Memorandum for His Excellency, the Governor of New York, in opposition to an act entitled "To regulate the exhibition of motion pictures, creating a commission therefor, and making an appropriation therefor." (1921)

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18 And—the moving-picture managers are also subject to the penal laws, as is every exhibitor of any film — whoroao the penal law has nothing to do with the censorship — censors being only subject to removel "for inefficiency, neglect of duty, or misconduct in office"; whereas the managers are subject to indictment and punishment, as well as to loss and failure in their careers. Such co- operation avoids the otherwise inevitable conflict of in- terests. We respectfully suggest that the Governor, if he feel that this particular act is defective, indefinite, imperfect, and that a better statute with fairness to all can be drawn, should not approve this Act. We must not listen alone to the self-constituted spokesman who announces that a myriad of people he assumes to represent are be- hind this Act. Self-exploitation often leads to exaggera- tion, and the assumption that others are in favor of cen- sorship leads such exploiters to commit others to an Act which they have never read. There may be advocates for the principle who know nothing and care less for the form of legislation. There may be advocates w r ho as laymen have no interest in legal provisions or in just safeguards. There has been no dispute that the business may be reformed in that, in its great scheme, there has been, and may be, offending. We urge that the Gov- ernor withhold his approval of the act, delegate the subject to a commission to be chosen by him- self, advise the legislature to act upon its recommenda- tions as they appeal to its reason and to his own. Let these signers of the compact be constituted a vigilance committee of their own industry. The greatest of all things is to transform evil unto good. The statesman is not he who is mindful of the mere partisans of either side, but realizes the voiceless public sentiment of the State.