The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1922-12-20
RE IDS CASE PUTS
Use Of NARCOTICS
IN LINEL|GH7"
congressman Urge More Dras-
tic Laws Against Drug Traffic
CENSORSHIP DISCUSSED
Montana Representative Advo-
Gates Clean Up Campaign
Against Movies

Washington. Dec 10 Enactment
of more drastic antinarcotic laws
probably will result from revelations
that Wallie Reid, famous motion pic.
ture star, was slave Of drugs, 1t
was declared yesterday in congress
sional circles.
The alnictlon OF Reid was termed
by Senator Shortrldge, Republican, OF
California, in whose state the actor
became addicted to drugs as dan
ger signal' to the whole movie
world of the "frightful punishment
inflicted by drugs"
Shortridge recommended harsher
enforcement of existing laws and new
fedraI restrictions to wipe out tho
drug trade throughout the nation.
The same governmental acton was
suggested by Senator Borah, Repub-
lean OF Idaho, chairman OF the Sen
ate committee on education and la
tor. Borah irowned on federal cen
Ao.ship or the movies as means ol
eramcating the evils or tiimdom. He
declared american motherhood fully
capable of protecting children from
undesirable films.
Senator Myers, Democrat OF Mon
tana. who recently attacked the Hell
lywood movie colony from the floor
OF the Senate declared the Req case
indicated the need of cleanup of
undesirable characters in the movies
A bill By Myers to provide federal
censorship OF films in the District of
Columbia is now pending before
Borahs committee. The Reid case
will focus the attention Of Congress
OH the need Of more drastic antidrug
laws declared Shortridge. There
should also be stricter enforcement
OF existing laws. Reid's sudden col
lapse is a danger signal to the rest
Of the movie colony and the whole
nation OF the frlghtful punishment
inflicted by the use OF these deadly
drugs. The moral 10 be gained from
his case should not be an attack on
these movies but warning to those
who traffic and use deadly drugs
III Reid has triumphed over drugs.
Il is much to his credit His case
ought to be held up as an example
before the nation TO show that youth.
beauty genius all perish before tho
ravages of drugs. No man is above
their reach, such a striking case of
this kind should arrest the attention
Of lawmakers TO the need of stgicter
laws and more drastic enforcement OF
the laws already enacted"
Senator Borah declared he was op-
posed to any move to censor films III
which Reid should appear. Proposed
censorship would be considered by his
committee.
81 don't take 10 censoring the mo.
vics," Borah added. III don't know
any better censor that tho mother.
hood of America. | doubt whether
any government contriyance could be
compared to the heart and mind of
mother. If she does not want her
child to see a certain class OF movies.
the child won't. The remedy proba-
bly, lies in stricter antldrug laws and
better enforcement of present laws.
Senator Myers. in urging clean.
up OF the movie colony declared re.
ports that viii Hayes, car Of movie
dom would launch an investigation.
would be met by public wishes Of sue
cess.
81 think the charge that Wallace
Reid is a drug addict justihes the
claim there should be cleanup in
the character of the men and women
who furnish attractions for the mo.
ton picture industry" said Myers.
The alleged disclosures show TINT
many of the charges made against
motion nicture colonies appear to be
true and justified"