Evening star., 1922-02-13
MOVIE FOLK ASK
FOR SQUARE DEAL
Artists Guild Declares Screen
People Are Not as They
Are Painted.
ny the Associated Press.

! by the Associated Press.
! LOS ANGELES, February 13-
Thirty members of the Independent
Screen Artists Guild issued a state
ment here asking fair play from
the public in it's consideration of
conditions in the motion picture
industry and especially in the lives Of
the motion picture people.
The statement follows:
I'VE do not ask. for particular ia
vors. but only for the American
principle upon which this democracy
was tounded-one OF fair play.
Industry Mniigned.
''The recent unsavory publicity
that has followed the wake of the
demise of the late William Taylor
has resulted in our industry being
fact and idle gossip magnified into
reality.
"Biiiy Taylor needs no eulogy. The
life he led was but an indication of
the true character of the man who
was struck down by an assassin's
bullet.
The police have given as a theory
that revenge accentuated the crime
/ that resulted in William Taylor's
death, exonerating the motion picture
| industry or any Of its persons as be-
| ing implicated.
Not Rampant With Vice.
| 1--WE are not rampant with vice.
The American public did not attack
all governors because a charge was
, filed against certain state executive
| The American public did not at
tack all ministers because a wanton
crime was charged to a preacher Of
| the gospel.
'Ail we ask is that the public bear
with this industry and not accept
! rumors IS fact We are just normal
! human beings. We are not ethereal,
and do not want to be regarded as
such
Our happy marriages far exceed
| those of divorces. Our church. going
populace is equal to that Of any other
profession. We are law-abiding citizens
: and we rear families. And yet William
! Taylor's death has resulted in asper-
sions being cast upon this industry and
upon US. We are striving to make the
| world a better place to live in through
the screen. And We. who have accepted
| that responsibility placed upon us by
the public through their patronage. feel
it is a personal affront (for them) to
assume through innuendo that We are
not worthy Of that honor.
! Give Joy to Millions.
! 1--WE have striven hard and we be-
| lieve succeeded in giving joy to mill
| lions. In return 1t Is only fair that
, we expect support at least until ru-
| NOR is substantiated by fact.
I'VE deny that motion picture peo-
! pie are as pictured. We deny that
! the industry is rampant with crime
! and vice. We deny that motion pic
| ture people are sinners. and We only
quote the Bible to those who malign
US: Let him without sin cast the first
stone
I'VE are a part of every American
home. not through any selfish desire.
/ but because it Is the will of the pub
| lie. The public has virtually accepted
US as a member Of each family. They
do not, we believe accord US the same
treatment that they would others OF
| their household.
THE American idea OF fair play
certainly we are not asking too much
, in expecting that"
Those Signing Statement.
The statement was authorized by
t lie following. all affiliated with the
motion picture industry: Joseph NJ.
Schenck, Thomas H. Ince, Charles
Chaplin. Norma Talmadge. Constance
Talmadge, Anita Stewart, Allen
! Holubar, Richard Walton Tully. J.
Parker Read. jr.: Col. Willi.:n NJ
Selling, Fl. o. Davis, f. p. Schulberg,
Col. Lee n. Moore. Ben Turpin, Carter
de Haven. Marshall Neilan, Mack
Sennett. Louis B, Mayer. Katherine
Macdonald and others.