Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-02
Senate Probe
OF Films War
Propaganda Up
BY GEO. ROCKWELL BROWN
Special TO THE DETROIT TIMES


special to THE DETROIT TIMES
ASHIN GTON. Aug. a.
investigation of the war
propaganda of the motion picture
md radio industries, which has
cached disturbing proportions.
vas decided on by the group OF
ION intervention senator's.
A resolution directing the inter.
state commerce committee 10
make the inquiry, was introduced
n the Senate by Senator Bennett
Clark of Missouri, acting for him
self and Senator Gerald p. Nye
Of North Dakota, who made =
speech on the subject last night
IT st. Louis.
The action was taken after con-
with Senator Burton h.
Wheeler who, in a speech in the
Senate yesterday. made a strong
attack on the war propaganda OF
The motion picture industry.
CITES PRESSURE REPORTS
In this speech Senator Wheeler
referred TO reports current in
Washington that the motion pic
lure industry has been preSsured
BY the administration TO make pic
lures Of a character 10 prepare The
mind for war and 10 in
still the idea that war is evitable.
Senator Wheeler said he did not
believe these reports.
They were. he believed, the alibi
Of the industry.
One Of the purposes OF the inves-
tigation proposed in the Clark
resolution is 10 get 10 the bottom
Of the matter and ascertain who
has been responsible for the wal
propaganda which has filled the
screen in this country and which
has been exported abroad.
CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE
Senator Wheeler is himself the
chairman OF the interstate COM
nerce committee, so that the in
would be in the hands
of the leader of the anti-war SEN
itors. The resolution authorizes
the committee 10 make such ex-
penditures as may be necessary.
Ordinarily the audit and control
can block or delay in
not desired by the
by Withholding the
necessary funds from the Senate
fund.
In this case. however. n Is I'M
ierstood that the interstate COM
nerce committee has a contingent
und available with which az least
beginning OF the investigator
'ould be made. II is expected that
his course will be followed.
GETTING SERIOUS
THE war propaganda Of the
motion picture industry and
radio Is getting serious" SAID
Senator Clark. I'VE believe We
have found way to force this
investigation. The people are
entitled TO know who IL respon-
sible for an obviously deliberate
attempt TO influence their minds
through the two greatest agen-
cies for the shaping OF public
opinion.
viii appear before the COM
mittee and submit a list Of mo-
ton pictures believe were
designed to influence the Amcri.
can people In favor OF going to
war.
~ am fully convinced that the
motion picture industry and
radio arc carrying on a cam.
paign Of propaganda 10 get the
United states In the war.
WILL SEEK sUBPENars
II will ask the committee To
subpoena motion picture execu-
lives. We ought to bring them
10 washington and get at the
facts"
The resolution sets forth that
numerous charges have been
made that the motion picture and
ne radio have been extensively
lSed Tor propaganda purposes de-
signed TO Influence the public mind
n the direction Of participation
n the European war"
"All this propaganda" de-
clares the resolution, "has been
directed to one side OF the i'm
portant debate now being held.
not only In Congress, but
throughout the country
The resolution declares that this
reaches 100 Gee Ae9-
persons, and that il lis in tho
lands OF groups interested in in
'olVing the United States in war. %
THOROUGH INVESTIGATION
The resolution authorizes the
interstate commerce committee
o make thorough and complete
nvestigation "of any propaganda
disseminated by motion pictures
md radio or any other activity OF
he motion picture industry TO in.