Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-25
DIXON ACCUSES FILM
CENSORS OF PARTISANSHIP
Author of Birth of Nation S,artIes Hearing in AL.
bany by Saying Board Was Republican Body
That Suppressed Historical Truths.

NEW YORK, Feb. 21.-At n hear
Ing on bill Ia repeal motion picture
censorship In New York last TUESDAY
In Albany, tho state capital. Thomas
DIXON, who wrote The Ciansman.
whlch was screened under the title
Oh ne firth OF Nation" az an
author and member OF tho Authors
League OF America. led tho ccnsors
INT" trap which. since the hearing
IN causing sensation in tho motion
picture and political world
Mr. DIXON made the fat declaration
thht me board OF ccn.ors was n mar
'ishh Republican body. each of tho
thrcc members having oecn appointed
Tor faithful service to tho Marty and
mat such board could not he fair
or reasonable with the work Of nm
"uth"r II he happened TO be n Dem
ocrat
Dfron Demands Test
me cenSors denied political bias
Dixon repeated the accusation and
challenged Joseph Lcvenson, score
''iy oil tho board. TO an Immediate
Facing the censor. Mr.. Dixon dc.
cared Il have on my desk the ma
''fial Tor new historical novel
"hIch ] am afraid To- write because
"hn" ms hoard OF political ccnsors
VIII refuse IL a hearing"
%"ns"nse. shouted Lcycnson.
What is III"
II ~ Il story OF the dark period Of
reconstruction. It cost mo t,v.n,v
Years OF research 20 dig out ;hc cac,s
IN my possession. 1t would rcn,lro
ehoth"r whole year Of strenuous work
~ '""pI"tc my preparation and write
IN" story. dare no, undertake (,
"c.n clothed with omnlpotcnt legal
power TO suppress IT.
l.eN"nson interrupted with n laugh
and demanded tho story.
me author continued: ~ Womb
incidentally civ" in this book IN.
authenticated facts that Tho mir.
tenth. fourteenth and nf,c.n,b
amendments 10 The Constitution -,
me United states we're passed he
i"tc". would describe the disgrace.
corn "hich made possible the
""hhaf" ~ these amendments"
ne paused s'.1!auly and faced Mr.
"hS"n. would you allow such a
BOOK 10 b" passed for the scrceu?"
asked Mr.. Dixon.
"ithou, "a moments hcsi,a,jon
secretary l.cvcnson icapcd 10 ui. fn.,
ana shouted: $50. ] would NOT nIIn,,.
H. 80 such view OF American his,n,,.
can u" brought TO the people win my
consent" '
Assume tutocrnttc Power
''N"''ly. IN" author replied. Won
"''' APPOINTED under the pr"tcxt Of
preserving Ia" morals OF chiidr-n. Yot,
nay" Already assumed the Imperial
he'ocFht;c power 10 decide all nu.s-
IONS OF opinion, OF religion. OF his
'ofE' OF philosophy. and however
sfcat your qualifications for such AN
N'"cc may De, every author in Amer
10" pc!icNcs that Almighty God has
n'N'r YET made man big enough.
enough san" enough to be
.'"'neh win IN" autocratic power 10
20. ms mana on the throat OF a Gre
49,, 1n'nhcr and say. You shall
MINK as ] think or not think a, an
on snail speak as toll yuu 20
Srchh or not speak at ALL. This sor,
OF IhlhE hclongs 10 the dark arns mo,
the twentieth century"
chairman cobb. OF the Motto, pic,
'urc Commission. attempted 10 sn,on,b
oHcr secretary Levcnsnn's break by
shE'he' II tho authors vii! onlN.
pF!hH their manuscripts 10 us I'm I'd.
vance. We wifi try our hos, tn ,ai,
mem nov TO avoid any connic, vim
inc board" In other words" NJ
blNon shouted. III We Will coma IN
our master Ike good obcdicnt Ii,,Io
ooFs you VIII tell us in advance wh,,
We can say and what We caunn, e,,.
Tor which Kind invitations the authors
OF America thank You"
Haired in Iinnsn..
beiore submitting TO such tyran-
ny Intolerance and hiCotrv, for IN.
prefer 10 Join Il revolution that viii
restore the liberty, for which our
fa'hcrs fought and died You claim
mat your task is to make pictures
Digger anu better. deny that anv
board or ccnsors has ever .ccnrr.
p!iShed this result.
The Birth OF Il Nation was ana sim
remains the biggest and best picture
NAHn@@ A. : s.,