The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-01-21
Movies and Will Hays.

The retirement of Will Hays
from the postmaster generalship
will be a disappointment to the
country, the press believes. In the
short time since he took charge OF
the poStoffice he has made great
progress in rehabilitating the serY-
ice and in restoring popular conn
dence, and commentator of his
work is generous. Because OF the
unusual organizing ability he has
shown it is regarded as inevitable
that private enterprise should
claim him. But in editorial opin-
ion there is still a wide public in
terest attached to the private work
in which he is to engage as direct
ing head of the motion picture in
dustry. For it will furnish broad
field for a much needed public
service, which at the same time is
not without political slant.
The moving picture business,
says the Indianapolis Star (1nd.
Rep.), lis one of the most import
ant factors in present-day life and
one of the fastest growing of all
industries, and anything touching
it as an Institution is of interest
to all the people" In the past two
years the industry has been sub
jected to much criticism and un-
favorable comment" and the Port
land Press Herald maine, Ind
believes that 1.-The men who have
fortunes invested in it wish to re
gain. the confidence of the public
they have been losing" If any man
can bring this about Will Hays
can" the Portland paper asserts,
and the Indianapolis paper agrees,
adding that sorry as the public is
to lose his services as cabinet Of
fcer, the movie field of activity
offers opportunity for service to
the people that scarcely can be
oyer-estimated" The extent of this
field is suggested by the statement
of the Boston Herald lind. Rep.)
that "the screen is a universal
medium of amusement today, and
il. tends to become a great factor
in the. determination of the opinions
of the people and a valuable educa-
tional agency"
Heading on Censorship.
But granting the need of super
vision and direction OF the movies
in the public interest, there is still
the interesting question in the edi-
torial mind: why Hays particu-
larly? Undoubtedly, the Peoria
Transcript Qnd.) thinks, movie Pre-
ducers have a theory on which they
are making the tender; and that
theory, according to the Spokane
Spok esman Review Und. Rep) Is
80 head of censorship"
II was inevitable, the Waterbury
Comm Republican (Rep) finds,
that the influence that the Lotion
picture industry is able TO exert
upon the public should have its
political reactions" and because of
them the industry sis preparing FOR
heavy battles in the poliucaI
arena Producers indeed have
reason to expect reprisals." the
Hartford Times (Dem) says, be
cause of the use to which the
screen has been put in political
campaigns in the past" For ex-
ample:
I'm the recent New York cam
paign Hyian's picture was the only
one shown-Curran was not con-
sidered 'news'-and the movie IN
fiuence undoubtedly helped pile up
! Hylan's majority The movies also
fought Governor Miller. II the
, movie interests are TO put in eff
feet a system of biacklisting can
didates for Office the screen may
become a menace to safe govern
ment."
Pictures have in the last few
| wears been unanswered TO serve
! this and that candidacy of special
/ interest" the Pittsburgh Press
/ tInd.) agrees, and since they
! probably rank only second TO the
| newspapers as molders OF social
| ideals and public opinion, il is
natural 10 expect. as the Hartford
| Times says further. that 'Eepresen-