daily into the minds and hearts OF our
rising geperation through moving pic
INV y,a zh hA Nal
elevating.
Hoping that our American people
will demand such, I am
Faithfully yours.
~. CARD GIBBONS"
The report of the Pennsylvania state
Board of Censorship covering the peri
Cd of June to December 1. 1915,
by Warden McKenty. Of the Eastern
2enitentiary. Pennsylvania
"Many Of the Nconvicts In this
penite nttary are confined here be-
cause of criminaIIy suggestive
motion pfctures. That Isn't
any theory of my own. MY mem
come to me and tell me that. and
and believe Il. Three men serv-
Ing life sentence blame their fall
pictures. They told me this
only y few days ago. That IL my
answcr to those who oppose strict
censorship for the movfes.-
In the same report of the Pennsyl-
vania board Major Funkhouser. direc-
tor Of censorship In Chicago for sew
sral years. sAys that within a short
time In that city, "by accounts OF
those Identified with the trade. the
exchange men or the jobbers have in
creased their receipts from 30 TO rs
pr cent and exhibitors from 80 tic IS
per cent.
Film Busines~ VIII Prosper.
Such an assurance OF proper SUI
nervision for all alike will lead every
where to Increased prosperity for such
companies as are disposed to take
IN honest course In that they viii be
freed OF the competition of others
seeking to profit by appeals to the
popular taste for what II licentious and
sensational
Among epigrammatic assertions
made by Rev.. William Sheafe Chase.
d. d., rector Of Christ Church. Bed
ford Avenue, Brooklyn. In hts recent
debate with President Frank l.. Dyer
OF the General Film Company. Inc,
on censorship. are quoted tho follow
Ing;
Better that adults be restrained
In their amusements. than that the
children should be deporalixed and
corrupted.
There Ia much more reasen for cen
soring motion pictures than plays OF
pArfAryn apeAa