The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-05-11
PEOPLES FORUM.
Inspection Censorship of Moving
Pictures.

Inspection Censorship of Moving
Pictures.
Editor Nirginian,
Sir Society has 10 protect itself
against the cupidity or the careless
ness of individual members.
The principle and practice of CEN
sorship dnspection) by the govern
ment, representing society, is firmly
esta blished
Every law. every court of justice,
every policeman. belongs to the vast
system of censorship over individual
members offsociety We all live and
move and have our daily being under
the eye and regulation of some board
of censors.
Every bank in the city is censored
Unspected) Every dry goods mer-
chant has his yard stick censored Gin
speeted) Every grocer presents his
Weights. or scales for regular censor
ship Every official and employe Of
the postoffice is regularly and syste-
fnatiCaly censored (nspected). Every
public business has it's accounts regu-
larry censored (audited), Every pro-
Queer of foodstuffs--miller, Gamer.
dairyman--is subject to regular and
systematic censorship.
A diseased COW must he killed. or
whole herd destroyed. Adulterated
-four is condemned, spoiled or doc
tored" meat is taken We all live
under a complete system of censor
ship.
Our sports are censored. disciple
OF Tsaak Walton must observe the
times and seasons or he confronted
by the game warden. The hunter
must hunt in season and within proper
limitations
d IL II
vast powers of good and evil. II
touches the lives OF ever increasing
thousands OF our people Of all ages.
( sexes and conditions Why should the
( moving picture shows be above the
/ law of inspection censorship They
touch our life Why should they be
allowed TO have their own way and
( put upon MS suggestive and indecent
shows any more than a Gamer of
meats should be allowed to put on
! our tables putrid or unwholesome
flesh.
I We have to censor our bankers and
our meat producers Is 1t likely that
/ our moving picture men are any more
. sCrupulous and honest or clean mind
/ ed than our bankers and meat pack
( ers? on the other hand, is II any
more n reflection on the moving pic
tnre- men 4han-the same rule as regu=
| larry applied is a reflection on our
/ bankers?
! 1t is very well 10 have clear In The
minds OF all our people that in urging
n censorship of the moving pictures
we are not singing out one form of
business for treatment We are sim
ply bringing the moving picture into
the same category as all other form
of business that have to do with the
public.
Now think that probably tho plans
Of the friends OF the censor jp are
rather more elaborate aad oha bly,
more expensive than is = neces-
sary.
The government does not keep an
inspector always on watch in every
postofflce. He simply gives the in
spector key so that he can let him
self in whenever he wants TO. and
clothes him with authority To act
whenever he sees anything wrong
| Then the accused is brought before
the court and confronted with the evil
dence
II would not be necessary, I think
to inspect previously every film It
would be sufficient II there were a
f, board appointed, which could quietly
visit shows and If anything is put on
reprehenstble or oensive TO good NOR
ais or public policy, could prevent a
repetition. hold the film for evidence,
call the authorities to account and
take the matter to court.
The moving picture man may not be
over scrupulous about the character
OF his show The more suggestive the
better. so far as his taste Is concerned