Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-26

IIlG 0LdlS anu GCll6Idl Guerra
AS the matter now stands the Wo-
mans club took the unique posi-
ton OF endorsing a proposition to
which the majority OF its members
do not subscribe in order to main
tain the equilibrium of organized
clubdom.
Many Factions Appear.
Debate on the, bill and amend
ments introduced by Mrs. w. S.
Knight, chairman Of the education
al and better film committee of the
Woman's club, rent the meeting
which was a special one called to
consider the censorship bill, into as
many factions as there were women
present. No two women present ex-
pressed the same views or interpre-
tation of club practices.
When the smoke of the stormy
session cleared, members found they
had done these things unique in
parliamentary practice, at least:
Passed two hours amending a bill
they did not endorse; coerced into
unfavored action by the autocracy
of club precedent and that nobody
had asked for any amendments to
the bill they discussed-only for
their support. Which was not
forthcoming.
Mrs. c. w. Hayes and Mrs. Will
liam Berry were the only two pres
ent who expressed unqualified sup
port of the bill.
When the call came to clinch the
lengthy discussion by a final motion
to endorse the much-mooted bill,
house roll No. 355, no one could be
found to mother" the motion.
Mrs. w. S. Knight, Mrs. Edward
Johnson, Mrs. Berry and other menu
bers of the educational or "better
films" committee after much pass
ing the buck. individually and Sc
verally refused to make the motion.
Mrs. Knight was the one who pro-
posed the amendments.
Mrs. Coles Question.
To the pointblank question asked
by Mrs. F. H. Cole:
Does the educational committee
which has the moving picture work
in charge favor or reject the bill as
amended"
Mrs. johnson replied:
at is not fair to ask us. We
have submitted the bill and amend
ments. 1t is up to the club to act"
Mrs. Knight said: There are
some things in the bill we do not
like. We are only submitting to
you a workable bill. We do not
say we endorse it."
Mrs. A. L. Fernald, president Of
the Woman's club, would take no
stand either for or against the bill.
81 refuse to commit myself" she
said.
So the members continued in a
quandary until Mrs. M. D. Cameron,
general federation director, an
nounced the ruling that the Wo-
mans club was pledged to support
the bill by reason of action taken in
the state convention held in Nor
folk last year. THE General Fed
Grafton of Women's clubs and the
state fe deration have init
ated this movement. The state presi-
dent, Mrs. A. f. Sheldon, helped
draft the bill "You are expected
to endorse it." she told the women.
Then Miss Kathedire Morley made
the motion to endorse the bill as
amended by the Woman's club, ex-
pressly STIMULATING that this was
done in view of previous action by
the higher powers.
The vote in favor was weak. Fiji
teen out of % present when the
final vote was taken voiced their
opinion.
Mrs. L. NJ Lord led the opposi-
ton to the censorship bill and to
the discussion of amendments.
Don't Give Approval.
1--WE don't approve of the bill;
why should we waste time amend
ing it? If we endorse the bill. even
with amendments, you cart get
away from the fact that we've en-
dorsed (which we don't 1t
would have to be changed a lot be-
fore it would meet with my APP
proval. It doesn't specify anywhere
from where the censors are to be
chosen. What's to prevent man
from Cherry county censoring films
in Douglas county? And why
should we nav the expense of a
censor to come from Lincoln to
censor films when there are plenty
of competent people in Omaha to
do it?" Mrs. Ford wanted to know.
Mrs. E. NJ. Syfert took the stand
that the Omaha Woman's club had
never pledged itself to favor cen
sorship of moving pictures.
Our policy in the past has al
WAYS been one for constructive
carpaign-for cooperation rather
than censorship. We have pledged
ourselves to provide better films for
children, not to go into censorship,
she said.
Why Endorse It2
"Why must we endorse a bill &c
which we do not approve just be,
cause we endorsed the principle o.
censorship at the state Convention
asked Mrs. S. A. Collins and Mrs
Edwin S. Jewell, IF we can't en-
dorse this bill, let's leave it alone
until a better bill is proposed"
"If we can't endorse this bill, why
patch it up with a few slight
amendments9 Why not make thS
amendments so sweeping that \
will cover all the points we wish
TO maker" Mrs. Lee Edwards sug.
gested.
"We don't want to do anything
radical It's of no use for US to try