Arizona republican., 1922-01-08
HARRISON OPENS
SENATE ATTACK
ON MOVIE OFFER
TO WILL H. HAYS
Mississippi Senator Says
Motion Picture Industry
Picked Hays on Account
of His Political Strength.
rRepublIcan a. p. Leased WIre1


WASHINGTON, Jan. Protest
ing against acceptance by Postmas-
ter General Hays Of the rendered po-
sition as head Of the motion picture
industry, Senator Harrison, Demo-
crat, Mississippi, declared in the sem
ate late today that if the motion pic
ture producers get the biggest pol
itician in the Republican party we
must look upon it with suspicion"
Stating that he had no doubt Mr.
Hays would accept the offer and re-
tire from the cabinet, Senator Har-
rison said he was fearful that If
the former Republican National chair
man becomes the head OF the
motion picture industry he will place
a censorship upon some Democratic
pictures that should be shown.
After describing the size of the
motion picture business and its in
fluence and freedom from politics
up to this time, the Mississippi sem
ator declared that should the Unit
ed States Stee. corporation come here
and make an offer to a member of
the cabinet at salary equal to that
reputed to have been rendered Mr..
Hays to direct its policies and he ac-
cepted it, mot only would he be con-
demned, but the administration would
also be condemned"
Senator Harrison referred in con-
demnatory terms to the offer which
Judge Lands accepted from organ
lied baseball, and asked:
"Why is Mr.. Hays selected by the
motion picture industry to accept a
fabulous salary? What is the pur-
pose Of making this tender? Is it be-
cause he is close to the powers that
be? Is 1t because he controls four
or five hundred thousand postof-
fices and the mails? Is it because he
has the ear OF the president and sits
in the circles of the administration I?
Is 1t because he helped to select the
house of representatives whose duty
it is to frame tax laws and tariff
measures? Is it because he played
such a largo part in the election of
senators who control the policy of
the administration in this body?
The senator said he could not imag-
inc that the industry sought Mr.. HAYS
as a star to show with Mary Pick
ford, Douglas Fairbanks and Fatty
Arbuckle.
They have chosen him because
they think he can do the work" he
continued. "Is it because OF anv
exceptional ability which he has
shown? Is IL because he can ele-
vate the morals OIL the industry? No.
These are not the qualifications that
have caused the tempting offer. There
is more significance to the offer be-
ing made TO the postmaster general
than to any other cabinet officer. He
came into prominence because he was
a great organizer and politician.
MANY questions come up in tn.
senate and house that affect the mo-
ton picture industry" the senator
stated, as he referred TO the tax unon
it which had been prohibited as well
as to items in the tariff bill now
pending.
Il do not know whether they think
that through his closeness to GER
tain senators or because of his at
tachment to the President. he can
work wonders in the new tariff bin
or the supplemental tax bill that will
be presented" tie senator declared.
Il believe that the motion picture
people are making a false step" he
continued. when they get the big
gest politician in the Republican
party to head that industry we must
look on it with suspicion. 1 am sorry
to see the industry come into the
cabinet and get member who was
chairman Of the Republican National
committee. The industry is hurting
itself when it stirs up politics like
that"