davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1950-11-19
By Robert K. Walsh

Censorship of motion pictures
has flashed on the scene again
with world background, national
angles, local color and run that
might wind UP in the Supreme
Court.
The controversy is more than
"a reissue. The fight has been
going on since the days of the
|nickelodeon. 1t now unfolds in
wider social and legal develop
ments in this country.
Even more important, perhaps,
is the part it plays in this Nations
efforts to win friends and in
fuence peoples for democracy
throughout the world.
The old dispute still remains
whether motion pictures should
be viewed largely as entertain
ment and business or education
and enlightenment. But emphasis
has shifted to argument over
whether there is something un-
constitutional, discriminatory, un-
democratic and otherwise dan
gerous in State and local systems
of saying what movies can be
shown.
Political Angle
The current dispute centers
mainly on the barring of films
simply because boards, licensing
authorities or police in some COM
munities assert such productions
would arouse preJudices, racial
and otherwise.
That has intensified efforts to
have the Supreme Court rule that
the first amendment to the Con-
stitution applies to motion pic
lures. The tribunal will be asked
again to reverse 1915 ruling that
the guarantees covering freedom
of speech and press do not cover
the movies. Only month ago 1t
refused to review an Atlanta case
that raised that basic issue.
Eric Johnston, president of the
Motion Picture Association OF
America, recently predicted that
a pending Texas case will become
another milestone in our long
trudge toward full freedom of
expression and un-blue-penciled
freedom.
You may have your reserva-
tions about the motion picture S
right to untrammeled freedom of
the press,' he told the Inland
Daily Press Association, "but I'm
sure you subscribe to the premise
that no medium of expression is
entirely safe in its liberty when
another medium is not.
1.-The one thing a democracy
can't tolerate for very long is an
ofhcialdom that arrogates to it.
Evening star., 1950-11-19

surrounded by hills and noun
tains, it is more than four
times the size of Texas.
It still has no definite borders.
except those set up by a series
of treaties stretching back to
1859. Five rivers are under
stood to separate Manchuria
from Siberia: The Argun, Amur,
Ussuri, Tumen and Yalu.
For several centuries it has
been considered part of China,
although at various times it has
been ruled very loosely by the
Chinese.
Manchuria lies north of China
proper, against the Siberian bor-
der. Korea hangs down from it
into the Yellow Sea.
The Chinese, crowded on their
home acres, have migrated north
into Manchuria for decades.
Principal crops in Manchuria
are Soybeans, millet, corn,
Evening star., 1950-11-19
By Froncis P. Douglas

ticularly in undeveloped and
underdeveloped areas. :"
In view of the depletion of
the high-grade ores of the Me-
sabi range, the report notes the
interest of the United States in
ores found elsewhere. Plans for
the exploitation Of the Labrador
deposits are under way; ar
rangements for the develop
ment of Venezuelan ores ap-
pear we'll advanced. and inter-
est has been shown in Brazilian
ores.
Although Latin America pos
sesses enormous reserves Of
high-grade iron ores it has lit
tie available high-quality cox
ing coal. An exception to this
is Mexico, which appears to
have both. Mexico has a pig
iron capacity of 10000 tons a
year and its producing COM
panies have steel works and
rolling mills.
Brazil has a modern, inte-
grated steel plant including a
blast furnace with a capacity of
Evening star., 1950-11-19

coal appears to be small. It's
coking coal supply would" not
sustain a steel industry larger
than 20 million tons a year.
Asia. with almost a quarter Of
the worlds iron ore reserves, ac-
counts for only about per cent
of the worlds ore production.
Iron ore is produced in Africa
entirely for export except in the
case of the Union of South AZ
rica. which has its own iron and
steel industry.
One problem in establishing
an iron and steel industry in
some of the worlds underde-
veloped areas where there are
ample natural resources is the
limited demand for the indus
try's products in those areas.
The prospects for the industry
generally depend on it's role in
a more comprehensive and di-
versified program of develop
ment. Establishment or expan-
sion of a domestic steel indus
try can itself contribute to the
general economic development
and foster other industries, the
U. N. report points out.
Evening star., 1950-11-19

lation of Manchuria. The present
total population is about As
million.
Russians, Chinese. and Jap
anese have fought for both
the existing railroads and for
the right to put in new lines
of steel. In each case the out
siders wanted to move Man
churia's products to markets
where profits were possible.
The fight to extend the rail-
roads has spelled out some i'm
portant changes. Along the
rails have mushroomed mills to
squeeze out soybean oil, make
soy cakes and turn wheat into
exportable flour. Around the
mills have grown towns.
Manchuria has two ports free
from ice all winter, Dairen and
Port Arthur, at the southern
most tip of the land, at the head
of the Yellow Sea.
Evening star., 1950-11-19

the United Artists Corp. and Hal
Roach Studios against Memphis,
Tenn, ban on the picture "Curley."
The Memphis officials ordered the
ban mainly because Negro and
white children were in the cast.
The Tennessee Supreme Court
threw out the suit against the
Memphis censors largely on a
technicality but its opinion COM
mented that the censorship
board had mo authority to dis
approve of the picture because
of Negro actors appearing"
In refusing to review the
Georgia and Tennessee cases the
Supreme Court gave no reasons.
Neither did it necessarily shut
the door to hearing eventually
If a clear-cut case comes up.
Supporters of censorship trace
a comparatively long history of
motion picture censorship in the
United States and in Europe.
They also contend that their right
to ban what they regard as OBJ
jectionable pictures is consistent
with home rule and strengthening
OF public authority. They cur
rently emphasize the need for
stricter official means of coping
with "subversive" subjects as well
as persons.
They put special stress on a
claim that motion picture COM
panies and theaters are primarily
engaged in the business of enter
tainment for profit" That.status
has repeatedly been legally de-
fined and is further upheld by
the fact that the Federal Govern
ment levies an entertainment tax
on admission tickets, they say.
Opponents hold that the
Supreme Courts 1915 decision
has long since lost it's vitality
and now should explicitly be
overruled.
The motion picture, they de-
clare, is the only medium of
mass communication" that now
stands outside the protection of
the first amendment.
The stage is far more extensive
than it seems. The large States
and cities that exercise strict CEN
sorship are major sources of rev.
ienue to the motion picture busi-
ness. This often has persuaded
producers to edit films, wherever
shown, to form that will fit the
censorship machinery of those in
fluential areas.
The impending top-leyel legal
struggle, despite some familiar
dialogue and action, will be suffi-
GENTLY new and interesting to pre-
vent any onlooker from complain
ing that "this is where / came in" :"
Evening star., 1950-11-19

report. 1t foresees these two
possibilities:
A country with rich ores can
make a two-Way exchange of its
ores for coking coal. Generally,
this swap would not involve
transportation requirements in
excess of those incurred in the
steel-producing centers of the
United States.
L. S. on the Alert
Alternative methods of re-
ducing the ores to usable iron
have been developed. thus re-
ducing the Importance of the
lack of coking coal.
The U. N. world wide survey
of factors involved in steel pro-
duction was undertaken as the
result of action by the U. N.
Economic and Social Council.
The council adopted a resolu-
ton stressing the need for
facilitating the better utiliza-
ton of world resources of man
power, materials, labor and
capital in order to promote
higher standards of living
throughout the world, more par
Evening star., 1950-11-19

1900 tons a day. It's ores have
the largest iron content of any
in the world, but Brazilian coal
has to be blended with better
grade coking coal which is i'm
ported.
Chile is the largest exporter
of iron ore in Latin America.
sending it to the United States.
In the Far East the steel in
dustry has been developed in
Japan. Korea and Manchuria,
with Japan importing both cox
ing coal and iron ore and pig
iron because of its own meager
supplies.
Far East Situation
The most heavily populated
underdeveloped countries,
China and India, with almost
two-f1fths of the worlds popu-
latlon, have enough iron for
large scale iron and steel in
dustries. China is we'll off as to
ccal, having three-quarters of
Asia's known coal reserves (out-
side Russia). India, on the
other hand, has large quantities
of coal but the quantity of coking
Evening star., 1950-11-19
Motion Picture Industry Says Too Many Censors Are in the Act

| it's creaky old bones to work
against 'Pinky.'"
Mr.. Ceiling ignored the edict
The picture created no disturb
ance. But Mr.. Ceiling was ar
rested February Is and later tried
convicted on 3 of IS counts and
fined $100.
Mr.. Johnston and others con-
tend that Mr.. Ceiling has a
democratic kinship with. John
Peter zenger, the pre-Revolu-
tionary American editor impris-
oned for insisting on freedom OF
the press.
In fact, Mr.. Johnston declared
he was "flabbergasted" when he
recently went to Chicago to show
a film depicting the life of Zenger
He had to submit it to the city
censors and get a police permit
to show it to group of news
paper editors.
Here is the story of a man who
suffered for his belief in free
expression but the medium to tell
that story in visual and in oral
form suffers from the censor's
blindfold and gag" he declares.
Court Rulings Cited
Backers of local regulation of
motion pictures indicate they are
ready to defend their stand on
constitutional as we'll as public
policy grounds. From the judicial
standpoint, they cite a long line
of court decisions upholding State
and local censorship or at least re-
fusing to focus the first amend
ment on the motion picture.
They note that the Supreme
Court, in the 1915 case of Mutual
Film Corp. VS.. Industrial Commits
sion Of Ohio. held that motion
pictures do not come within the
free speech and free press pro-
lection of the first amendment
They also put considerable stock
in the high courts refusal last
month to review an appeal by an
Atlanta distributor who unsuc-
cessfully sought an injunction
against enforcement of city
ordinance making movies subject
to approval by a board of censor
ship.
The Atlanta officials refused to
permit showing of Lost Bound
aries" a story of a New Hamp-
shire couple whose Negro origin
suddenly became known to their
own children and to their COM
munity. The Atlanta defense was
that the film would adversely
affect the peace, health, morals
and good order of the CITY,"
The Supreme Court last May
refused to review an appeal by
Evening star., 1950-11-19

picture, for instance, on racial
grounds.
But believe Mr.. Johnston
makes a good point" an official
commented. "The problem of ac-
quainting other countries with
democratic ideals of the United
States becomes a harder job wher
we have to try to explain why g
certain kind Of picture can't be
shown in some parts of this cou1s-
try. In any event, such bans or
pictures certainly give Soviet
papers a chance to exploit theil
propaganda against U.S."
The particular pictorial pro-
hibition that may show up as q
test case at this Supreme Court
term stopped the performance o1
"Pinky' in Marshall, Tex. 1t also
brought about the arrest of w. l.
Ceiling, a small-theater owner
who, by coincidence, had booked
the picture for Lincoln's Birthday
'Pinky.'" Mr.. Johnston ex-
plains, lis the story of a light.
skinned Negro girl who was edu.
Gated as a white girl in the North
graduated as trained nurse ano
then went South to live with hel
grandmother.
Naturally, 'Pinky' was adver-
tised in advance in Marshall. On
the preceding Friday, February
10, the citizens of Marshall dis
covered all of a sudden they had
a motion picture censor board
It had been established that very
day under authority of an ordi-
nance 20 years old. An ordinance
adopted in 1921 but mildewing
in the files until somebody thought
to blow the dust off 1t and put
Evening star., 1950-11-19

in town. Beautiful and luxuri-
ously appointed but with only 35
rooms"
The interest of the United
States in Portugal stems not so
much from what that small coun-
try can do in the East-West battle
but from the strategic position she
and her possessions occupy. The
Azores, 1000 miles out in the
Atlantic from Europe, and one
third of the way to North America,
command vital approaches to and
from both continents. While
Portugal remained a neutral dur
ing the last year. the bases she
loaned to the Allied cause we're
invaluable both in sea rescue work
and in refueling of vessels.
The Lagens Airbase on the
Island of Terceira, operated by the
United States, provides one of the
cornerstones of our Atlantic de-
fenses.
y. N. Entry Blocked
Three times Russia has vetoed
the entrance of Portugal into the
United Nations. There is no ques-
tion that being excluded from the
same common effort has not en-
couraged the cementing of bonds
of solidarity and the building up
Iof the close feeling of warmth
such as the United States shares
with other friendly Western pow
ers. The will to resist the tide of
communism, should it ever be-
come serious threat to Portugal,
would be very much bolstered by
making her a United Nations
member.
Such a step, too, would help
move this country away from her
almost insular position behind the
| PyrreneeS and her overly-close
ties with Spain. Spain and Portu-
gal are definitely separated from
the rest of free Europe. Portugal
did become member of the At
lantic pact after considerable hesi-
tation and has been taking part in
all European defense meetings.
There is nevertheless still a strong
Portuguese tendency to consider
her primary alliance as being
with the Spanish government.
Evening star., 1950-11-19

wheat. rice and kaoliang Ga sor-
ghum-type grain).
Overpopulated Japan though
of Manchuria as a place for its
surplus people and a place
where it could turn out food
and raw materials needed by
the japanese homeland.
Manchuria has been valuable
to both China and Japan over
the decades because of its
timber stands, much like the
forests in the American Appa-
lachians.
In addition, Manchuria raised
export crops of wheat and soy
beans. In Southern Manchuria
there are important iron and coal
mines.
The Chinese have seeped up
into the north country SO stead
lily that even while the Manchus
were ruling China, the Chinese
formed 80 per cent of the popu-
Evening star., 1950-11-19

Beyond Korea lies Manchuria,
the land that holds the answer
to the worlds No. / question
today:
After North Korea what?
Manchuria often has been a
land of decision.
From it the Manchus swept in
the 18th century to conquer all
China. only to be absorbed at
last by the conquered nation.
In it is situated the warm
water ports that were prizes of
the Russo-Japanese war.
In Manchuria, Japan seized
on the incident that led to Jap
anese domination of the region
and the setting up of the puppet
kingdom of Manchukuo.
In Manchuria lie some of
China'S most important re-
sources.
A tremendous rolling plain
Evening star., 1950-11-19
High Strategic Value

Portugal has done little to en-
courage tourism. While the rest
of Europe was flooded with Ameri-
cans, the summer of 1850 saw very
few dollar purchasers of escudoes.
It is not that visitors are unwel-
come; rather it is caused by the
modest feeling, particularly in the
capital, that they are not capable
Of handling large numbers.
Look at the Avis" said my Lis
bon host talking of the best hotel
Evening star., 1950-11-19

SELF the right to say what we shall
read, see and hear. Censorship
of motion pictures is censorship
of personal liberty, a curtailment
of choice, a damnable, stupid in
suit to the intelligence of the
movie-goer. 1t is part of the
nibbling at our fundamental free
doms that's all too prevalent to-
day."
No responsible person in the
motion picture industry, Mr.. John
Ston maintained, wants any traffic
with the salacious and lascivious
He cited 20 years of successful
operation of a elf-imposed and
self-operating code of decency in
the making of films
What principally worries the in
dustry, especially at this stage OF
world theological conflict, is the
harm it believes political censor
ship at home can do to the
presentation of democracy's case
abroad.
"The motion picture has taker
on an assignment to win friends
for America and influence people
for democracy all around the
world" Mr.. Johnston said. "It
can't do decent job of it if it has
to run the sniper's fire of censor.
ship at home"
He described American motion
pictures as "the last direct con.
tact that millions of people over.
seas have left with the democratic
world. Those films are against
everything communism stands fo]
but Communists dare not keep from
peoples who insist on seems
them" he said.
Texas Case Cited
what happens to the VALIDITY
Of democracy's case for freedom
when the medium to talk about il
Is subjected to political censorship
at home?" he asked. How car
we convince people of the SINGER.
ity of our belief in freedom of ex.
preston, in all areas, when we fal
short in practicing what We
preach?"
State Department officials in the
international Motion Picture Divi.
sion believe that unwise and un-
justified censorship of pictures ir
the United States plays into the
hands of Communist propagandist.
abroad as well as here.
The division sends documentary
films overseas, sometimes to So.
Wet satellite countries. It report.
no retaliatory censorship by othel
countries that might be offended
or perplexed by the barring of &
Evening star., 1950-11-19
Portugal Trying to Catch
UpWith theModern World
Marshall Plan Provides Opportunity
To Undertake Economic Transformation
By Alfred M. LiIienthoI

sBoNThere is revolution in the making in the western
part OF the 1beran Peninsula Forty after
monarchy overrown the republic
signs visible that economic transformation
political, be taking place.
Some Of the barriers toward ndustrazaton crumbng
Evening star., 1950-11-19
ForeignAidondArms Plans
Duefor Study byCongress
Major Task of Legislators Is to Join With
Administration to Create Order Among Allies
By Constontine Brown

Resolutions already being prepared by congressional leaders
establishment committees reevauae contributions
the and military of the world particularly
the Marshall Plan and the Atlantic pact
will organize its committee whether
joint HoueSenate is uncertain the moment.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-14

WTnLIAM w. CHAPMAN of Buffalo. N. Y. afraid to
w call lawyer the day cty-owned truck crashed into
his
Lawyers want too much money he said Illhandle this
myself"
1t him three months but Chapman finally hunted down
several the collision and got adavts from them
what had happened Armed with this evidence he
City Hall and presented claim for $755 in damages.
Were sorry, MIR. Chapman" he was told. You can't
collect one cent on this claim"
But I've proof that the accident the fault of the city
driver" Chapman protested
That makes no difference" he informed. Under
New York State law all claims against municipality must
be filed within sixty days of the accident You've waited too
long"
Only then did Chapman consult an attorney The lawyer
said there nothing he could do but Chapman insisted
that he bring suit against the city anyway 1t did good
In the end Chapman only had stand the repairs
car himself but he still had to pay SIS lawyers bill
Chapmans mistake of course, his failure to seek legal
advice in time He victim of the widespread belief that
lawyers gouge the public Because of the mys
terry surrounding attorneys fees and the hacking
tics of "a few INSCRIPTIONS lawyers, millions of people
share this unfOunded fear.
The irony of the situation according to the American Bar
Association that large portion of the ST. 464 100000
pended legal services the United States yearly could be
saved if people learned to lawyers before - not after
they got into difficulty.
Solving the Mystery
REMEDY the situation the American Bar Association
has nationwide drive under way to take the mystery
of lawyers fees and protect the public from the handful
of gougers is sponsoring all the country the esab
lishment of the Lawyer Reference Pan by which
ordinary people get competent legal services at reasonable
psearranged rates.
That such program is urgently needed is certain Never
before in American history have the courts been busy In
Massachusetts, alone than 100000 civil being
tried each year. In Illinois this figure closer to 25OOOO
Some New York and California damned that it
takes to three years for be heard in them
Many of these court could be avoided the Bar Asso
citation says people lawyers early enough AS
pe cites the of John Adcock engineer for Mary
land construction firm, and his wife, Betty
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-14

declined to pay than 10 cents pound for the missing
furniture Since they would have received $40 for
their $3.50 worth of furniture, the Merls brought suit
The complicated and required several days
of testimony Due to techncaty in the law it resulted
verdict against the Merrills.
Il think win appeal their lawyer said.
Shall try?"
How much will it COST" Merrill inquired
About $500 for printing the record the lawyer replied
But, if we win, you may get it back"
Il haven't the $780," Merrill said.
The Merrls had to take their loss and grin.
Costs higher in the federal In long
drawnout the printing for appeal
times exceed OOO In addition the court clerk has to be
paid for preparing the record for the printer At time
this fee to Is cents and added much $500
the of appeal The United States Supreme
Court has limited the size of the clerks fee but
still go as high as $500.
Court only the beginning of persons outlay
law suit though There also the expense of collecting evil
dence Susan Jones, former Providence, r. l., school
teacher found out about that.
She had been persuaded invest her life savings $4,000
in oil stocks and had lost every penny of it. There
strong to believe that she had been swndled But
there nothing she could do about it.
~You,re Out of Luck"
IF sue the lawyer she finally consulted told
her. have to send accountant to Oklahoma to check
the books of the firm and hire technical oil expert WE'LL
But haven't any money to pay Them Miss Jones said
Then your out OF luck, the lawyer stated
1t because of just such things that the Bar Association
of North Carolina recently warned:
IF you regulate your administration (o JUSTICE that
cannot COSTS that he cannot pay witness fees that
stenoapher is beyond his that the production of
testimony by certified copies than he afford that
there is no such thing him printing his appeal record
you sold justice the the other side of the case
who can afford them any event have denied it to
the man who cannot afford them"
Some steps have been taken reduce court COSTS Cities
like Washington New York and Chicago have set up small
claims courts where disputes little amounts generally
500 or under be heard at virtually to the
parties involved. In New York City, the cost of Small
Claims Court action usually to $1,25 The State of