The Colorado statesman., 1922-02-11
POSTMASTER GENERAL HAYS IN
HIS NEW POSITION MUST
QUIT ACTIVE POLITICS.
REPUBLICANS WILL MISS HIM
Fears of Some Motion Picture Mag
mates That Their Coming Director
Will Be Prudish Are Held to Be
Baseess.
BY EDWARD 9. CLARK


moving picture industry. When he
moves into the movies VIII III. Hays
must move out of politics.
Possibly 1t is not generally known
that there was not entire accord
among the movie picture gentlemen as
to the advisability of asking Mr.. Hays
to take the place which later was Of
fered and accepted. There were two
reasons given, by the men who stood
partly in opposition, for their belief
that it might not be wise to ask the
postmaster general to take over the
new duties. one of these reasons, and
the one which seemed to have the
greater weight with those who held 1t,
was that Mr.. Hays had been chairman
of the Republican national commit
tee, was an intense partisan, and that
he believed thoroughly in the widest
kind of publicity for party argument
and party endeavor.
1t is not probable that any of the
movie magnates, as they occasionally
are called politely or impolitely ac-
cordlng to the intent, feared for one
instant that Mr. Hays would attempt
to help the Republican party through
the medium of the movies, but what
these magnates did fear was that part
of the public which did not believe in
Mr.. Hays political party would dis
cover propaganda where no propa-
ganda existed. In other words, some
of the movie men feared that an un-
founded suspicion of propaganda
might develop into tales that the mo-
vies were being used improperly, and
that these tales could not be overtaken
by the facts.
Feared He Might Be Prudish.
A second reason for the disinclina-
tion of Il few movie men to give en-
tire approval of the plan to call Mr..
Hays to the reel, was that they feared
he might be "supersensitively moral
concerning the nature of certain pic
tllres which it was intended to pre-
sent. Nobody knows just how much
Mr.. Hays will have to do in the way OF
censorship, but there was appreheh-
sion among small number of pro-
moters of the picture industry that Mr.
Hays might see immortality where no
immortality existed, and might fail to
understand that in order to teach
moral lesson, it might be necessary at
times to suggest to the eye that theTe
were immoralities in the world.
Taking the postmaster generais ca
reer and, so to speak, running over
IT. it is easy enough to learn that ne
never has been n prude, nor has he
ever preached that kind of mock mo-
rality which finds olirnse in woman's
unveiled face. 1t l.! true that Mr..
Hays has been a Bible teacher, and 1t
is also true that he knows the Book
which he taught, but it does not fol-
low, perhaps, that because n man
knows the Bible, he becomes reli-
gious sentimentalist and is unable to
differentiate between propriety and
prudery.
The greater number of men who
wanted Mr.. Hays to take the place
which he is to take, hold to the view
that the fact that he is the head OF
affairs would give the great American
neonle to understand that cleanliness
would be the order of the movie day.
Party Will Miss Him.
This is a matter outside of the field
of politics, but to get back into that
field, the Republican party is going
to miss sorely the ministrations of
Will II Hays. 1t is true that he
turned over the conduct OF AFFAIRS po-
litical to other persons, but II anybody
thinks that he did not remain force
in party matters the individual think
ing in the case is all wrong. Postmas-
fer General Hays could not work po-
litically and actively in politics as he
did in another day, but he worked
nevertheless, and now these activities
must be given over and certain Re-
publican leaders and followers are left
lamenting.
of course as the head of the NOV
les. if that is the proper thing to
call it. Mr.. Hays can take the same in
terest that any other American takes,
or ought to take, in his party's affairs,
but it is known that in order to avoid
criticism from the public, Mr.. Hays
must bend his rather slight body back
ward in an attempt to keep away
from posture which would indicate
undue activity along partisan politi-
cal lines.
On the day that the first committee
of movie men came to Washington to
talk over their project with the post
master general, 1 had luncheon with
one of the visitors. He outlined the
fears and the hopes of the gentlemen,
who that day were in waiting on MIR.
Hays The two elements in the case
seemed to be morals and politics Mr..
Hays will remain moralist, but in
one sense he cannot remain poll
tician. The result seems to be that
the moving picture industry gains and
the Republican party loses.
For and Against Cabinet Merger.