Omaha daily bee., 1921-03-15
Censorship
Bill Passes
LowerHouse
Rodman, Fighting Measure.
Asserts Law Will Permit
Discrimination Against
Classes by Board.
Debate Wakes Bite r

Lincoln, March l4.--( Special ele-
gram. )-Motion picture censorship
for Nebraska received the recon-
mendation of the lower house today
by vote of s. TO SO after l0-hour
day spent in hot debate and ending
in personalities.
The Byrum- Clifford bill was killed
by practically the same vote. Bitter
ness was noted when Representative
Williams, acting chairman refused to
permit Representative Rodman to in
troduce an amendment calling for a
state referendum on motion picture
censorship. Williams held that a
gentlemans agreement made by both
sides barred introduction OF the
amendment at that tiVe.
Williams refused to permi, Rod
mau to read rules which stated spe-
cifcaiiy that amendments were in
order.
well. gentlemen" Representative
Mickey shouted, you now have your
first touch of what censorship will
be-"
Representative Jeary in closing ar
guments for the censorship bill,
said:
''lf some OF these Newspapers with
wild ideas don't watch out, We'll
get them next" ...
Rodman States Objections.
Representative Rodman. in closing
for the anti-ccnsorship faction and
for the Byrum- Clifford. bill, said:
III the censorship bill passes, what
safeguard has the laboring man to
see that capitalistic board, appoint
ed by capitalistic administration,
hasn't his side OF the labor contro-
versy stifled by a board OF three cen
Sors who shall decide what pictures
he shall or shall not see. What safe
guard has the political party not i'll
power in this state TO keep board
appointed by an opposite party from
eensoring its propaganda or prevent
ing il from appearing on the screens
Thank tod, so far, they haven't at
tempted to violate our constitution
al rights in having free press and 4
Tree speech.
But gentlemen. look out, they
may attempt it next"
Here Rodman pointed to, bit o
deleting done by the Kansas board OF
censors relative to a statement III
opposition to picture censorship by
Secretary of State Charles Evans
Hughes. which the Kansas board re-
fused to permit shown in the state.
Sitting Free Speech.
there's a specimen OF it, Rod
man said. Isn't that sitting free
speech
= Practically every member who
voted for censorship took occasion
to speak and received applause from
a friendly gallery OF Lincoln women,
who have lobbicd continuously Tor
the bill
Finally. at O'Clock, Representa-
tive Mckee shouted: @
Even those women up there are
tired of hearing you fellows spout.
The galleryBreceived the attention
OF Representative Snow.
81 don't expect any OF your ap-
plause, "he said but | have heard
The remark made by one OF the re-
representatives. favoring your censor
ship bill that il we didn't vote for
it we wouldn't get to come back.
Well | am not going to vote Tor it
and Pm going to come back. If
the people really understood the
proposition and we had the states
nloacy to spread propaganda for the
Eyrum Clifford bill as has been used
: ior the movie censorship bill and the
other 81 child welfare bills we could
beat YOU hands down
Arguments i'll favor OF the censor
ship bill primarily were aimed at
hcentiouS pictures and pictures in
the nude thrown on screens. Speak
crs declared that local conditions
would make prosecution for these
pictures. such as proposed in the
Byrum- Clifford bill, impossible and
censorship was the only cure.
Many referred to kilograms and
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