The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-08-29
NO ACTION TAKEN
Attorney General Refuses to
Discuss Rejected Picture.
Dwight Thacher Harris Is Dis
pleased With Result.

The state house crowd is enjoying
huge laugh today because of the
easy manner in which the labor unions
jockeyed the attorney generals office
into permitting the showing Of their
propaganda picture THE Contrast
There is much speculation as to the
strange contrast in the attitude Of the
state legal department toward the
unions. While state departments Cos
sip and speculate, the attorney gem
erals office gives neither explanation
nor excuse for submission to the
unions defiance of the censor board
and failure to enjoin showing Of the
picture.
No explanation as to the attitude
of the department was offered today
by Attorney General Hopkins when
asked by press representatives for a
statement The picture had been
shown in Topeka Saturday night after
notices in local papers by members
of the Typographical union that the
order of the state censorship board
would be defled. Hopkins neither
sought to enjoin showing of the pic
ture, nor did he in any manner inter-
fere with the unions plans. The CEN
sorshIp board had rejected the picture
because 1t was held to arouse indus
trial unrest and prejudice.
Returns from Trip to Washington.
Last spring the attorney general
gave out many newspaper interviews
regarding his determination to stand
for rigid laws enforcement when he
rushed to Pittsburg to enjoin possible
calling of a strike by Alexander Howat.
Last week Hopkins returned from a
somewhat extended stay in Washing
ton-at state expense-where he had
given additional newspaper interviews
regarding freight rates and had made
suggestions as to amendments to the
Nolstead act.
Business right at home tho, didn't
seem to arouse his enthusiasm. When
the Greenwood county attorney wired
for help in enforcing the anti-gam-
bling laws the attorney general re-
pl ed that he was busy and the county
attorney could look after the matter
himself or resign. Then when the pa
pers announced that THE Contrast"
was to be shown in defiance of an or
dor from the censorship board the &C
ton seemingly aroused no interest in
the department.
Refuses to Discuss PInns.
Hopkins today fatty refused to dis
cuss his refusal to act or his plans for
the future.
Court action was taken by the state
in enforcing an order of the censor
snip hoard when it refused to permit
showing of The Birth of a Nation"
because it was declared to arouse race
Hatred. When The Contrast was
rejected on the grounds that it was
labor union propaganda and aroused
industrial strife, the picture was
brought to Topeka and shown in de-
1iance of the order. The serene and
complacent manner in which the at
torney generals office viewed this ac-
tiOn and refused to proceed occa-
stoned much comment.
Dwight Thatcher Harris, chairman of |
the censorship board, came to Topeka |
today and may confer with the attor-
ney general. Harris is admittedly
much displeased with defiance of the
boards order. He fatty denied the
picture had been rejected after con-
ference with state administration
heads.
Picture Was Rejected. Says Harris.
The picture was flatly and
promptly rejected" he said. There
is no more reason why it should be
shown in an effort to arouse opposi-
ton to the employers than that the
employers should seek by the same
method to fight the labor unions or
the liquor interests should direct a
fight on prohibition"