The Washington herald., 1922-04-09

VUTITH the highest respect for the motion
w pres. .ssns.: ana il. PAU EsIs.:.:
mayors Of Port Huron. Mich. Omaha Nebr. and
Vermiljon. ohio-poppycockI
1t is absolutely impossible impregnste
US with the slightest smallest alarm. l fail.
utterly TO see the slightest inaccUrscy in Mrs
Shows statement that people are unable to Judge
what they want Nor do see why one should
seek to challenge, for moment the
eminent censor's refreshing statement that only
Is per cent OF the people think even a part Of
the time. In the absence Of evidence { the
contrary Il is altogether likely that Mrs SHOWS
Is per is figure most complimentary and
hatterng.
As to the indignant statistic that Mrs SHOWS
action the first open attempt during more
than 100 years, to deny the American citizens
inherent right to criticize any existing law" il
seems that the motion picture manufac-
and their spokesmen must be aware that
believed to have happened to this inherent
right to criticize an existing law" without any
attempt whatever at concealment.
What really happened in Ohio was that Mrs.
Snow, unfortunately lspsing from the advice OF
her pastor; did her censorial thinking
loud and voiced in responsible and classic form
the thought that actuates the whole censorship
movement Mrs. SHOWS other statements, while
obviously open to successful attack ethical
and constitutional grounds, statements OF
thought and policy that have been known to all
intelligent observers OF this business for years,
and considering the widespread activity of like
minded individuals 1; is ridiculous to make Mrs
Snow the scapegost for the mental principle that
underlies the entire New Reformation, so
rampant.
A far the Of Mrs. snor goes
entirely unrecessnrp In al probability, to
centrdfe the nsoUie hotoitsers her tNdscTeet
ard toorried head she hos oomIEitted the
spedkdbIe crime Of putting tNto tcords the
thoughts Of her sHpeT$ors and her doom. tn all
probability, - already sealed The reforrners 4,
Themselves be trusted TO core for one 90
lacking IN subtlety.
-HE tiresome truth OF this and every other
outburst Of indignation from the censor
harried magnates is that they simply
whistling to keep up their courage. Hav
ing accepted with infinite and supine cowardice
the march of the censorship legons through
legislature after legislature. they are now en-
gagged in the petty unchivalrous business of
marrying a sorely-wounded censorship hrelinE
who has already placed herself outside the flock
who will doubtless be heard OF no more
The particularly atrocious frankness Of this
Ohio censor's statement has given the movie
makers the overwhelming odds of combat ther
crave before they can muster the strength 10 10
battle. Having undertaken TO pick on this iso
lated individual, they further attempt frighten
the newspapers into the combat by the warning
that hlm censorship will eventually mean news
paper censorshp-"including your paper"
What the movies need TO do and what they
have never been able TO steel themselves 10 90
to forget all about censorship. per sc, to cease
advertising II so extensively and go quietly
about the business of throttling IL in quite
other direction to wit: The election in villages.
townships counties. States and Congressional
districts Of politicians who. prior to election.
agree to fight censorship any and all counts
One need not for instance, clash with the
Ohio or any other in urging the election
in Sandusky OF Mr. Addison Sims, Democrat for
Congress. That will be the express, peculiar
and personal business of Mr.. Addison Sims
he is properly elected That the method
adopted with such singular force and amaz'r';
effectiveness by the Anti-Saloon League hich
also made Il part of its business slit the
political throat Of any turn-coat who changed
his tune after the first Tuesday after the first
Monday in NovemberI