Pueblo chieftain., 1921-01-31
BY Frederic ]. Haskin

New York City, Jan. 2S.-Just as the
churches some time ago decided that
they could not get along without
movies, so the movies have now de-
cided that they cannot get along with
out the churches. Thus. now and I'M
expected friendliness has very recent
ly developed between the cloth and
the film. Movie producers are seen
arm in arm in deep confab. with emf
nent preachers: film stars are being
photographed by their press agents
while attending church services. and
moving picture studios are opening
wide their doors to visiting parties OF
missionaries and deacons.
The cause of this large and sudden
fraternal spirit is-censorship. Tho
connection may not be at once appar-
ent, but 1t is easily explained.
All their lives. the movies have hated
and feared censorship. All their lives
they have fought it, bitterly. obstnaely
and unremittingly. Yet censorship
of moving pictures has never been to-
tally vanqu!shed. Various states have
continued to keep 1t clearly in mind.
while Congress has an annoying way
of bringing the matter up in Idle mo-
ments, with remarks about the advis-
ability of national censors bureau.
But, worst OF all, the reformefs have
recently opened their 1921 campaign
with an eloquent attack upon present
day fiim standards and an emphatic
demand for nationwide censorship
Now, the movies are Just as deter
mined as ever that their business is
not going to be supervised by some
government agency at Washington.
But experience has taught them that
fighting accomplishes little good; that.
verify. 1t is the meek who inherit the
Garth and that there is much to bo
said in favor of complete disarmament.
So they are addressing the rcformers
in this subtle wise:
I'VE know that there is great room
for improvement in our film products.
We know as we'll as you do that they
are rather saturated with sex, but We
can also prove to you, by the size of
moving picture box ONCE receipts, that
sex saturauon pays. and II is there
fore what the public wants However,
We will make this proposition. We VIII
guarantee to make clean. wholesome
film dramas. fully clothed and per-
fumed, II you will guarantee in return
to get the public to como and see
them"
Pettieoat Control
For the heneft OF the women OF the
nation. who are recognized leaders in
lures, the movies have adopted the
simple, homely phrase cleaning
house. They are going to clean house
thruout the industry. and the women's
clubs, and the churches, and the Girl
Scouts. and the Campfire Girls and the
Jewish Big Sisters and the Y. W. c. A.
are going to help them do 1t.
All o: these agencies have recently
been enrolled in a League for Better
Pictures. with a headquarters here in
New York and with some OF tho city's
best known society women on Its hon.
orary list Mrs. Oliver Hartman, Mrs
Lewis Gouverueur Morris, Mrs. James
Lees Laidlaw. Mrs. Winifred Ssckvilie
Stoner. Mrs. Charles /. Tiffany. Mrs.
Arthur Choate and Mrs. James Spcyer.
are all interested in the movement.
Tho idea is to make the League for
Better Pictures an unofncial bureau of
censorship. altho tho word censorship
Is carefully avoided. Its Offices will be-
come a general clearing house for
complaints. suggestions and approvals.
1t will have its own projection room
for showing pictures, to which all
moving picture producers Interested in
the plan will send their products
Members of the league viii bo uotiied
when a picture Is to be shown, and
when an audience of ccnsors Is gath
cred together. cards will be passed
around, upon which each person watch
ing the film will write his or her opin-
ion.
Later, thcso cars VIII be collected.
like ballots from a jury. and tho gen
cral verdict rendered on tho picture
lf It is merely passablo. It will simply
receive the o. X OF tho league. If Il
Ia Objectionable, no comment at all
will be made. And II It is particularly
good. # will be decorated by tho medal
of the leaEue-a really very nice medal
designed by Gutzon Borglum.
At this point. the projection room Of
tho league in New York fades out. and
tho scene shitxs to tho headquarters
Of any woman's club anywhere in the
United States. All the housewives and
prominent women OF the community
arc listening with gratifying interest
to an eminent clergyman on the plat
form, who is explaining why people
should so to sec only moving pictures
that have received the endorsement Of
the Better Pictures League.
Get Preachers support
The o. *. Of the league Is absolutely
to be trusted he asserts positively,
and hence this picture. | feel sure,
may be seen with perfect safety hy
any member Of my congregation, or
anybody elso's congregation. can
more than recommend the picture bo-
ginning at the same thcater next
week, as it has received the medal Of
the league. but l sincerely hope that
none of you will go to SEQ that ques-
tionable film which is appearing fur
ther down the block. for it has been
released in ignominious silence"
After this. tho meeting breaks up,
except for a few officials who remain
in the small. front office for a brief
business caucus One OF these Is the
president of the club, who picks up a
l..tt tu..