Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-11
Pro and Con the Movie
{ ensor
nvFrelleric ! HsstIn

Washington March ll-Ehau cen
sprs, rational State, Or local. I'd set ,lr,
70 prescribe what the movies rrlav show
ard ~hst they r1av not or shall they he
allowed the same freedom fha stage
the newspapers and Tho me Razires7
This question hea inst been hotiv Ia
baf"d ~ packed meeting hafore the
commissioners ~ tho District ~ C,olurr-
bic Tho irarn natiiate is~u@ uva- only .
local one RafGrnaers asked that the
lvcai movie producers no put or1 pvoha
tlnn for certain length # firna and II
they failed 70 be good. thst hoard he
constituted - eenaor fheir productions
under certain axed rules
The producers. the raforrnera ara the
public which crowded in 10 hear fhe
arguments. reraguEztI That The lssae
was really a natinnaI me locaI vic
tor FOR CENSOR shin would mean its ra-
pid extension And more than censor
shin pf the movies involved The
whole question If fha rfght If Arneri
cans - free expression is lied 10 in the
right II motion picture producer TO
produce what he will. subject 20 The
statutes which afford protection against
lihai. indecencv ard treason
Those who favor anSorship brought
forward the arguments that have been
used IN rs behalf many times before
The9 asserted that tho movies show
iaVe anss which arc suggestive, and
scenes of violence. Tha implication fs
thai tmprsssiunabie yauths witnessing
such scenes on tho screen viii no i'm
petlel - initiate them.
Therefore in fbe interests II public
morals Some measure must be taken to
~ -,
was brought ont that the movies are al
ready censored in four states. and The
Peunsy ivsnia censorship was held up
as a model.
Is Censorship Constitutionalf
The producers defended their right
TO freedom from many different view
points. one Of the strongest points
they made was that 70 censor the
motion pictures Is Unconstitutional and
contrary 10 the theory Of our present
government Il is admitted generally
that freedom of speech and freedom of
the press are essen tials Of a democracy.
and are necessary TO the progress Of
civilization. The Constitution specific
ally provides that no law shall be passed
In the United States to ahridse or re-
strain the right Of free speech and a
Tree press lie fffQElDn pictures are a
part of the press. obviously. or at least
stand IN exactly the same relation TO
the public They are a form Of art and
medium both Of news and OF IDEAS.
Tho Constitution certainly seems to
protect such a medium from a censor
ship. It means. il il means anything.
that a motion picture producer has a
right to produce what he pleases. Just
as the owner Of a newspaper or n book
publisher has q right to print what he
pleases If ne commits libel on treason
or indeCency. there are statutes and
police regulations under which no can
be prosecuted. But the Constitution,
the producers argue. obviously pro
hibits any law which shall say In ad-
vance what shall be produced and what
shall not II this restriction is 70 he
laid upon the movies they contend then
il is equally right 10 pass laws saying
i'll advance what the newspapers
and magazines and book publishers
may print and what they may not
Here. indeed, it was pointed out. the.
whole question of personal liberty is
raised. IL YOU once begin taking away
the liberties Of the individual for his
own good. it was argued, it is very
hard to draw the line. Liquor hav-
ing bctli taken away titAtA HthtAt AheEE
are now robust movements afoot TO
Kan tobacco. To ban amusement on
Sunday. to ban dancing and short
skirts and high heels. And il you admit
any one of these. you admit them all
Say goodbye to one OF your liberties
and soon the whole family If them
viii hSve left you. There are Just two
theories possible. Government may be
regarded as a means Of organizing so
ciety In order TO secure the rights Of
the individual against the aggressious
both of other individuals and other
governments In that case. it should
impose the least possible restraint.
II should let man do as he pleases
SO long as he does not trespass on the
right of any one else to do the same
This. IL Is contended, is the theory
upon which our government is founded
Once you start taking away liberties.