The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-03-30
MANAGERS APPROVE
THEATER JURY PLAN,
PROJECT NOW sure
Expected to Launch Volun-
tary Censorship Next
Week.
CONFERENCE IS CALLED
Producers Will Meet Writ
ers, Actors and Other
League Delegates.
HAD 'HoBsoN's CHOICE
Forced to Action by Fear Of
State Interfering as 1t
Did With Movies.
HAD 'HOBsON's CHOICE

The theatrical producers of New
York at a meeting of their association
yesterday afternoon voted to join the
welfare. religious and reform organiza-
tons in backing the voluntary public
censorship plan. After long meeting
in the rooms of the Producing Man
ayers Association, at 231 West Forty
fifth street. attended by thirty or more
producers and marked by spirited de-
bate, the following statement was
given out by Arthur Hopkins:
AT meeting of the Producing
Managers Association on Wednesday a
resolution was passed placing the as
sociation on record as being in favor
Of the proposed public jury plan for
passing upon alleged Objectionable
plays, as opposed to official censorship,
and committee composed OF Arthur
Hopkins, Joseph Bickerton. John
Golden, Gilbert Miller and George
Tyler was appointed > meet with the
Authors League the Equity, the
Drama League and the fetter rays
Movement Association"
The full conference of interests con-
nected with the theater and Interested
in it's reform will be held on Monday
or Tuesday, and with this conference
the voluntary public censorship plan
should he launched and ready f7r
operation.
+
Minority HELD Out.
The action taken by the producers
yesterday was naturally the most ini-
pcrtant step in the whole course ~ tire
trying and difficult negotiations. With
out the consent and cooperation ef the
managers it was recognized the whole
project must fail. The alternative per-
ceptible to every one was a hateful Of
fetal censorship pretty sure to he in
VOWED in politics. When the mana
gers got together yesterday afternoon
therefore there was warm debate, more
than one arguing that 1t was Impossible
to let the public dominate. at whinn,
II might be. the business of the the
ater in which those present had millions
invested.
Several of the managers smarted under
criticism that had been made OF hem
or their plays at one time or another.
But the great majority declared em-
phatically for the plan as being inipera-
lively necessary to save the theater from
the fate that the motion picture int"r-
ests brought upon themselves when they
refused to heed warnings that they had
better clean their films or the State
would do it for them.
When the movie magnates ignored the
warning the reform interests went to
the Legislature and got an official CEN
sorship law. The managers knew yes
terday that an official censorship would
be unacceptable for the spoken drama y
they followed the course that had been
taken by the motion picture men. II
was a case OF Hobson's choice.
Before they voted they heard an ad-
dress of explanation from Owen Davis.
the playwright. who went to the mee'l ing
at the head OF a committee from the
conference consisting of George Creel.
Charming Pollock. John @. Boyle and
Frank Gilmore.
Picking the Jury Panel.
II am mighty glad to hear IT, Mr..
Davis said last night, when informed
how the producers had voted. 1T means
the success or the undertaking we have
labored so long in building. and I be-
lieve II means greater prosperity for the
theater Naturally the managers were
not to be hurried into their decision. IT
was a serious step for them and they
arc not to be blamed for taking their
time
IT shall call n meeting OF the full con-
ference. including the producers. now
for Monday or Tuesday at the rooms of
the American Dramatists' Society in
West Forty-fifth street. and I assume
that we can complete all details at that
meeting. The main job now is to fnd 400
names or 500 names. as we may decide.
OF citizens who would be suitable and
acceptable persons from which to select
a Jury.
II rather think the selection viii be
made by a small committee Of the con-
ference after various lists have been
submitted by the various associated In
terests. Then the completed plan. signed
by all the interests in contractual
agreement to abide by the will OF a
public jury in the case Of any criticized
play, will be sent TO the Mayor with the
request that he add to the panel what
ever persons he may desire. After that
we cen go ahead to apply the plan d.
rectly 70 the theatcr. would not be