The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-01-29
MOVIE PATRONS BACK PROTEST
AGAINST A CENSORSHIP LAW
ASK OHIO COUNTY REPRESEN-
TATIVES TO FIGHT PROPOSED
BILL IN LEGISLATURE.
Campaign Against Proposed La" is
Launched at Meeting Sunday
Prominent Men Speak.

w
shows Yesterday afternoon joined the
campaign against the creation OF a
board OF motion picture censors IN
West Virginia, following mass meet
ings held at the Court and Rex
theatres 10 express the sentiment OF
this city against the movie censor,
shin" bill which has been introduced
in the legislature.
As result Of these meetings.
scores OF cards were mailed las!
evening 10 Senators Ben l.. Rosen.
bloom and Elmer Hough. representing
the First senatorial district, and Dele
gates w. T. Quo, y. Price Whitaker
Harry Weiss and j. Z. EmSieN, rep
re<enting Ohio county, asking them 20
vole and use their Influence against
the creation OF such Il board:
That the creation Of Wcst NiT'
sinia board OF motion picture censofs
not only would be a useless expense
but that such a law would serve 10
place this educational amusement Tor
the masses under III. control Of poll
tics and that ii is unpopular Ia nave ii
committee Of three 10 say what pic
lures West EireinianS should see ana
whaL they should not, WIS the SENSE
voiced by laymcn Us we'll as those m
terested in the production and exhibit
ton Of motion pictures in The MASS
meetings held al the Court and Rex
theatres, under the auspices OF the
Motion Picture Exhibitors League OF
West Virginia. In these meetings II
was empha sized that public censor
ship is the only efficient censorship,
and speakers in position To know
declared that in the three states where
there arc censorship boards, lcsa LIED
III fli FRA, -
true purpose.
At the Court.
John McAleer. Wheeling representa-
tive OF the Universal Film Manufac.
turing company, presided at Il we'll at
tended meeting at the Court. In his
opening address ne outlined provisions
Of the proposed censorship law and
The attitude Of the moving picture in.
duSiry toward il.
The first speaker at the Court was
Miss Mary Page Peck, Of New York
city. who, as one Of the leading FEEDER
alton of. Woman'S club workers in the
United States, studied particularly the
motion picture problem especially
with respect TO child life. She gave
her approval OF The civic work Of the
National Board OF Review for motion
pictures. but opposed leSalized censor.
ship, declaring that II has failed oil lis
purpose in Ohio, Pennsylvania and
KANSAS The step that must be taken,
she declared, rather than deprive the
millions of decent amusement. Is TO
arrange for shows for children that
have not the features which cannot be
kept from the general PUBLIC.
Louis Rullon, Of New York city.
chairman Of the National Board Of
Review, which censors pictures with
out any compensation other than the
satisfaction Of performing this civic
duty to the world, explained the
power and workings OF This great
organization. declaring that that is The
best form OF censorship and that state
board censorship is d failure and an
unnecessary expense.
Editor Speaks.
Another equally an iStcrcsting an
address was heard from Stephen Bush,
of New York city. editor Of the Motion
Picture World. whose address was d
revelation on the creation and censor
shin OF motion pictures. lie WAS III.
reserved in his opposition 10 state cen.
sorship.
One Of the most forceGnl addresses
WAS that of Attorney ]. L. liandlan,
of Il city, who characterized AS an
OUTRAGE an effort to place over the
motion picture industry IN West Nlr-
cinia board Of three, who shall have
the right to say what picture citizens
Ut Wheeling or any other community,
contented and happy aa he knows
them to be with the wonderful pos
SibiltieS for education and amu$c-
ment afforded by the movies. shall be
permitted 10 sec. He ureCd bis hrar.
ers 10 get busy and communicate With
their senators and dele to- ii
Charleston 70 have them fight the pro-
posed law.
At the Rex
Seeing movies in Wheeling IN san
day afternoon was the unique enjoy.
ment Of almost The Rex theatre full
of people yesterday AFTERNOON who
gathered 10 hear eminent discussions
against censorship and To br rutcr.
Itained with Il few reels u fla and
some organ music. Il delightful com.
plement TO the speaking.
The crowd applaudcd lis speakers
as though it were 4 union a"ainsi tire
restrictions which have been pro-
posed in censorship bills, state ami ~.
tional
The Speakers were W Stephen
Bush. editor Of the Motion Picture.
) World and Exhibitors Trad" Review,
Of New York: Attorney Frank 4
OBrien, Of W'heelingi Mis- Mary J..
Peck and Louis Julian. both Of he
National Boyd Of Review. Oi New
York City.
Their purport were lh;!; CENSORSHIP
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