New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1922-06-23
Welfare and Educational
Societies Indorse Move
ment for Committee to
Suggest Needed Reforms
Censorship Law Attacked
Guests at Waldorf Confer
ence Declare Restrictions
at Present Are Harmful

dent % the Motion Picture Producers
and Distributors Of America. 20 learr
what improvements are desired by the
public. More than a hundred repre-
,entatives OF welfare and educational
organizations. the majority Of them
nationally federated and representing
memberships in all parts Of the eoun-
wy. took part in the conference and
expressed the sentiment Of their con-
stituercics.
II any one subject cropped out more
than another during the full score OF
addresses that were made u was cen
sorship. and tho universal sentiment
was in opposition 20 ~. The meeting
which began IN the morning, was re-
sumed after luncheon given By Nh
Havs and ended late in the afternoo
with the appointment Of a committee
Of three au,i 3rized 70 nominate a
nationwide beard 20 present pro
gram for the improvement Of pictures.
The committee comprises Lee i. Han
mer, representing the Russell Sage
Foundation: Mrs. Oliver Hartman,
president Of the Campfire Girls, and
James L. West. secretary Of the Boy
Scouts Of America.
Pledge Support TO Producers
The appointment Of the committee
vas made upon the motion Of Mr..
West. which was adopted as follows:
THAT the members OF this group e1-
press our gratitude 70 the producers
FOR the splendid action taken IN work
Ing out a program in production Of
motion pictures in accordance with
the standards set forth IN the articles
OF Incorporation.
THAT we express full confidence in
the Hon. VIII II. Hays, who has been
selected as the leader in this move
ment
THAT we pledge our full support TO
him and through him in carrying out
these purposes through committee Of
from fifteen 70 twenty-five 20 be Sc
lected by him with the aid Of a com
mittee Of three 20 be elected at this
time. 50 long as he. representing these
purposes. maintains the support Of the
producers IN carrying out these pur-
poses"
Mr. Hays pledged the integrity and
resources Of "the men who have mil
lions of dollars invested in motion
pictures" 20 the fulfllment OF any
workable program which will benefit
those who have millions Of children
interested in moving pictures"
Censorship Law Attacked
Two speakers who voiced particularly
strong objections 10 the present cen
sorship system we're Hugh Frayne. rep
resenting the American Federation Of
Labor, and State Senator James j..
Walker, representing the Theater Own
ers' Chamber Of Commerce Of New
York.
The censorship system, said Mr..
Frayne, has done more to break down
morale in the moving picture industry
than anything else. Censorship OF the
picture should be directed, he added,
by the actors, authors and producers
themselves.
zone OF the first things for which
this group should 90 on record" said
the labor representative, "is TO declare
Sor the future Of the motion picture
industry that the existing compulsory
censorship law should be wiped out.
The American Federation Of Labor Will
20 on record in favor Of that. The pub
lie is the one 10 censor pictures"
az censorship has been a success
then the screen to-day is cleansed; "
the screen is not cleansed. censorship
has not been a success said Senator
Walker.
There has been a good deal of talk
about immortality in the theater,' said
the Senator, referring 70 the admission
Of children. but don't blame the pic
ture owners They went 20 Albany and
asked for a law 20 segregate them in
The care Of a matron, but nothing was
done 20 help matters
suggests Barring Children
Then he called upon the audience 20
request the state Legislature 20 pro-
kibit children under sixteen years Of
age, either with or without parents or
guardians, because he said there was
no way 20 prevent children from gain
Ing access 20 the theaters when there
were plenty Of knd-hearted citizens
willing 20 become innocent parties 10 a
crime by acceding 20 the pleas Of chill
dren 70 buy them q ticket.
Either keep the children out Of the
theaters or provide some way 20 let
them IN legally" said the Senator.
Mr.. Hays, IN opening the conference.
spoke Of the great development Of the
motion pictures, saying that most Of
the development had occurred in the
AeHN NfNoAfF iAF NoiA NIAN twenty mil
lion persons see the movies daily
half Of these being ehildren-snd that
100000 is spent annually for ad-
missions.
The picture industry has become tho
fourth greatest in the United States
and Is the largest potential influence
for education in the world to-day"
said Mr.. Hays.
Il know the integrity Of purpose Of
the producers and distributors and
underwrite that integrity OF purpose.
They desire 20 maintain the highest
possible moral and artistic standards.
but they can only achieve this II they
have the sympathy, cooperation and
help Of the country"
Proposals 20 Improve Films
Many Of the speakers advanced con-
structive suggestions for the improve
ment Of film conditions James +.
West. secretary Of the Boy Scouts OF
America. recommended a review Of
scenarios for the elimination OF OBJ
jectionable features before the picture
Is made
Mrs. Richard VI. Chaplin, president Of
Women's Clubs OF New York City.
said that II the public would discrim-
mate and not 60 20 see a picture re-
gardless Of what il was about the IN
ssvory picture would not receive
support.
DR.. Ernest l. Crandall, representing
the Visual Instruction Association, told
Of surveys made By the Board OF Edu-
cation which disclosed a chief concern
not with the picture itself, but with
conditions in the threaten and with
offensive posters.
Rex Beach was another who opposed