davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1922-06-15
Attacking the Supreme Court.

senator Ld L Olleltc opoSlA pSioi Z
the American Federation of Labor at
Cincinnati of an amendment to the
Constitution denying to the federal
court the power to declare federal laws
Unconstitutional is a revival of
proposition that has been made many
times in the past. Indeed, the right
of the court to pass upon the validity
of the laws of Congress has never
been definitely established by statute
or by constitutional provision. The
Supreme Court has. however. con-
strued its mandate partly from the act
creating it and partly from the neces-
stiles. Its right to pass judgment
upon the copstitutionality of laws was
directly and vigorously challenged in
the beginning. Impeachment was de-
manded by some of its critics. Violent
discussions occurred in Congress on
the subject Of this prerogative Of the
court Singularly. however. there was
no established party principle on this
point. Both of the major parties in
turn assailed the court and defended
it, according as their favorite doctrines
were sustained or overturned by court
decisions. The net result of these sue
cessive approvals and disapprovals
was a final acceptance of the courts
right and the recognition that only
through the judgment Of the highest
court could the question Of constitu-
tionality be clearly and distinctly de-
termined.
The argument against the decision
Of constitutionality by the court is
based upon the hypothesis that Con-
the court is not vested by the Con-
stitution with the power Of unmaking
law: that Congress may be trusted to
pass no law that is in conflict with
the Constitution, and that the judg-
ment Of that body upon constitu-
tionality is more dependable than the
| Judgment of the smaller body Of the
Supreme Court. This argument has
been repeatedly refuted by advocates
OF the judicial power, mainly on the
| ground that the court Is better quail
fed to judge the constitutionality Of
measures than a political body. such
as Congress. which may be at one
time controlled by one party and at
another by its opponent; that a non.
political body. such as the court, COM
posed Of men trained specifically in
the law, is mora certain to do justice
both to the Constitution and the stat
utes than a body composed Of repre-
sentatives o4 all lines Of American
life and in large part presumably not
! versed in law.
The speech at Cincinnati was pitched
in key to please organized labor,
which has heretofore indorsed the
principle Of judicial recall and has
frequently condemned government
by injunction" and judicial admins
tration." The tokens OF hostility
toward the court, and particularly the
Chief Justice, which marked the oc-
casion are not unusual. In the past
members Of the highest court have
been savagely assailed in public meet
ings for opinions rendered by them
from the bench. And yet the Supreme
Court Of he United States has gone
on for 1872 years as the bulwark Of
American principles. Criticism and
denunciation do not affect its course,
and there is nothing more unlikely
than any change in the Constitution
that will lessen its power.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

Sovereignty has been wrested from
the people by the courts, according
to Senator La Toilette. The state.
ment is bold enough to suggest the
possibility Of Battle Bob's" liability
to be answerable for contempt OF
court.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

A triumvirate Is proposed to take
the place Of Lenin. 1t will require
more than three men to produce the
brains Lenin has contributed toward
the maintenance Of an extraordinary
political regime.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

One OF the penalties of the world
war is the loss to popular literature
OF Conan Doyle and Rudyard Kipling.
Political theorists are numerous, but
novelists and poets are but few.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

The amendments to the United
States Constitution have come into
more prominence than the Constitu-
ton itself.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

II Muscle Shoals ever secures a
chance ito settle down to regular busi-
ness it will enjoy the benefit Of an
extraordinary amount Of publicity.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

Cheers in Berlin for the former
kaiser indicate a reckless disposition
to cling to familiar troubles rather
than face the difficulties Of their So
luton.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

Germany is said to be engaged in
lavish expenditures. Genuine economy
is difficult in the absence of real
money.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

The Chinese, in the face of inter-
national complications, do not hesitate
to remind the world that they have
troubles of their own.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

The Department Of the Interior and
the Department Of Agriculture are in
obvious need Of some kind Of mediator.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

Vienna is at present more con-
cerned with the march Of civilized
progress than with the dreamy waltz.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

Daylight-saving is responsible for a
considerable loss Of time IN futile con-
troversy.
Evening star., 1922-06-15
The Limitations of the Court.

During it's house cleaning on Mon
day the United States Supreme Court
announced that it would not deter
mine what is an ouija board. which
shows that the greatest court in this
country recognizes that 1t mas it's
limitations.
The Supreme Court was wise in not
becoming a party In the controversy.
Public opinion, at least, Is divided as
to whether the ouija board is a device
of satan or whether the supernatural
agency which is connected with it is
benefcent rather than the reverse.
There is a well authenticated case in
which the head of family, becoming
annoyed with the contraption, threw
IL on an open fire, whereupon 1t dis
played all the colors of the rainbow
and gave forth a plaintive squeak as
now show these manifestations upon
returning to it's native element. But
why invoke the United States Su-
preme Court in this matter? This
ought to be a subject for the pulpit,
not for the bench.-Hartford Couraut.
Somebody ought to ask John D.
what he "gets out of a gallon
Arkansas Gazette.
This is an age of triumph for the
worst. They've got 1t at last.-Hart-
ford Times.
Having the former administration
In mind, maybe Mr.. Harding fears
that Daugherty might write a book
if fired.-Columbia Record.
This would be q stable old world
II mans faith could be made as
nearly immovahle as his pFejudice.-
Canton News.
The buck private believes that one
of the worst war frauds was the Sec
ond lieutenant.-Ashevil Times.
It's q simple system. You Just do
IS YOU please and then assure your
couseisnce that it's a part of wars
reaetioR.-sslARere Sun.
AZ NEW Estk man gave Ills eoek
sfAo. .hA6 th6l ethay day and she
| srompfly drcpped dead. While this
Evening star., 1922-06-15

It's a simple system. You Just do
rs YOU please and then assure your
conscience that it's a part of wars
reaetion. Sun.
Evening star., 1922-06-15
SHOOTING STARS.
BY pHILANDER JOHNSON.
Memory Blooms.

Memory Blooms.
Between the pages Of a book
One idle day I CHANGED to look,
Wherein some flowers had been
pressed.
For years the blossoms lay at rest,
Mementoes Of happy day,
Measured by time, so far away:
Yet to my heart so strangely near,
The time seems now; the place seems
here.
The sweetest blossoms are not those
Which colors fresh and fair disclose.
Sweeter than blooming new and gay
Is some long cherished, faded spray,
Whose perfume faint can fill the air
With memories fond and pictures rare.
An Opinion.
"What is your opinion of these
charges Of graft?"
my opinion" replied Senator ser-
ehun, "is that graft is, in general, as
difficult to prove as it is easy to sus-
pect."
Jud Tunkins says his idea Of unde-
veloped resources is the Intellectual
equipment of a man who understands
the Einstein theory, but can't e1-
plain it.
Musings Of Motor Cop.
In church Hortense Magee was told
| OF heavenly streets all paved with
gold.
She then inquired with gentle grace,
But how about the parking space?"
Questions.
1.-THE farmer is a power in politics
today"
Yep" replied Farmer Corntossel.
"The question, When do we eat?' is
always more significant than the in
quiry, How do we voter"
"RsA aeispdshiR~ mia uAcls Nbsn,
|si1eDeAla IT a NQeh Al feERstfpl.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

The buck private believes that one
of the worst war frauds was the sec
ond lieutenant.-Ashevil Times.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

a Mew Fetk WsR gave Ale eoek
1cssGeiy srcosSsGeiy drobped dead. while this
Evening star., 1922-06-15

This would be q stable old world
~ mans faith could be made as
nearly immovahle as his prejudice
Canton News.
Evening star., 1922-06-15

Having the former administration
In mind, maybe Mr.. Harding fears
that Daugherty might write a book
if fired.-Columbia Record.
Evening star., 1922-06-15
Questions.

..RsA Aisedship~ mia uacls Nbsn
.ldeneala q, a M7aA n seEEstfnl
Evening star., 1922-06-15

This is an age Of triumph for the
pessimists who always expected the
worst. They've got It at last.-Hart-
ford Times.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14

profitable. Several scenario writers he
knew well entered into the conspiracy
with him in order to sell inferior stories
to the company at large prices. AS his
position was one of authority he was at
liberty to judge on material purchased
without interference. His scheme was
this: He would purchase from a writer
a story for about $4,000, with the I'M
derstanding that the writer would pay
back to him half the amount, and the
company bore the burden of the excess
charge.
The scheme worked well until one of
the writer's became unduly avaricious and
threatened to expose him. A quarrel re-
suited and the matter was brought to the
attention of the owners Of the company.
OF course the man was dismissed, but no
further action was taken because of the
notoriety which would have ensued.
I, like many others, was fortunate in
choosing an opportune moment to enter
the field Of scenario writing. It was not
difficult at that time to gain admittance
nor to convince the company that | was
worth great deal of money to them
They welcomed me with open arms. l
will frankly admit that had / not made
place for myself in the days when the op-
portunities were many / would never
have attained admittance at all, as con-
ditions have changed rapidly since then.
] knew little or nothing about scenario
writing, but that did not matter. | soon
learned that few Of the great staff en-
ployed knew more about 1t than |. i
met all sorts of persons, from all stations
in life, who were turning out scenarios
at rate of one special feature week,
and those who had a sense of humor ad-
mitted that their occupation was a stroke
of luck and that they laid no claims to
genius.
My next desk neighbor had been sales
woman in department store who had
cherished dreams of becoming a writer.
She had invested in one of the mail order
courses and the thing had given her so
much courage that she had Immediately
quit her occupation and had applied for
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14

an original idea. This sometimes hap.
pens, though rarely.
Occasionally an idea contains a germ
of originality or phrase that is different.
perhaps a title that is worthy of consid-
Grafton, but on the whole the plots sub
mitted are as trite as those concocted by
the regular staff. When an idea is dis
covered which can be used by one of the
staff writer's a reliable company will pur-
chase It for a small amount. There are
many INSCRIPTIONS companies who do not
hesitate, however, to steal such ideas
without paying for them.
The average prolific writer usually finds
himself destitute of plots very quickly.
During the first year of producing manu-
scripts he usually manages to have
enough material on tap to keep going.
but as soon as this is exhausted he be-
comes desperate for plot germs. If he is
so fortunate as to hold a long term con-
tract with production company he lives
on his reputation. A company that has
spent great deal of money in making
an authors name popular hesitates to
lose him, and will go to almost any ex-
tent to retain his services because of his
name, which Is, in a way, trade mark
In one instance a well known woman
scenario writer in desperation for plots
appealed to the producer to give her as
sistance. She declared that she could not
write another photo play, and the pro-
Queer was loath to release her. 1t was
suggested that some one be obtained to
help her with original ideas. A young
woman who was employed in the com
pany and who had betrayed unusual skill
for adapting and suggesting changes in
stories was consulted. 1t was agreed that
she should accompany the scenario writer
on a trip abroad and that she should
provide to the best of her ability ideas
and suggestions for new plots.
She seized this opportunity. as It
meant larger salary and a chance to
travel. with the expectation that if she
was successful she should eventually be
given a chance to write original stories.
Hida, as she was known, did not receive
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14

instrumental in uplifting the silent drama
from the slough of piffle IL ever l were
given the opportunity to be taken into
its fold. Now had that opportunity, and
/ must confess that my chances to uplift
anything but fat salary envelope were
slim.
My first assignment to write strong
drama for prominent woman star
convinced me that / would have to delay
my altruistic purpose. | was told to
study the characteristics of the star in
question and to discover all her salient
qualities. After spending several weeks
around the studio | discovered the fol
lowing details She had been a waitress
in lunchroom in Chicago previous to
her advancement as a celebrated star.
This was not to her discredit, but the
circumstances surrounding her rise to
fame caused a few of my illusions to
disappear.
She was vain, patronizing and slangy
young person when she was quite her
self, and she had no more idea of the art
of acting than a kitten. AS IL is In the
case of most motion picture stars who
have risen from low origin to a place of
public alteration, success had turned her
head | learned that her position in life
was due to influence. This was not an
unusual case, as I soon learned. Almost
every star had been financially aided.
There we're, of course, few who had won
out on their own ability, and they will
always remain as worthy screen celebri-
ties but for the most part I found that
they had risen from the rank and file OF
the musical chorus or worse with few.
claims to intellectual superiority.
My next assignment for story was a
we'll known star, whose chief attraction,
II 1t can be so called, is athletic feats.
She had been reared in circus and was
never so happy as when she was leaping
from express trains or risking her neck
on horseback. She was downright cheap
and coarse in manner, and although I
had seen her many times on the screen
and had admired her girlish innocent
face, l soon had reason to change my
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14

credit for her part in the work of the
the stories the woman scenario writer
produced were better than she had ever
been able to do previously. The enthusi-
asm and youth of Hilda, combined with
her quick brain, was sufficient inspiration
to the woman to create some worth while
material.
Scenario writer's do not lead the life of
ease which is usually attributed to their
profession. The work is tedious and in
wolves more routine than almost any
other occupation. They are sometimes
commanded to produce manuscript at
very short notice, perhaps three days, and
this means that they must work day and
night In order to finish il. After they
have submitted il at the appointed time
1t very often lies around on the editors
desk for a month, and when it is finally
read II is discovered that the company
has either made changes in its plans
about producing it or that it does not
like the script at all.
A scenario writer will often resort to
desperate measures when he is seeking a
new plot. without intending to be ex-
actly dishonest, he will often purlon
ideas which suggest themselves in read
ing old classics or even modern litera-
ture. Everything within range of his i'm
mediate vicinity-police reports, conf
dences of friends-becomes potential plot
material for his work. and although the
guileless public believes that the scenario
writer is an inspired creature dwelling
on a higher plane, IL IL could but know
the hours of agony the writer suffers
while seeking ways and means to work
over an old plot in new way, dare say
Il would be amused rather than awed.
There is also a great deal of graft
involved in the scenario business, as in
almost every other field There was an
instance not so long ago which was never
made public because of the prominent
persons involved in IT, A production
manager in one of the largest companies
contrived to carry on a system over a
period of years which was enormously
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14
By One of Them.

TT is doubtful if there is any one pro-
fession in the world at the present
time that is more discussed and en-
yied by the multitude than that of see
mario writing.
There are three distinct types of pro-
tessional scenario writers-there are
many types, but 1 am going to enumerate
only the three that are really the recip-
tents of the fame and fortune one hears
so much about First, there is the well
known author or playwright whose novels
or plays are celebrated. He does not find
the road to celluloid fame especially diff
fcult as his reputation will carry him
over the top wherever he goes.
This type usually became famous long
before motion pictures were heard of,
and he is indeed fortunate individual
in many ways. He can delve into an old
trunk in the store room and bring forth
manuscripts that were rejected by every
publication in the civilized world before
his name became valuable, and he can
actually sell his drivel for very large
sums of money.
The second type is not quite so for
tunate as he really is Obliged to work
for all he gets and it is necessary for
him to have a more advanced knowledge
of screen material. This is the type who
can write original scenarios. He does
not necessarily have to be a writer in
every sense of the word, in fact as a rule
he is not q writer at all. and 1t does not
matter II he is familiar with what is
known as picture sense" and can think
along the lines of pictures" rather than
words his products are marketable. He
must, of course have a knowledge of
drama, and by this I mean drama as
II Is known on the screen, and he must
know plot, technic and possess an un-
canny ability to create suspense and be
able to characterize his imaginary pup
pets.
The third type is more numerous but
not perhaps as we'll paid. except in I'M
usual instances. His occupation consists
of revising or rather adapting, the story
some one else has written and putting 1t
into proper form for screen material. OF
course it is also necessary for this type
of writer to be familiar with screen
craft but he IL not by nature as creative
as an original writer. This work is
called continuity writing, or adapting.
Occasionally the name OF the adapter is
given credit on the screen, but more often
than not, in the case Of well known
author, the adaptor's work does not re-
ceive much attention.
The favorite themes for stories are ever
and ever the same, hashed up perhaps in
a little different style, but the underlying
riot never varies. The fan" can recog-
nize the villain, the hero, the baby vamp,
the reformed crook or the hard hearted
society girl long before the film has flick
cred its way through the second reel. He
always knows what is going to happen.
and no matter how complicated the plot
or how muddled the suspense good dyed
in the wool fan cannot be fooled. SO, |
repeat, the original stories received are
read carefully always with the hope that
one out of batch will prove to contain
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14

The scenario writer may jump
from the present back to
"Old England" as suggested
here, without effort.
This old castle wall is part of
the newest and most imposing
Fairbanks Pickford picture.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14

a chance to be a
writer, just as L
had done - and
had succeeded in
getting away with
It! I, however,
nursed a few Sc
cret ideals. l had
read articles sup
posedly written
by the great mo-
ton picture mag
mates, in which
they stated that
they wanted bet
ter stories and
less maudlin trash
and sickly senti-
ment. had agreed
with them when
/ read their wor.
thy ambitions and
had hoped to revo-
lutionize the en-
tire works. l
actually believed
that / would be
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14

eth century lunches between
,elfth century climaxes.
burst OF temper.
wondered at this time if this were all
| should ever know of the Art of the
Screen as I had hoped to find 1t. I soon
became blase, however, and forgot about
art as it is recognized In literature music
and drama, and found that when l had
sufficiently silenced all my ideals l was
on the road to success as scenario
writer. | wrote 'thrillers" and deep
dyed emotional plots and I concocted
stories of villains, vamps and sacrificing
mothers, forgetting my ideals, which had
become so bruised and sore l would
hardly have recognized them, l learned
that If I wished to be popular 1 must re-
linquish any hint of refinement or high
brow" culture. In the studio manner
of aloofness or too much knowledge was
looked upon as swellheadedness. One
could brag about ones work continu-
ously, as no one listened, but II one sug-
gested an air of disapproval toward
ones fellow creatures 1t was not forgiven.
| found that most of the directors
knew little about their art They were
unfamiliar with the drama, literature or
even the ordinary courtesies one would
naturally expect from men who are In
trusted with the interpretations of the
worlds classics. Most of them had been
connected with theatrical enterprises In
some form or another, some were second
rate actors and others had been stage
managers of burlesques and slap stick
vaudeville. might also state here with
all truth that some of the prominent
ones had not even been connected in any
way with theatricals previous to their
entrance into the movie field.
A certain. we'll known producer who
is worth millions of dollars is so Hitter
ate that he employs a secretary to write
and read his correspondence, because he
is not quite capable Of handling these
details himself The articles he sup
posedly writes for the magazines In
which he bases his belief that we will
have fewer and better pictures are writ
ten by press agents. Likewise most of
the articles signed by stars are written
by persons employed by them.
Now that the censorship laws have
taken things in hand ii is even more diff
cult for the scenario writer. He is no
longer a free individual to create thrillers
from an added brain There is no doubt
about IL that IL fewer and better pic
lures" ever become an actually 1t will
be because the censors have brought It
about and not because the producers hon
estly desire to achieve this purpose in an
industry that Is based first, last and al
ways on how much money can be made
out of clever mechanical devices
I cannot view It all from any other an
gle than purely commercial production.
When a writer Is governed entirely by
footage, not by words, he becomes ma
chine There is always footage to con-
slider, three feet for kiss, so many more
feet for death scene and so many more
for a close up. The star, her clothes, her
versatility, or lack of it, the limitations
OF the camera (Which are many, the ex-
pense and numerous other details must
constantly be borne in mind IN whatever
mood the author finds himself during
creative work.
The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-05-14

Maidens whom the scenario
writer has sent back to
the twelfth century
for robin Hood" eating
twentieth century lunches between
twelfth century climaxes.