The Washington times., 1922-02-03

Of FILM WORLD
Plans to Be Umpire and Also
to Smooth Relations Between
Producer. and Public.
BY JOSEPH M. SCHENCK
Written for the international News
Service
Will Hays will be the traffic
cop" Of motion picturedom.
He will be the official umpire of
the film industry.
He will organize the organizations
and will see that they function
smoothly and properly.
He will coordinate the various
elements OF the industry and will
bring about harmony between the
public. the exhibitor. the distributor
and the producer.
VIC"
Just as a traffic officer prevents
Jams" at corners, he will keep the
tracks clear in the motion picture
world and will see that groups,
cliques and lotteries do not form a
congestion which would impede the
progress Of the industry as a whole
He has been employed for the
major purpose Of lettering the pro-
auctions which are presented to the
public. And to bring this about he
will become the official clearing
house Of FINLAND, the arbiter Of
whatever differences may arise ard
the court Of last resort among the
magnates. managers and makers for
screen success.
1t has been suggested that Mr..
motion picture industry to lobby
further from the facts.
There is nothing in the way OF
national legislation that the screen
industry desires TO be enacted. We
do not take a vital interest in the
made in Europe. Experience Of
pean markets to purchase films
made over there are available for
the American exhibitor.
Stand on Censorship.
There has been much agitation
about censorship. One Of the duties
Of Mr.. Hays will be to organize
saFf tfNyn 1xyt hut
not even the most exacting critic
commotion.
We have opposed censorship be-
cause II can never be Justly and
intelligently administered by boards
or bodies the individuals OF which
owe their appointment TO politics,
sectarian or personal power. BY
this 1 mean that no member of a
certain industry, sect or creed can
be considered competent to be set
I'D as a final Judge. They are all
more or less prejudiced, and many
of them are subject to influence
which may be exerted from certain
quarters.
Now 1t is the essential purpose OF
the film producers to turn out pic
lie support and Endorsement.
Film stars today-and the pro-
ducers who place film stars before
the people-carry tremendous
weight of responsibility. They each
have a strong following, a large num-
Der who are personally influenced by
what they see these stars do. They
fix the fashions in clothes, in man
ners, in customs: they teach great
lessons in morals and in law enforce
ment.
Moral Guard Planned.
So, IL these film stars do things on
the screen that ought not to be done
in actual life these actions must be
justified by the pointing Of a moral
which will effectively convey to the
public the fact that the following OF
such a course can lead only to disas
ter or disgrace.
It is as essential to the producer
to keep his star clean and wholesome
In the eyes Of the public as II is for
parents to guard their children
against communicating pictures.
with these facts clearly under.
stood. It will be one Of the chief
duties Of Mr.. Hays to keep v gilant
guard over not only the moral tone,
but the desirability Of the films 10
be made and presented.
Better to bring this about, a plan
already has been devised which II Is
felt will safeguard all elements con
cerned.