The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1921-02-18
MOVIE CENSORSHIP
BILL IS PASSED
SUNDAY BASEBALL AND MOVIES
LOSE IN THE SENATE.

Plefre, Feb. S.-Churchmen had
their day yesterday, when the NOV
ing picture censorship bill was passed
with big majority and Wagner's
Sunday liberalizing bill was killed.
MOVING picture censorship, most
talked of all subjects before the leg
islature, went through with a 76 to
20 vote in the house after nearly
three hours debate. Sunday base
ball and movies" fell by the way
side in the senate by % to II vote.
The most startling thing of the
whole fight on moving picture CEN
sorship was the declaration made bv
Representative Wentzy of Pennin g.
ton after the vote had been taken.
He passed his vote and then arose
and voted mo" he gave as reasons
the bull DOING tactics used by the
people endeavoring to get the bill
through and declared that most of
II had been 'browbeating 1t was
known that hackers, of the bill had
been using questionable methods but
it was not believed that any one
would allude to this on the floor,
he declared.
Practically all the speakers were
in favor of censorship. Representa-
tive Lumbard, Wall, Mondry, Per-
kins, Merry, Vanorum. Larson, Cur
It's Burt. Nordness and Campbell
spoke for the bill while only Rich
ardson and Tschierley took the floor
franr gf
proposed motions to change effect of
the bill. but were defeated Lum-
bard introducer of the bill. ex-
planned al length IT'S meaning ana
the new amendments that were in
serted. The bill was presented on
the floor with amendments made in
committee at the suggestion of Jud ge
Lewis Larson of Sioux Falls.
Representative Richardson of
Minnehaha, the only real speaker for
the opposition, made a good impress
sion as he championed the forlorn
cause. He used his time limit and
explained in detail the reasons why
he opposed house bill 81
National censorship was referred
to frequently as merely a CANA
flouged attempt to evade the issue.
William A. Brady. who spoke before
the house a few days before, was also
raked over the Goals by several men,
bers.
When the vote was taken it was
evident that many who had original
ly opposed the bill climbed on the
band wagon when it became evident
ii would pass.
In the senate the fight of the day
centered around Sunday observance
laws. Blue law forces were well or
ganized and il was evident from the
first that the Wagner bill was DOOM
ed to failure. Senators Wagner,
Danforth, Crawford and Guilfoyle
led the fight for the bill and started
with the losing side. Danforth told
of experiences in tryin G to enforce
the Sunday movie law in Sioux
Falls and also the Sunday baseball
law and declared it practically impos-
sible TO enforce a law that was not
backed by public opinion. He stated
AhCi WSiC ihAhSo AihNh vi DC IMAM
baseball and moving pictures which
would result from blue Sunday leg
islation.
Senator Meyers, fighting against
the bill declared that the church
cannot compete with commercialized
evil. and that the present law should
be kept and enforced. Loomis of
Sphinx county declared that efforts to
link up present legislation with the
blue law program was false and this
was merely moral issue of the peo-
pie.
The Sunday bill is not entirely |
dead, as Senator Crawford changed |
his vote from yes" to mo" in order
TO be able to move for reconsidera-
ton. like bill has been introduc-
ed in the house by Allen of Sanborn
county and will soon be up for con-
sideration.
Petitions for the recall of the pres
ent Sunday law are being circulat-
ed by John Nipple of Pierre, and If
necessary the fight will be carried |
to the people by hackers of the Sum |
day liberalizing laws.