Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-17
Mr.. HAYS NEW JOB

THE country will wait with considerable
l. interest-that Hat old phrase from pO-
litical stump speeches of the older fashion
expresses the situation exactly-to see what
Will II. Hays intends to do for the movies
and what the emperors and princes Of movie
finance hope to do with and 10 Mr.. Hays.
Tentative reports from the thrones of
FINLAND say that the present Postmaster
General will be expected to devote his time
and talents to 1.-THE better organization OF
the moving picture industry and to a more
complete CO. coordination Of tho forces undcrly
ing the producing and distributing bust
ness" To layman that announcement
may mean little enough. To any one ac-
customed to translating the lingo Of indus
trial promotion it means that the tendency
toward centralized control of American films
is to be quickcned and, perhaps, continued
toward something like n limited monopoly.
Now, the movies, next to newspapers and
books, are the most powerful and effective
agencies through which thought in this
country may be directed and colored. They
have been recognized for years as a me-
dunn for the manufacture Of opinion.
There can be no criticism of the purpose
jof investors TO organize with a view to bet
ter economy and efficiency in any line OF
business. But what would the country say
If it we're to wake up some morning and
find that all the newspapers have been
brought under the control Of a single small
group of owners or IL it learned suddenly
that small company Of ambitious magnates
had obtained complete control of the book
publishing business--including the concerns
engaged in the preparation and printing Of
school textbooks? 1t would feel, naturally
enough, that there might be danger in any
monopoly of the mechanism BY which the in
formation and impressions necessary 70 pro-
igressive public opinion are presented day
after day TO the people.
Children learn much in the movies nova
days. The films, too, are the only means
by which a very large part Of the populs
ton acquires lasting Impressions of con =
temporary life and current events. II may
he assumed that the moving spirits Of the
film industry arc not moved by any sinister
motive when they express a desire for 4
tighter grouping OF the organizations now
engaged in the production of moving pic
lures. II may be supposed that they seek
nothing but the advantages that come from
centralized control Of any industry,
II there is TO be anything like great
central monopoly Of the American movies
il will assure to It's promoters more than
property or trade advantages. II will be
an organization with power to make a Li-
rect and peculiarly intimate appeal 10 the
collective and unsuspecting mind of the
country. day after day, without challenge
or competition. with whatever sort Of propa .
ganda II may desire now or IN the future to
set in motion.
The movie men have objected strenuous.y y
TO the whole theory Of censorship. The g
are opposed TO any sort Of legal regulation
Much of this sort Of objection rests upon
good grounds. But by too Jealous "ffort+ ia
exploit a highly successful and profitable in
dustry they are drifting toward a stute ot
mind that may make more rigorous anC
even disastrous regulation inevitable.