Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1920-07-25


tie thoughtful consideration on it's
lanta Georgian by James B. Nevln,
one of the ablest commentators Geor-
gia has ever produced Says the
Georgian:
A NUMBER of good, sincerely re-
"A ligious men and women favor the
establishment of censorship over NOV
ing pictures in Georgia. Just how
many of the 100000 residents of
this State take that view is not
known, for the public has had no OPP
portunity to express its opinion.
The Georgian opposed such a CEN
sorship, and in so doing has no apol-
ogies to offer. The Georgian, with
out being self-righteous, takes per-
fectly legitimate pride in its record
on moral issues and other issues af-
fecting the welfare of the people. 1t
was the first of the big city newspa-
pers of Georgia to enter the lists
against the liquor traffic. 1t has un-
swervingly fought for law enforce
ment. 1t has not opposed progress,
certainly, and its worst enemies can
not call it reactionary.
Why, then, does it take positive
stand against the proposed movie CEN
sorship law?
Certainly not because it resents
the activity of the women who favor
such law The Georgian has been
the unfailing champion of equal SUI
frage for women, and with it, all the
public activity on their part that SUI
Ao1,ax-i,oCs thaf thn 1nt1Il-
ence of good women will elevate poll
tics, not that politics will degrade
women.
Certainly not because some of the
ministers are Jealous for the censor
ship. The Georgian has not failed
to uphold the ministers in their self
sacrificing work, and for months and
years it has conducted sustained
campaign in behalf of that shamefully
undergrad profession.
Why, then, does The Georgian ap-
pear to take issue with some of its
friends in a question which they sim
cerely believe to be one of morals
and social uplift?
First, because censorship by law
is unnecessary. Thirty-six other
States have taken the same view, and
only four have acted differently
There is in existence, and actually
operating, the most effective censor
ship possible-the censorship that is
exercised by the individual decent
people of Georgia and elsewhere.
That censorship is the most effective,
because it is reflected Immediately in
the box office receipts of the moving
picture producers. Granting that
there are many people who have
'hankering" for a little wickedness
and who would patroniZe salaclous
picture, the gratifying fact remains
that the overwhelming proportion OF
the people are decent, and further
more that most of the small minority
indulge themselves in other ways
than through a pastime as generally
harmless as moving picture SHOWS; II
YOU have any doubts as 70 the effect
of this voluntary individual censor
ship, ask the proprietor of your tav-
orite moving picture house what sort
of picture is the most popular. And
whether a movie actress whose plays
are uniformly clean and wholesome
like Mary Pickford or Marguerite
Clarke, for instance, draws as large
house as-well pick out any of the
other kind that you happen to think
of. He will settle that question very
quickly and will probably add that
deeply religious play like THE Mira
Gle Man" than which no more Won
derful lesson in the efficacy of prayer
and the potency of faith has ever
been screened, plays to packed houses
longer than any other kind of film.
And the producers are in the bust
ness to make money.
And, furthermore, if a really OBJ
scene or Objectionable picture should |
find its way into any picture house
in Georgia, there are perfectly good
laws whereby the proprietors may be