The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-08-12

I S;sSfican people amused develop
1 pr INTO . great industry 80 great,
~, that 1t needs It's powerful
ir1ctors and Oyer-lords Just as
2s1el doesy This Isl the question
3sIut forms the chief interest, In
m EDITORIAL mind, OF the announce
5Sefrt that the Producing Managers'
|S1ucciation, an organization COM
vri1ing practically all the worth
sAile theatrical producers Of the
! eeunlry, has made Augustus Thorn
nthe controlling head OF the legit-
mate stage.
Following as it does the creation
ii ! dictatorship" in baseball and
!. 4 motion pictures. this latest de-
Jel0pment is regarded by editors as
<vidence that the three principal,
means by which we as people
ia our amusement have indeed,
4 . the New York Globe says, be-
come three Of the most important
Industries we have" and as such
must employ the same methods that
OBTAIN in other successful indus
tries. Granting this premise. the
American press is unanimous in
approving the choice Of 1.-The dean
d American playwrights" to fill the
position OF greatest influence in the
theatrical world. For that inilu-
ence, editors are certain, will be so
strongly exerted toward the pro-
duction, of thoroughly clean drama
that the movement toward official
censorship will fail for want of
anything to build upon.
What this move on the part of
theatre men means, the Springfield
Republican thinks, is that another
big business group has chosen a
big man of high standing in his
profession and in the public con-
fidence to coordinate its activities,
reduce its frictions and aid it in
giving public SERVICE" for, as the
Lansing (Mich.) State Journal
says, lit is q serious business, this
catering to the public, as we are
giving constantly more attention to
the value of the joy of living"
II this trend toward Industrial
despotism" which the appointment
Of Judge Lands in baseball, Will
Hays in the movies and Augustus
Thomas in the theatre suggests
seems a denial of American prin-
ciples," the Cleveland News sug-
gests that 1.-The answer may be in
the reputation for efficiency borne
by monarchies," and further, thai
the dictators are being called upor
to direct realms hitherto withou,
central governments of their own.
In a word, the Dayton News adds
'the proposition is Capitalization O
authority" a necessity in this coun
try, where too many cooks hav,
invariably spoiled the broth in var
ious lines of business"
In the case OF organized baseball
and the motion picture industry
however, the man chosen for tn
post Of dictator had to be fount
outside the field, while the theatri
cal producers, as the New Yorl
Evening World points out, "wer'
more fortunate. There was on,
man-and only one-for the job
Augustus Thomas. II any one
can do what needs doing he prom.
ises to be that one" The New
York Times objects to the use o
"overlord" or dictator" to expires.
the relation Of Lands. Hays o.
Thomas to the work each is tryin,
to do in his given sphere. Partic
ularly with reference to Thomas i
believes Guide, philosopher ant
friend" would be better, though tn,
order of the words should be re
tersed. Friend this new type o
executive must be, or he would no
be asked to take the post. Their,
is an equal need of philosophy
he is to continue in it. The net re
suit, it is hoped, will be guidance
in the way those who appoint hin
wish in their hearts to 60"