New-York tribune., 1919-04-11
Deputy Commissioners 5
Statements Regarding Ef-
feet of Movies OH Children
Challenged by Association
Review Board Is Praised
Delegation of Women Are
Going to Albany to Fight
for State Censor Board

Tho FIGHT started by Deputy Police
Commissioner Ellen O'Grady against
"obiectionable" films brought forth
two bitter attacks yesterday from rep
resentatives of the motion picture IN
dustry.
The Association of Motion Picture
Advertisers prepared the following ten
questions which they challenged Com
missioner O'Grady to answer at pub
lie meeting to be held on Thursday
next:
81. Can and will you name ten thea
tres in New York City in which, to your
knowledge, salacious pictures have been
shown?
10 Can you name three salacious or
licentious films you have seen or which
you know to have been shown in New
York during the past year?
"3. Can you name one licentious
film you have seen or known to have
been shown, which the National Board
Of Review indorsed?
a. Can you name one motion mic
ture exhibitor who makes it practice
to exhibit suggestive or immoral films =?
IS. Do you set yourself up as a bet
ter judge of films than the parents of
the children who attend the theatres?
g. Do you know that 60 per cent of
the films shown in the theatres of
greater New York are later shown in
schools, churches and forums THROUGH
out America
Y. Can you produce one child of the
many ruined ones you speak of who has
been so ruined by films?
Asked to Produce Child
"s. Can and will you produce the
name of any film in which that name
word 'vamp' from I'm and state the
nae of any film in which that name
was used'
"a Are you aware Of the law which
gives the License Commissioner the
right to close any theatre showing an
indecent pcture7
40. Can and will you state the name
of any one film producer who has re-
quested an injunction to restrain the
commissioner from performing his
office In respect to stopping an i'm
moral film? Don't you know way
down In your heart. that you have made
an attempt to ride to cheap publicity
oy means of attacking an industry
long ago established in the hearts and
minds OF such men as Woodrow Wilson.
William H. Taft, Professor Lowell and
every high minded man in public. and
that only two weeks ago you came out
IN an unsolicited statement, branding
the film as the greatest medium Of
educating and said nothing at that
time regarding films being derogatory
to our children?
Did the indicting of DR.. Doyle have
anything to do with your attack?"
Praise for Review Board
At the same time W. D. Mcclure, ir..
executive secretary of the National
Board of Review of Motion Pictures. at
~ Filth Avenue, issued a statement de-
tending the board and attacking Com
missioner O'Grady. He pointed to the
Tact that the members of the board who
volunteer their services represent every
class IL the community, including min
isters, settlement workers, clubWomen
and educators
The trouble with Mrs. O'Grady."
sad, Mr. Mcclure, 'is that her interpre
tation OF what is objectionable and
mat OF the law are in conflict. She
does not need a board of censors to
suppress immoral pictures. This power
already exists in the hands of the Po-
lice Department.
lhere IS also Commissioner of IL
lenses VINO can al any time, without re-
course 10 the police, revoke the license
" any person who allows obscene or
immoral pictures 70 be shown in pub
nSc~ l.s. added Mr.. Mcclure. "If Mrs.
ourady really knows any motion pic
are are tneatre that is showing immoral
inns why does she not have the pro
prletor arrested at once?
Not the Ultimate Judge
Mrs. Mrs. o'Grady is not the ultimate
Jadge Of what is immoral. That rcsts
win the law. She can take man into
court, but even she cannot convict him
ms country would be in a worse uav
.nan II ls now if every reforrner ha1
iine Inc power 70 force his ideas as to nuh-
"c morals on the community"
Ai'nough representatives OF mot;on
ptc'ufes made several efforts to see
r's. oGrady during the dav. thev
we're unable TO do so. She spent the
greater part of the time with dele
ydtion OF women who are TO 90 to Al
Ssy oashy IN support of Assemblyman
of censors. ''oio