Omaha daily bee., 1921-02-04
Movie Men Say
Censorship Is
Not Practical
Representatives of Industry,
At Hearing Before Joint Leg
islative Committee, Declare
Present System Sufficient.

Lincoln. Neb., Feb. 3.-(Special
Telegram. MEN connected witt,
the motion picture industry were
given a hearing before the joint
committee from the hoase and SEN
ate tonight and expressed their
views on the proposed censorship
bill introduced at the request OF the
Children's Code commission
Among the speakers were: Sid
ney Meyer of the Fox Film corpora
ton, Omaha; A. II, Cramer, Alham-
bra theater. Omaha; Stuart Gould
secretary Of the Nebraska Distrib-
utors association. Omaha; w. w.
Hughes. David City, and J. c. Jen-
kins. Neigh.
Mr.. Meyer qrotcd David Wark
Griffith on censorship that it was
impossible for small caliber politi-
clans" to censor the heart of one
CT the greatest art institutions in
America. 1t Stated that the pro-
posed censorship was impractical
because the censors in one state
would find one Objectionable fea-
ture while another state would find
another and consequently the pic
turc would be ruined by amateurs
censoring pictures that needed no
censorship.
Says Figures Incorrect.
He. quoted statistics to show that
the figures presented by the commits
sion to prove that the expense OF
the board would be paid by the
theaters were incorrect and that the
taxpayers would be forced to pay
the deficit. He stated that the law OF
economies that the consumer pays
the expense would necessarily be
followed out i'll this case and that
the burden could not be borne blythe
industry without increasing prices,
which would be done as soon as the
law became effective.
Stuart Gould explained the work
ings OF the National Board of Cen
sorship, composed OF 200 leading men
and women of the United States. who
he said now censored 90 per cent OF
all moving pictures thrown on the
screen. He deplored the fact that
III per cent were not censored and
said within year the exhibitors
would force all pictures to be cen
sored by this board in self-defensc.
He called attention to the leading
art galleries OF the country where
he said the majority Of masterpieces
were in the nude. These galleries
Ihe said, were not censored and only
the lascivious men could see evil ii,
them.
Tastes Differ.
John {. jenkins. an exhibitor a
Neigh, said that it was unfair 70,
a small band of politicians" to cen.
sor pictures. I,c said that every
community wants different kind oi
picture He illustrated his meaning
by the book "The Shepherd OF the
Hills" One reader, he said, would
give the book the highest praise
while another would say it should
not be read because he found some
Objectionable feature in it.
The consensus OF opinion OF Tho
| motion picture men was that chill
dren under Is years of age should
not be allowed to frequent motion
picture shows alone. They urged
that if Objectionable pictures were
shown it was the duty of citizens OF
Nebraska to make complaints unde,
existing statutes. The present law
they said, makes ample provision for
prosecuting persons showing i'm.
moral pictures,
A large crowd attended the hear
ing, which lasted until late hour
| The spectators were mostly Lincolr
club women. who arc leading thu
campaign for a state censorship
board. .... .-