The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-02-01
MOVIE MEASURE
NOT PRACTICAL
UNFAVORABLE, REPORT BY ED.
UcATIoN COMMITTEE
Would Have Act in Penal Code and
Not a Board of Review
The State, %.

The State, %.
By unanimous vote yesterday the
senate committee on education re-
turned with an unfaverable report on
the bill of Senator Rogers of Spar
tanburg to create state board OF
review to censor all moving pictures
in South Carolina, but at the same
time appointed a subcommittee to
frame another measure that would
provide severe penalties for any
theater manager exhibiting an I'M
moral, indecent or cruel film in this
state.
The committee was unanimous in
the opinion that censorship board
for the state was impractical, but was
also practically unanimous in the
opinion that some steps should be
taken to prevent the exhibition Of in
decent films in South Carolina, those
that do not pplift the people, but on
the other hand lend degrading in
fiuence, especially for the younger
folk.
Number Heard
After hearing, a number Of theatre
representatives and producers, the
committee decidedSto appoint sub
committee to frame q bill that would
become part Of the penal code, if
passed. Sentiment expressed by mem
bers Of the committee, and also the
theater representatives, was to have a
law that would make any theater
manager showing an indecent, I'M
moral or cruel film subject to large
fine or imprisonment. The subcom-
mittee may also Incorporate the is
suance Of a license to all theaters',
which license to operate may be re-
voked at any time upon sufficient ev-
idenee that the movie house has ex-
hibited q picture 6f an immoral, in
decent or cruel nature. On the sub
committee are Senators Hart, McCoH
and Rogers.
The committee held an open hear
ing for nearly two hours, listening
TO representatives Of the theaters and
to members Of the committee and to
the Rev. R. s. Truesdale, D. D. Alva
M. Lumpkin, attorney for the movie
representatives, and others from the
theaters' side went into a~frank dis
cussion of the censorship idea, show
ing how it would be impossible to
produce pictures for 4S different
states if ali the states had censorship
boards and the same number Of diff
erent opinions ,as to morals and I'M
morality.
Mr.. Lumpkin further said that it
was impossible to- legislate morals
into people and offered a suggestion
that the censoring Of pictures, in re-
gard to children, might be well done
by the father and mother. Different
pictures for babies, five year olds,
children of IL, Of 1s and then for
grown people were beyond a>possl-
bility. The movie representatives pre-
sented a clear, strong case and won
the friendship of the committee by
themselves admitting that SOME OF
the pictures are immoral and by fur
ther saying that they also wanted such
pictures run off the circuits. = :
Senators Talk
Senator Hart said ne had seen
number of Objectionable pictures
and he was in favor of preventing the
exhibition of such films, but ne was
not in favor of a state board OF re-
view or censorship. Senator Rogers
author of the bill, said he had visited
a picture show not long ago and that
he was forced to bow his mead IN
shame at the immortality of the film.
DR.. Truesdale gave the committee
some strong points on why the PIC
lures should be censored and the
committee was very much impressed
with his facts. DR.. Truesdale, among
other points, brought out the need
for limitations of liberty and said the
moving picture houses must have a
regard for the children and young
people. He attacked the producers
of today for making light and the
displaying ministers roles in which
he said were becoming to the teach
ings of Christ.