The New York herald., 1922-01-30
JURIES OF CITIZENS
TO TRY BAD PLAYS
Continued from First Page.

Harris, Jr., ana George bTodohuise. eiie
Actors Equity Association, including
John Emerson. George Arliss and Frank
Gilmore, and the American Dramatists
and Drama League, including Owen
Davis and Augustus Thomas.
While there are yet few details to
be settled and while it will be necessary
to make sure Of the consent OF Mayor
Hylan and Police Commissioner Enrisht,
all concerned have pledged cooperation
to the main end, and the Likelihood Is
that the New York stage Of 1928 will be
under the control of the New York pub
lie as represented by a selected panel.
This means of course that the spoken
drama OF the whole country would be
under that supervision, since New York
is the studio in which the country s
plays are made.
John S. Sumner. speaking about the
voluntary censorship plan yesterday
had this to say:
'It is important to note that in select
ing the panel nobody having any inter-
est in the theatrical profession or finan-
cially or officially interested in any OF
the so-called reform movements would
he eligible. The jury would be found by
chance entirely. and it would have In
mind always the possibility of saving
a play by evcising Objectionable parts
It would go at its work constructively.
'Tf play should be condemned, then
there would be contractual arrange
ment by which producer, author and ac-
tors would Immediately discontinue its
production, without waiting for official
or legal action. This would relieve the
city officials Of the necessity Of passing
personal opinion on matter where
there could be easily an honest diff
ference of opinion, and the public would
be safeguarded by having the play
passed upon by jury drawn from the
public and not representing any specific
interest. having no AK to grind.
"The theatrical profession would bene-
fit by showing its good faith to the pub
lie and by lining up its whole weight
and influence against any producer who
might persist in showing a play after
the jury had decided against it. We are
assured. by the way, that recalcitrant
producers can be handled. because the
might of the producers and the best tai
ent OF authors and actors are with us
in this reform. An agreement is likely
within few weeks"
"RefOrm n Necessity."
Owen Davis said he was confident
that the problem would be solved
squarely within few weeks and thai
the theatrical interests can be counted
upon to live up to the agreement. He
asserted:
1--WE not only want to do 1t but we
know after the experience of the movies
that we must do it,
Mrs. Waterman. enthusiastic over the
prospect for success in cleaning up the
speaking stage. said:
"Six years ago they laughed at us
but they failed to see what was goins
on in the public mind. The stage must
row censor itself or be censored by un-
sympathetic officials. believe now
that an official ceensorhip can be held
cf because the theater interests. and
particularly Mr.. Davis. whose course
has been splendid. are going along with
US. 1t won't be long until we have New
York clean of several very nasty plays
that l could mention.
"StaGe Takes Many Liberties.v
Chief Magistrate William McAdoo
who for eleven years as Police Com
missioner or Chief Magistrate. has beer
kind of censor of the theatcr, starting
with Bernard Shaw's Mrs. Warren's
Profession" n dozen years ago, said that
the time has come for the theatrical
interests to accept voluntary censorship
or take something they will like loi
less. He added:
"The liberty of the press is sometimes
criticized. but the stage takes far more
liberties than the press ever dreams OF
taking. No newspaper and few book
publishers would think of uttering the
kind of salaciousness that can be heard
here in several theaters. Reputable
managers do not condemn disreputable
associates, nor do decent actors and
actresses apparently condemn fellow
performers that take part in low. vulgar
shows. There has been an increase In
the kind of play that is produced with
brazen effrontery. the SO called bedroom
farce.
IL believe there is strong feeling
against official censorship because II
suggests autocracy, but something has
to be done. II the managers themselves
cannot be brought TO a sense of shame
and led to controlling the situation. II
actors and actresses cannot be induced
TO turn their backs on indecent plays
and II there cannot. altogether. be an
intelligent cooperation among the thea
ter interests. the public officials and the