The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-01-25

The motion picture is a cross-section Of life
And because the place of liquor i'm life is UNI
lovely because at last the vicious traffic in
liquor is faced by competitor that completes
the trade publications and organizations of
the beer and whisSey producers are fighting
desperately for the imposition OF punitive
federal tax upon picture exhibitors, for the
elimination by censorship of all scenes detri-
mental to the reputation Of their censorship
and FOR THE CREATION OF A HOSTILE
PUBLIC SENTIMENT TOWARD THE EN-
TIRE FILM INDUSTRY
A proposal to increase the federal tax upon the in
dustry the point of punishment is included in the
bill now pending in Congress. Liquor trade
periodicals openly claim credit for this falsely, no
doubt
From time far removed we have heard of the
essty of Substitutes" for the saloon. 1t has been
pointed out that the saloon serves social purpose
for some classes that they offer toilet facilities
games, tables, chairs booths, free lunches, light
music and warmth Sometimes substitutes have been
poured out of the mould read-made for the people,
and the people have eyed them askance because thet
surrounded with an air of paternalism and not
democracy.
But the substitute has Just growed" Drug
stores now offer toilet facilities tables chairs
music light warmth, lunches soft drinks and
camaraderie.
The arrival of the motion picture industry
brings the missing factor of awakening. stmu-
latng amusement. 1t offers to the working
man an inviting place; it offers a narrow life
y vacarious experience of adventure. luxury
10Y, intense experience. 1t is a new form of
art expression. of thought transmission which
strikes as deep into dull brain as into that of
"A thinker.
A VAST FORCE FOR GOOD OR EVIL
The motion picture industry is fifth in impor-
in the United States The number of exhibitors
is verously estimated from $4,000 to $4,000, and
the daily attendance is placed as somewhere be-
fuppn
ing that any other industry must be interested in
the incidental effect of this vast force.
The popularity of the film is closing hundreds Of
saloons in license centers and the inevitable hes
tity of the trades is reinforced by the fact that
where prohibition has gone into effect Immediately
the attendance at the picture house has increased
These assertions are based not alone numerous
newspaper stories, but up reports from police Off
Gals in numerous cities upon complaints OF saloon
keepers and upon statements contained in hundreds
of letters from motion picture writer's, producers and
exhibitors.
HOW LIQUOR rs FIGHTING THE FILM
The fight on the picture industry is being made
largely by Midas Criterion, a standard liquor pub
1ication by Barrels and Bottles, the Liberal Advo-
cate the Champion of Fair Play, the American
Brewers Review, and similar publications.
~WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT THE
MOVIE MENACEr ASKS MIDAS CRITERION. ar
HAS MADE A MILLION HAMMERS BUT NOT ONE
SOLITARY HORN FOR THE LIQUOR BUSINESS
"THE LIQUOR INDUSTRY HAS NOT APPRECI-
ATED THE SCOPE OF THE MOVING PICTURES
PREVALENT is THE BARROMM SCENE, so PEN
NICIOUS Is IT'S PORTRAYAL OF LIQUOR...-...
WHO HAS EVER SEEN LIQUOR PORTRAYED
IN ANY But THE MOST UNFAVORABLE LIGHT
RY THE MOVIESl THE FILMS ACCEPT EVERY
CHANCE TO LINK LIQUOR WITH THE DRUG
HABIT. WHAT MAKES THE RURAL LOVER GO
WRONG? LIQUOR, ALWAYS LIQUOR AND
HOOKED UP WITH LIQUOR MUST BE EVIL
WOMEN. THE MOVIES HAVE MADE A GOAT
OF LIQUOR.
In his report to the twenty-third annual confer
ence of the National Liquor Dealers association Mr.
Hugh F. Harvey the chairman of the Congressional
Committee, said:
GIT HAS COME TO THE ATTENTION OF YOUR
CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE BY personal