Evening star., 1941-09-10

air, he said, a speaker against war
can get the same time.
He joined Senator Nye in denying
he was prompted by any racial
prejudice" and termed the raising
of that claim was an effort to be-
cloud the issue. In defense of his
record for tolerance, Senator Clark
told the subcommittee that mot
so many years ago was one of the
most active citizens in Missouri
in opposition to the ugly intolerance
OF the Klu Klux Klan."
Anticipating that the film industry
will take the position that it is de-
Tending the freedom of speech and
expression. Senator Clark said the
real issue is whether speech can be
curbed by permitting small groups
to gain control of such modern
agencies as radio and motion pic
lures. Continuing, he said:
Any man, or any group of men,
who can get control of the screen,
can reach every week in this country
an audience of 10000 900 people. If
there is great debate before the
Nation involving it's economic life
or, even its liberties, no man can
get syllable in the sound pictures
save by the grace of the men who
control the sound pictures. And 7
here formally and deliberately
charge that a handful of men have
onffnn fnnSSaSSiot1 ~ i =.
microphone and the moving picture
screen, beside which all other forms
of discussion are antique and feeble,
and that men and women in Amer
lea, discussing the great problems of
America, can use these machines or
not, only by the grace of this small
oligarchy"
The subcommittee will investigate
reports that independent theaters
have been required to show films
which he called propaganda, -
Chairman Clark announced earlier.
Mr.. Willkie described as "fanci-
full concoction" the testimony of
Senator Nye yesterday that the
Government had requested the max
ing of some so-called propaganda
films and that No l producer of
pictures was the source of his in
formation
Senator Mcfarland, Democrat, of
Arizona tried without success to get
Senator Nye to name the producer.
but he refused, explaining he did not
want to compromise a man who
might testify later.
I'VE will waive any compromise. {"
broke in Mr.. Willkie, but Chairman
Clark ended the discussion by say
ing the subcommittee would call
the witness in due time.
After Senator Nye had testified
for four hours yesterday concerning
war propaganda in films. Senator
Mcfarland tried to have the North
Dakotan specify the pictures he
deemed most Objectionable and why.
Senator Nye said he always had
difficulty remembering the names of
pictures, but, after recollection,
thought the picture Il Married
NaA" was probably the worst he
had seen. Pressed for details, the
Senator said it engendered hatred
not only of fictional character, but
of an entire nation of people
Senator Mcfarland mentioned
several other war pictures, but the
North Dakotan said he had not seen
them. and urged the committee to
view them at first hand.
WILKES Statement.
Commenting on Senator Nye's
testimony, Mr.. Willkie said:
The rest of Senator Nye's biased
arguments fall of their own weight.
They are generally too ludicrous
for me to answer. Although Senator
Nye is co-author of the resolution
to investigate the motion picture
industry he testified that he could
remember seeing only two motion
pictures of which he so bitterly COM
plains. One of these was The
Great Dictator starring Charles
Chaplin. Senator Nye laments
that Charlie Chaplin was born in
England, and that he ridiculed Hit
Ter on the public screen. '''