East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1922-07-27
Censorship of
News Threatened
In N. Y. State
BY ]. w. II. MASON
(Written for the United Press)

J (Willten Tor the United IreSS)
The right to censor news events on
The screen has been established by
the New York state appellate divis-
ion of the supreme court. If the
present decision is affirmed by the
court of appeals, the New York
State Motion Picture Commission
Twill have full power to determine
what events of world news the peo-
pie shall not be allowed to see.
Should this procedure extend
throughout the country, irresponsible
bodies of obscure men will be able
to keep the entire United States ig-
norant of all pictured news which
does not meet with their approval.
The censorship of films to prevent
exhibitions offensive to public de-
cency cannot be linked with the CEN
sorship of news events, to serve a
common purpose of morality. News
pictures are not judged on moral
grounds, but because of eXpediency.
Under court rulings, however,
moral excuse can be offered by a
censorship commission for killing
whatever scenes of world happenings
oonflict with the censors' political
views. by this means, the right of !
the public to be fully and impartiany
informed about the progress of events !
is gravely menaced.
News reels are the most vivid and |!
impressionable method in use for
the actual state of world |
Pictures of life i'm Rus
'ia. for instance, recently shown
throughout America, have gone far
oward disproving the assertions that
he Russian people are dying in des-
'lation.
a censorship of the film news. If
llowcd to develop unchecked, even
ually will reach the point where
uch considerations win determine
he censorS' rulings. What the CEN
ors think desirable for the Amer.
'an people To know about conditi- .
ms i'm Russia, Ireland. Germany. or
lsewhere will fix the nature Of the
ews to be shown.
Domestic Censorship
IL will be only step forward to
omcstic political censorship in the
eat of a presidential or state cam
ltgn. \ board OF cenSors. all OF one
olitical faith-which. under the an
ointivc system, is likely to become
,neral-could easily find reasons
ausible TO themselves for withhold
e approval from a film that might
image their own candidates for
ice.
No appeal TO the court from the
ling Of the censors is possible. in
rucular cases. with any hope OF =
ck success. Once the ccnSors get
itrol OF the news. they can do r
at they desire. Much Of their work Y
be so manipulated as TO remain
ret.
'ilm makers do not like to antaro-
the crusors, fearing that the hat
can make much trouble for them. II
her than run the risk or conflict.
ulm companies would get to-
w the kind OF news not desired
the ccnsors and would cease 10
after ii. Thus automatically.
censorship would operate with-l
the cenSors having to give fire.
M decisions
way can be found 10 carry an.
surShip eases 20 the United states =
-cuio ruurt. the American pconle =
be savcd from the scandal Of In
'ibited news. The federal Judi an
has always heen reluctant 70 =,
ricrc with freedom OF news. I-n-l -
The public welfare clause Of the ~
ttuiion. the judges might well u
Dc That a news censorship. fnI
form. is abhorrcnt 20 American
iutions