Evening star., 1932-03-27
Proponents Hold Present
Law Impedes Talent Of
Young Actors, Abridg-
ing Rights.

|
that those who embrace it as their LIES
work should be given every opportunity
| to develop the latent talent which
raises them to the level Of artists"
| They contend too, that q parent should
| have at least the privilege Of promoting
his own child's welfare In the direction
| in which the child's best interests lie.
| In supporting the amendment which
would permit child actors to perform
| on the professional stage in the District
Of Columbia, some of the proponents
question the moral right in too strict
| curbing of child labor generally. And
others-those most intimately interested
in the business Of the theater-charge
that the amendment is necessary to
rectify an injustice done by the existing
law through discrimination against the
| legitimate stage while it permits the ex-
| hibition here Of motion pictures In
which children perform.
! Administration Of the child labor law
| as they would amend it, the proponents
insist, need not be the difflcult problem
which the opponents contend. En-
| forcement, the proponents declare,
and can be ironed out by both the en-
forcing agent and the Stheater people
| themselves and need not prevent the
| justiflable legalizing of the principle"
The crux of the whole situation, they
insist, Is the amendment of discrimi-
| natory law.
Charges Discrimination.
Stephen Cochran, manager of the
National Theater and chief proponent
of the amendment, has contended that,
as it is drawn now, the District of
Columbia child labor law discriminates
against the legitimate theater by failing
to impose the same restrictions on mo-
ton picture performances that it does
on the legitimate houses. Many of the
very people who oppose the pending
legislation, Mr.. Cochran said last night,
will 60 to a motion picture house and
see children's performances on the
screen "and think they're cute"
1T is time" Mr.. Cochran said, "that
right thinking people should help the
legitimate stage and the present law
works a decided hardship on u.s."
The necessity for having child actors,
the National Theater manager contends,
lies in the fact that without them many
of the classics of dramatic history are
banned from local presentation.
1T is easy to counterfeit old age
with youth" Mr.. Cochran said with re-
counterfeit youth with old age"
Discussing the provisions of the bill
calling for the amendment, Mr.. Coch-
ran contends that the physical, educa-
tional and moral welfare of the child
actor is protected. The Board of Edu-
cation, under the bill. would be charged
with granting permits for the appear
ance of child performers only after it
was satisfied that the child was receiv-
ing care in these directions.
Commenting on these factors, Mr..
Cnahroy 1oc hot tIa
age stage child is far better provided
for than the average off-stage child.
There is no place on the stage for
an illiterate child" he declared. They
have to memorize lines and are taught
elocution and stage direction by pro-
fessional stage directors. Mothers or
fathers with any interest at all in their
children will see to it that they are
educated because it most assuredly
helps their advancement in a stage
career. After all, parent should have
child. The present law denies them
this right"
Not Mere Business.
Mr. Cochran contends that acting is
not mere business, but that it is an
art. People on the stage, he holds, are
there because they possess particular
.eieAIo' IOl eiAo ichSon, ne argues
that talented children should not be
prohibited from receiving the artistic
development which careers as child
acting affords them. Many of the
leading stars Of the stage, he points
out, began their careers as juvenile
actors
So far as the health of the stage
child goes, Mr.. Cochran insists, it is
likely to be of higher standards than
most off-stage children. The child
actor, he points out, as rule appears
recreation and study, rarely works in
Summer, and Is better clothed and fed.
In his travels the child actor is af-
forded accommodations in the best
hotels and while en- route travels in
Pullman accommodations, a require
inent by the Actors Equity Association.
The moral issue is met in many in
stances, he contends, by the constant
companionship Of the childs own
mother.
Asked last night whether a minimum
age limit would he acceptable to him,
Mr. Cochran replied that such a pro-
vision would not be practical from the
theatrical point of view. girl Of 16,
he said, could not possibly portray q
young child without having the critics
deride her attempt.
Mr.. Cochran regards the administra-
ton of the law as he would have it
amended as mechanics" which could
be adjusted later. He said he and other
legitimate theater owners are ready to
pledge their utmost cooperation with
the authorities in enforcing the law.
This cooperation, he pointed out spe-
cifically, would include the formal
notification Of every theatrical pro-
ducer of the provisions of the law. 1t
would include also the furnishing of
play manuscripts to the enforcing
agency so that 1t could determine weeks
in advance whether the performance
was morally suitable for a child's par
ticipation in it. He contended that most
Of the fears expressed by opponents of
the amendment are addressed, not to
conditions as they are represented in
the theaters of Washington. but to con-
ditions in the mushroom" and "honky-
tonk" circuit which do not come into
Washington.
Suggests Filing Affidavits.
DR., Frank w. Ballou, superintendent
Of schools while neither an opponent
nor a proponent of the amendment, be-
lieves 1t could be enforced by requiring
theatrical producers to file with the
Board Of Education affidavits outlining
the health, educational and moral con-
ditions of the child.
IF required to enforce the child
labor with this amendment" DR..
Ballou said, I'VE could prepare a ques-
tionnaire covering the factors about
which we are to concern ourselves in
permitting children to come to local
theaters. These we would require to be
given as affidavits.
"As to the moral quality of the show,
VIC, the school people, should not be
made dramatic censors. The district
attorney already is charged with that
responsibility with respect to stage per-
formances in general, and authority for
the same determination should under
no circumstances be divided
Therefore If a play is given the
approval of the district attorney, and