The New York herald., 1922-08-10
Will H. Hays Finds
Film Industry Only
Has Growing Pains
Head of Producers Association
Optimistic After Trip
to Coast.

viii II. Hays returned to his office
at 522 Fifth avenue yesterday after a
visit to Hollywood. Cal. declaring that
whatever faults the movies had were
the faults of adolescence. His state
ment. indicating his conviction that the
troubles of the film business we're largely
growing pains, ran;
Il wish that every one In the country
might have the intimate insight into the
purposes and activities of this great In
dustry that | had during the week /
spent out there. / thought / had some
adequate conception of tho immensity
OF the motion picture industry but
was wrong. I did not even begin 10
realize the physical vastness of the thing
Il went to the Pacific coast, as |
told the folks out there, to meet the men
and women who actually make and direct
the pictures. In any great enterprise
partners should know each other. These
men and women are our partners, and IT
was my pleasure and privilege TO meet
them. My first endeavor was to make
clear to them that I am not In any
sense dictator ruling automatically
upon pictures and persons, but just a
fellow worker In what / believe to be
q very great cause--a cause with a cap
tal C-the establishing and maintaining
Of. the highest moral and artistic stand
ards and the development Of the educa-
tional value as we'll as the general USE
fitness of the motion picture | came
away convinced that there will be the
closest confidence and cooperation be-
tween all branches of the industry.
1T was indeed gratifying to find in
every department the most enthusiastic
support for some of the newer efforts
Of the association, such as the plans
to make certain that all pictures sent
abroad correctly portray American ideals
and opportunities. and the consequent
inevitable betterment of international
relationships. and the plans which are
developing with the educators of the
country to make class room pictures
which are pedagogically, scientifically
and psychologically sound.
Nothing Is wrong with motion pic
tures-except youth. Whatever mis-
takes may have been made (and no one
denies that there may have been mis-
takes) were the errors OF youth. You
know picture play making Is matter
of less than twenty years IN age-and
It really cannot be expected fairly to
have the splendid stability. poise and
standards of, for example, the press
which has reached It's present estate
only after 600 years of endeavor The
motion picture has already accomplished
the most wonderful things, and before
long its severest critics will be warmast
In its praise"
During his brief stay in southern
California Mr.. Hays addressed the
Chambers OF Commerce Of Los Angeles
and Hollywood and was the chief
speaker at a dinner given by the whole
picture industry and attended by about
1900 persons. He made daily visits to
studios to watch the actual making OF
pictures and as a climax he talked to
a gathering OF 10000 persons in the
Hollywood Bowl. an open air ampi-
theater In the hills.
Altogether 1t was wonderful trip,
Mr.. Hays said, "and l am very grateful
1t must be that the prospects for the
future of the Industry are imneasur.
able" aeE .atEa