The Washington herald., 1921-03-06
s. NEW MUSICAL PLAYS OF TIE EARLY MARCH TTEATER
Page Mr.. Dempsey!
By EARLE DORSEY.

11HE more one peers into the fundamental basic
aspects of the current censorship hubbub In the
= District of Columbia, the more one Is impressed
the terrific necessity for the ant-censorshipl
adopt. without instants delay two direct
courses Of action.
The drst OF these courses is to cease the expen-
sive and utterly useless plan Of defending the photo
play industry it's future with mere arguments no
matter how sound.
The second courses, course which must be predi-
Gated on the censorship decision to be rendered
BY the District Commlssioners--is to prepare the
sSsSs al r.da decision
- Sonsider the situation as il stands today;
the hsaTn + Of sst as ssS MSoapS
that AZ least Uf the Board r Ss Of ssssas.
slssusslS1 9sc and PrsssSsss 5stss 5sts5
statss sarnS. Al present. Engineer commissoner Of
sss.ss: s r; man
. sSs s.tssss @ Sc SSysr indiSiSSal re
RS s as y ne oo%plsss
ant o ne sGT q evil Ss ss9 % Ssasa
inlsfioT iatelisets decide what is good g, them
s nS so o sa
Col Kaf. seems 1s' to have no Pstisnoe
ss.TI sssT5euf msnGase nra ss spd eecs
g Tuts x.
y2E sfIcSsS sa s sva % 1I e os Is be a P
pains 70 conceal his decisions from fsw harTssssd
1Sasissts Who prstsntieasy Cherish the Sslist
are competent to form opinons for
= :s s:'si,
ssis matter and COZ Ku51 the only member q
sstSss ais issIlsss ne matte.
in his possiSie infiuence on second member Of the
SSss SSS5s Of ShG soarss the
n row If this matter were to be decided on the
N basis of cold logic, 1t would be thoroughly pos
y sible to form fully capable opinion Of the
matter from Grifnths exposition of censorships
efec nclasa sic
Father Hennesseys exceedingly clear-cut suggestion
for applying the already ample provisions of civil
law for safeguarding public decency.
factor in even the more suPsrneisl phases the
more more ciearesst example ef eaa.;ngSt between
typs. q PsyesoHoEy than was staged Distries
@ ss s SSs soes 1s sa 81
% By With seE ao
ears dgii Facts were superfoas Ions; annoying n1is. @
wantsd-action based. on q comprehension of which
Tss shs altitude n the reform in this
are attempting to make the commissioners believe
that they rsgTessnt the decent orderly sentiment Of
IS q moral ana snsS
there neral 9S's g ri, and
the f
requires passive as Well as an active agent BY The
Esy-Sut. % ths contrary. the direct fandamentai
Hsss u assssfon and rssrmsrs
commissioners
fectly aware of 1t. - -
why should the photoplay industry spend its
time its energy and its money pumping into such ears
fasts that are are 19wscome.lSsie that us. is ignored?
stopped without delay. for unless / miss my guess
q sh.fs
matter Of censorship will get the proper kind of
hearing.
Now don't profess know what District
Commissioners propose to do for the preachers on
this matter, but do know that the Commissioners
have authority under the act Of March l. 1901, to
70 comply with the commissioners' regulations for
Fortunately. however, there are a number of
things the Commissioners cannot without Congress
sional authority they lack at present and quite
tunately also, is able by assuming that
Commissioners Will do their worst, hnd great
deal to rejoice over has the interests Of the
picture art at heart .0.-.-. 90. -. ~
N.NE thing the Commissioners cannot do-~and
you only need to consult the authority for the
police regulations, to make sure Of this fact
create of their volition, censorship board
that win have the right pre-review reject
portions Of any pictures exhibitor may be
desirous Of showing. am not prepared to say that
the Commissioners know. their Limitation in that
spect but IL only likely that they'll soon be