Evening star., 1941-10-05
Film Quiz 10 Continue
Despite Critics or
Threats, Clark Says
Coils Absentees Cause
Of Sessions Delay
Till October 13
Nv 7. A. O'LEARY,

Chairman Clark of Idaho served
notice last night that Senate In
terstate Commerce Subcommittee
hearings on alleged war propaganda
in moving pictures will continue,
regardless of criticism and re-
eardless of threats"
He made the statement in a ra-
dio broadcast. after having explained
in an interview earlier that the
calling off of hearings set for this
week was due principally to the alb
sence of two subcommittee members.
The poStponement for another
week had given rise to some Specu-
lation that the subcommittee had
about ended its efforts, but Senator
Clark said emphatically yesterday
that more witnesses would be called,
including Will Hays, arbiter of the
film industry.
The tentative date for reSuming
hearings is a week from tomorrow,
the Idaho Senator said.
Chaplin to Appear.
Two weeks ago the subcommittee
announced that Charles Chaplin,
veteran comedian of both the silent
end talking films, would be called
as a witness tomorrow, but later
his appearance was left indefinite,
and Senator Clark said ample notice
will be given of any future date for
his appearance.
In his broadcast last night Sena-
tor Clark pointed out that the sub
committee has not yet touched the
question of whether there is war
propaganda in radio programs
which is included within the scope
of the pending resolution.
That will come lin due course"
he said, but hastened to add:
Il may say, however, that, by and
large, the radio networks have been
eminently fair in the granting of
time to both sides on debatable
public questions. If they had not
been. I would not be speaking to
you tonight"
Apportioned Equally.
If an interventionist Senator gets
Is minutes on the air, an anti-War
Senator usually can get equal time
to reply, Senator Clark said, and to
that extent the radio industry has
handled its enormous power with
fairness and without discrimination.
Whether, however, war propaganda
has crept into the radio programs
to an unWarranted degree is ques-
ton for future study
Summing up his impression Of the
testimony taken thus far regarding
the movies, Senator Clark said:
LAS regards the motion picture
industry. it is my judgment that the
evidence to date tends very def
nitely to show a tightly held mo-
nopoly. For all practical purposes,
eight companies absolutely control
all of the production, all of the
distribution and good part of the
exhibition of motion pictures. Ac-
tually. in my judgment, three or
these companies are only satellites
of the other five. and these five
are very closely associated together.
Calls Pictures Controlled.
approximately, there are 1900
theaters in the United States, and
I do not think it is unfair to say
that these five companies can sub
stantially control all of the pic
lures that are seen daily in these
theaterS.
Now, the extent to which this
vast control of the screen has been
used to disseminate propaganda for
war is not entirely determined. Ger
tainly some propaganda has been
leveled at the American people
and possibly, also, the extent OF
the propaganda has been overem-
phasized, and as the hearings pro-
gress we will be better able to as
certain lust how far the motion
picture industry has gone in using
its vast control of public expression
in an unfair way This, think, the
American people are entitled to
know. This they shall know.
LET me say in conclusion that
these hearings are not going to be
halted by any person or combina-
ton of persons. Of course, in due
time the subcommittee will have te
report its findings to the full com.
mittee and then to the Senate
From then on it is up to the Senate
itself to authorize a further inves-
tigation, If it so desires"
Resolution Not Passed.
Thus far, the Senate has moi
passed the investigation resolution
1t was merely referred to the In
terstate Commerce Committee for 9
recommendation when it was first
offered and at the last hearing II
days ago Senator Mcfarland, Dem
ocrat, of Arizona challenged Chair
man Clark to give the Senate Q
chance to vote on whether the probe
should continue.
Chairman Lucas of the committee
in charge'of the Senate's contingent
fund also has raised a question a.
to the subcommittee procedure ir
advance of Senate passage of the
investigation resolution by delay
ing action on some of the voucher;
for witness fees