The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-03-04

| shows" said Mrs. Grinstead, "it would
be assumed that every other mans
wife is untrue to him. The fight on
this bill is a dog in the manager atti-
tude inspired by the fact that certain
other bills have been slaughtered. But
the mothers and children of Kansas
are demanding this law"
How many letters have you re-
ceived?" asked Piper of Montgomery.
MANY Of Them" replied Mrs. Grin
stead.
ITO increase salaries of the board
and from Liberal?'
Yes, SIR"
Two sections of the bill went down
under knockout blows. 1t looked as
tho the measure was on the toboggan.
Then Harley of Douglas offered an
amendment prohibiting admittance of
children under IL years to picture
shows except when accompanied by
parents.
'T think the age for protection
should be raised to forty" suggested
Murray of Cowley.
Favored Age Limit of 20.
From some Of the pictures I've
| seen and heard about the limit ought
to be TO-" declared Doctor HawleY of
Jewell.
Then Griffith of Bourbon. an assist
ant attorney general, made some OBJ
| servations. They were not exactly in
keeping with the purity motives sug-
| gested by some of the friends of the
bill. 1t was Griffith's speech that
| brought out another motion to strike
out the enacting clause and started the
| house on new season of oratory.
| The trouble isn't with our censor
| boards" said Griffith. I'VE don't need
| laws to protect the children. Tha.
| isn't our trouble. Our trouble is with
our fathers and mothers. They are
not paying enough attention to their
| children
You can pass all the welfare laws
| you want to but if the parents don't
look after their children it doesn't
| mean anything. 1t is the people you
must reach. You've got to educate
| them in these matters. You can't
| legislate morals into them.
Producers Are Human,
These movie producers are human
They are after the dollar. They are
giving you what you want. If the peo-
pie wanted Bible readers instead of the
| scenes that are thrown on the screens,
these promoters are smart enough to
give them just that thing. There'd be
| a Bible reader on every corner. If
the public wants nude women on the
stage, they will give them nude
women. You can't shut your eyes and
| expect to meet these things by clos
You can't legislate new code of NOR
| ais into the fathers and mothers of
this state"
| Harley and McDermott Joined in
| pleas not to strike out the enacting
| clause. McDermott said he would
| later offer amendments which he be-
| lieved would remedy the bill and meet
| house approval. Harley suggested
| subsequent amendment to return the
movie board to Topeka.
Want Board Brought Here.
1.-The board ought to be brought
| back to the purer atmosphere of To-
peka and away from the influences of
the producers in Kansas City" Harley
pleaded. st want such a provision as
| that written into this BILL
| Piper of Montgomery closed the
| fight to strike out the enacting clause
| by declaring the real intent behind the
| bill was to increase salaries of the
| censors.
How many of you people who have
| complained SO bitterly about the
movies ever went to your county at
| torney with a complaint?' Piper
| asked mot one of you Instead YOU
! were back to the show house as soon
as they changed the bill. I'll tell you
| the purpose behind all of this sobbing.
| It's merely the scheme to raise some
salaries. And if you don't believe me-
| bring a bill into this legislature that
! will in any way protect the children of
Kansas and doesn't carry provision
| to raise someone's pay, and I'll help
| pass it,
A rising vote was taken on the mo-
| ton to strike out the enacting clause
| 1t failed by vote of AZ ayes and At
| nays.
| The house recessed for lunch as soon
| as the vote was taken. This afternoon
| the battle was resumed in an effort
| to restore lost sections of the bill.
1