Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-03-04
CALISCH CONDEMNS
STRICT CENSORSHIP

N-on'inI"d From First raroD
tory and human experience Tb.,.
seem To forget that these lessons a,,,
,HiH' I'nc"S hay" shown ,hat no in
elE'cUal ana no class no government,
not even church Itself can ~
manenuy exercise autocrntic c,,,r,,
over the opinions and conscience az
people II may be done t.rnor
srily. but Invariably there ,s "a
'oIt against TIL, control. Jus, no.
cause this control when secured
tends 10 be SO exercised tina, II n.
comes into'crahlc
Ih"y FORGET tha, Professionalism a.,
se't' as us very name irnpIi.s w,s
protest and rcvO!; arains, censor
snip OF the Church OF Rome over the
conscience and Judgment OF IN. jndi-
.v!auai. Th"y seem to forget ,hat,ho
light ot tho iiugurnots 10 Franz.
the Pilgrim Fathers to America w,s
revolt against Censorship of mo
'hnrch OF England over tn. !nLi-
y W., conscience" and Judgment.
Acy seem 10 forget that tn. nlrb,
Of Roger Williams and tho e..ah
Ishm"nt OF the free colony ~
hhpd" Island was a revolt against
censorship Of tho church dignit,rics
80 NdssarhuSctts. themselves the re-
iugee rebels against censorship.
repeat. thor" Is no organization
""" III" Sh"rch. ana surely no small
group OF individuals. that sbnuld n.
given unlimited powo- ~ con,r"i ~.
thes" things even the church itself
though aivincly ordained. IS a:.ar
all, administered by human Ls,Is
directed ny human minds and /, 10
the Inevitable tendency OF IN. human
mind TO become intoxicated with .,,-
thorlty and L. nv"rs,ep tho hounds
OF toi"rahic conduct. Unless there is
some one or something to ccnsure
the censors, censorship defeats ito
own end.
Says Method All Wrong
In the instance under cnnsiIcr,
tion' namely. the motion picture. tho
intention. doubtless. is n good ono
but the method is wrong | hold no
brief for theaters or for motion-pic-
ture houses. ! freely admit there arc
gross evils In both that indecent and
salacious Rays and pictures are
sometimes presented and that actors
and actresses are sometimes mos,
nnhapptly presented In tho spotlight
OF publicity. Eut | believe there
nave also boon d"faultcrS, libertincs
ana even murdcrcrS among the
! clcrgymcn. Bat there * no reason
why one should indiscrininatcly con-
dcmn tho pulpit because of the sins
OF few OF its individuals. ana a
''''' i''SbllIb noIiS true Tor the
'hcHter and the picture houses
hN 10th sides the accusation Is
made that censorship becomes a tool
Tor political propaganda Canon
eh"Se declared that the Legislators
are In danger of being terrified from
uo'hE their duty by political pres
sure Rev. Mr.. Dixon asserts. and
seems to have proven his assertion.
.hat the censorship. where estab-
lished. Is being used for partisa n
poiltical purposes. especially in be-
mar or the Republican party. Where
In Is inc truth? II the censorship IS
political weapon, or liable 10 he
come such. then the evils II would
entail are by FAR a greater danger 10
me Commonwealth than those Il is
designed to remove.
The real ccnsors should he in the
homes. Let fathers and mothers
guide and guard the morals OF their
children and you will need no State
legislation. Let churches and Sab-
bath schools give their energy To
create sound moral atmospheric,
with just appreciation and rccoe-
'nition OF the innocent pleasures ana
1reed5 OF human lifo. and such cv,.,
IIP there arc Will correct themselves
/. 70 law on tho statute book can nvai;
lhniess 1t DO also written on tho
hearts Of tho people.