The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-01-16
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WASHINGTON, Jan. 15-That le-
galized censorship OF motion pictures
ia first step toward general theat-
rical censorship and curbing OF
free speech in the press, was the note
Of warning sounded by Edward
A. Moree, who represents the New
York State Mayors Conference on the
National Board Of Motion Picture
Oensors. sat a. hearing before
the house committee on education.
Mr.. Moree was speaking In opposi-
tlon to Congressman Hughes bill
providing for q federal motion pic
ture commission. ;,
Gas a former newspaper man,
said Mr.. Moree. II contemplate with
little short Of horror this attempt to
control, by a politically appointed
board. one Of the most important
educational forces and one OF. the
most valuable means Of human ex-
preston. -
Would be Swift.
ri believe It is the first step toward
lecalized censorship OF the press. All
Of us wish to protest the morals oil
children; all of us would prevent any
act that would incite to crime or I'M
pair the health orscorrupt the morals
Of either children or adults; much
that appears In the newspapers do al
OF these things. Yet we find no move
for national lehallzed censorship o.
the press. The destruction tina,
would be visited upon a person adj
yocating such a thing from any sucf
fallacious grounds would be well-de
served and swift.
"Those who advocate legaliset
censorship of motion pictures arr
creating a Frankenstein that VII
haunt them for years.
Una CINE the attitude OF q nationa
legal board Of censors. under the con
troll OF those Interested In perpetual
ing child labor, toward film show
ing the evils of child labor. Imagine
the attitude Of a board under the con
troll OF the liquor interests, toward q
Aim showing the evils OF the sale Of
alcohol. Imagine the attitude OF such
d board, controlled by one party OIL
the other, toward film. or seriei
OF films. showing the evil effects Of
some particular policy Of the party In
power. Imagine. IL you can, the kind
Of political pressure that would be
brought upon legal board in con-
nectlon with such a highly controyer'
sial film as 1.-THE Birth OF a Nation
Obnoxious Theory.
eLegalized censorship is founded
upon a theory Of government that II
utterly obnoxious to all that Is best
In American tradition. It would leg
alize a moral hierarchy that win i'm.
mediately begin to seek new author
ity and new power in carrying ont the
purposes for which 1t was created
namely, to exert a lsuppresslve inhu.
ence on one Of the most important
means Of social expression.
GAS one example Of the dangerous
powers given to this board. and Of
the dangerous extremes to which
move Of this kind may go, may be
cited one power given to the board
II shall prohibit the showing Of any
either children or adults. A filn
dealing with any form Of some Of tht
more controversial aspects Of social
Injustice would, in the minds OF many
who might become members OF such
hoard. incite to violence.
Model Ordinance, A
1.-THE attitude on this question Of
the mayors Of New York state may
be Judged from the fact that the con,
ference sought membership on the
national board Of motion picture cen.
sors. and has supported that unot.
ficial volunteer body, composed Of
Representative citizens, in Its opposi-
tion to legalized censorship. st has
drawn nm a model ordinance dealing
with motion pictures and sent 1t with
recommendation for adoption to
every mayor in the state Of New
York. This ordinance would prohibit
the showing Of any film not passed by
the present national board OF motion
picture censors.
"The bill should not pass, and !
venture to say II will not pass. II the
newspapers and all others interested
IN free speech and an unbridled press.
rise up and make themselves heard"
7 Among the others appearing
against the bill are Miss Helen Var
ick Boswell, chairman Of the commit
tee ON education OF the general fed
Grafton Of women's clubs; Miss Mary
GRAY Peck, of the faculty Of the UNI
yersity of Wisconsin /; Mr.. W. Frank
Persons, director Of the charity or
ganIzation society Of New York City;