New-York tribune., 1921-04-27
Pledge Reform
If Film Censor
Bill Is Vetoed
tContinucd from pase ore)

take your excellency's time to state the
fundamental inhcrent objections to
censorship
II realize that just as fully as any
body else" interrupted the Governor.
censorship in itself is to my mind a
thing to be avoided, unless some
greater evil results by its avoidance. >
Mr.. Cravath then presented the pro-
gram, which he said had been agreed
to in writing by the heads of motion
picture firms which produce 95 per
cent Of the films in the country
Industry to Bear Expense
eve vequest you to appoint a COM
mission of five disinterested persons
qualified by their experience and their
interest in public affairs to make a
thorough and sympathetic investiga =
tIon of the moving picture industry
and report to you their recommended
tions as to the best means of protect
ing the industry and the public against
Objectionable films and advertise
ments," said Mr.. Cravath. I'VE will
be glad to provide the funds for the
compensation ard expenses Of such a
commission and of such a staff of as
sistants as it may find it necessary
to employ. r
1--WE recognize that such a commits
sion would be extra legal They would
not have any legal authority, but our
feeling is that you could appoint a
commission of men and women of such
emlnence, Of such experience and such
authority that their recommendation
would go very far to satisfy legisla-
tors. public opinion and the industry
itself as to the soundness of is rec
concentrations. and I feel that until
the industry has been studied and re
ported upon by such commission we
will all be working more or less in
the dark
Il will say they could establish and
We propose TO establish at once and
maintain board of review supported
by the producers of moving pictures, to
whom we will submit all films OF our
own production. 1t is also intended
that all other producers in the country
Will be afforded an opportunity to sub
nit their films to this board of review
We propose to do everything in our
power to prevent the exhibition of films
hereafter released which have not been
approved by the new board of review.
We believe we have means Of protect
ing the producing panles whom we
represent, and the policy we will pur-
sue will be to withhold their service
from theaters which insist upon exhib-
ltlng films hereafter released that have
not been approved by the new board of
review. That means thac those con-
cerned who own theaters-and thew
own hundreds of theaters-will refuse
to accept in their taeauers films which
have not been passed by the board
Iruita6 for Eirrf Tive
Fl. D. Connick, chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee of the Famous Play
ers-Lasky Corporation, the next speak
er, said that for the first time. because
of the threatened censorship, all the
motion picture interests were uniting,
and all under one big tent.
"All that is required to clean up this
industry" said Mr.. Connick. ''is to get
these people under the tent, and |
think they are there
Here the Governor interpreted:
They might run out if the bill was
vetoed"
81 don't think So" rejoned Mr.. Con-
nick, because they have tried all kinds
Of schemes. This is not sentiment
with us. This is business, and we
are going to get shot if we don't pay
dividends"
Augustus Thomas, representing the
Authors League of America, said that
the mpracticability of censorship was
beyond question, in view of the in
ability of the newspaper critics to
agree on any one play.
Il don't know where to find more
qualified judges as to what constitutes
a proper play than the men who are
professionally writing in critical
capacity about them, and if they can't
agree, | don't see where we would look
for the right kind of a censor" said
Mr.. Thomas.
Peter J. Brady, of the Photo En-
gravers' Union, objected to the bill on
behalf of organized labor
Ex-Justice Attacks Validity
Ex-Justice Almet f. jerks. Of the
Appellate Division, who recently re-
signed, said the bill did not create a
workable machine and that, moreover
il was unconstitutional
The advocates OF the bill were then
heard. Mrs. Waterman, representing
the Women's Association for Better
Motion Pictures, was the first speaker
This suggestion Of the motion pic
ture people this afternoon to have a
commission to investigate the motion
picture industry somewhat like the
present National Board OF Review is
what | would term in their vernacular
old stuff" said Mrs. Waterman ut
has happened before many times.
"Thp OuactioD ic uh har 1-o,,