The independent. [volume] (Elizabeth City, N.C.) 1908-1936, 1920-10-22
ANSWERS COL. MEEKINS'
ATTACK ON THE MOVIES
no+;onal Board of Review Of Motion Pictures
Stirred by Meelkins' Speech and Editorial
in This Newspaper

40, 20 Fifth Ave, New York
-, takes exception to t n e !;
a.,h II Col. Isaac M. Meeklns
raade in this city on Sunday,I
c.o+ 10, in which Col. Meeklns
dsnonnced moving pictures as |
...,- menace to morals t ali
rooms were. At the same
.;,,a the National Board reviews,
-he editorial in this newspaper,
:ssne oi Friday Oct. l, and agrees
-.;.h the editor that a higher
standard OF pictures may be OBJ
tqiocd By public opinion bringing
oressure to bear upon local eN-
l;b;+ors to obtain the kind OF
o;ctnres the community believes
hest suited to it's needs.
The Ministerial Association OF, Eilz-
.hatb City has already adopted the
Sa,,n.,pr. plan of renovating the Movies,
- rseired elsewhere in this newspaper
+o-d.v and there will be no censorship
- tho Movies in this city any time soon.
p,+ tho comments of the National Board
- Review unon the local situation should
interest every one who cares ABOUT the
,ic+nres Here is the letter received oF
tho editor of this newspaper this week:
Editor,
Independent
Elizabeth City, n. q.
Dear Sir:
cIinping has just reached our office
If Col, / NJ Meekins' comments IN your
nsnar on the subject of the motion PIC
tra together with your editorial OF
October first. Any space which yon
corId devote to these remarks would
be appreciated.
The National Board of Review OF
Marion Pictures is an organization which
s,,r +.n Years has been reviewing mo-
ri,u rirtureS for the United States
IT. three groups comprise upward
2oo I,enr,1e. representative men and wo-
ma,, disintere sted in the motion plcture
Industry and serving voluntarily IN TINS
7vorl, a inspecting films. The endea-
vn. - the National Board is to reT:e :
mjbrr onirion in its decisions on F'f-
t!rDs and to convey this OPINION 10 the
nro,Iurar< in order that they may KEEP
their product within the bounds OF pup
IL. tastes and morals The Natlona
Board in this undertaking is opposed +
al fnrE,> Of legal censorship. believing
that orr common law, which imposes
pp,iaI sentence or fine for the puoh
rat.o, Of that which is obscene. mme
raj or contrary TO the morals OF the
community. can always be invoked
against amy finn which the court ma!
dpridc falls into this category 1h'
pra.ti,.al raSe against censorship ma
been put in :. nut shell by James Brancl
CabclI, the American aathor of high dls
tinction, who says. "As to censorship
our reading matter. this may apply T.
moving picture censorship with equa
fitness. | concede this may In theor
be advisable. In practice, though,
can imagine no persons or class of per
son, qualified to perform this censor
ship Az you remark in your edlto
rial. Tom Dick and Harry do not hk
others to say what is good for thel
or what is not" For our part. we q
lot believe it is advisable even IN the
DRY because. quoting again your edite
rial No arbitrary, puritanical censor
ship will get US anywhere" Ihat th
demand for better pictures must be II
telIigpnt goes without saying. 1t mus
be intelligent on the part OF every con
lnulity 1t must be made duty
citizens not to establish censorship, D'
to bring pressure to bear on the loc
exhibitors to obtain the kind of p1
lures from the producers that the con
nlunty believes best suited to its need
Tho National Board of Review ISSUE
weekly bulletin outlining its actlt
taken on every picture it sees durl1
the week. City officials in thirty-elg
STATE in this country supply their Ill
witt this bulletin and their local reg
lat"H Of motion pictures is carried
Oh the basis of the information tn
afforded bv the National Board Nor
4 over the National Board issues specl
lists Of pictures suitable for childrSp
different ages for mixed audiences. a
for admits. This work is carried on
line with the Better Films Moveme
Of which the National Board is spo
S"r, Elizabeth City, if it cares to ha
this Information, will always find
available by writing to the Natio1
Board.
While it cannot be claimed that
pictures are above reproach in matte
OF taste and intelligence. it is excee
hgl" doubtful after a thoro study OF t
reactions Of audiences to the scre
Whether they can be generally arraigr
"> rorrupting peoples minds. Your ed
"fia statement that moving plctu1
nave fallen into the hands of unmol
"Wd, laSrivjous, mercenary adventur
WY" h"v" no philosophy Of life, DO c.
''lf Of morality and no interest in
'oo""t "'ral amd moral advancement OF
i"'', Is very broad at the least. Th
are many men in the industry to-
whose business integrity would ST
comparison with that of prominent b
il'S~ in Cthnr conmarcia1 fix