Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

INCORPORATED WITH WHICH IS THE NICKELODEON Vol. XIX CHICAGO, MARCH 9, 1918 No. 10 Three States Fight Censorship VICTORY ALREADY ASSURED TO EXHIBITORS OF NEW JERSEY EXHIBITORS in three states— New Jersey, Virginia and Maryland — struck hard blows last week against censorship. The result is that New Jersey and Virginia may escape arbitrary regulation, while Maryland may throw off the yoke of a board that has seriously interfered with the successful showing of pictures. Exhibitors the nation over are watching the threecornered fight, hoping that the outcome will spell victory, for the success of the exhibitors in the east is bound to have an effect in frustrating similar legislation should it be attempted elsewhere. Interest Centers in New Jersey The fight in New Jersey is attracting the most interest. There are two reasons for this ; first, it is practically certain that censorship has been defeated ; second, the proximity of the state to New York. Assemblyman Alexander Simpson, declaring the censorship bill if enacted would take the life out of the industry, predicted that it would never gain sufficient strength now to get away from the desk of the speaker of the house. Should the author, Assemblyman Emmor Roberts, succeed in getting it put to a vote, he said, it would be killed by the combination of North New Jersey members, who are liberal in their attitude. The opposition must hurry, however, for the session is nearly at an end. Measure Already Tabled The vital question is whether Roberts can assemble thirty-one men who will vote for the bill, as it was plainly demonstrated a few days ago when the measure was tabled for reconsideration after 27 members had voted for it and 26 against, that quite a number of the assemblymen desired to be among the missing when the bill was finally acted upon. Then, again, the revivifying of an almost "dead bill" is hardly possible, owing to the large number of administration and other important measures being on the house calendar for imperative action before the termination of the session. It has been indicated that the entire Hudson county delegation, in combination with a majority of the members from Essex and Passaic, and not including assemblymen from here and there in the state who are fond of film plays with a tinge of life to them, would vote vigorously against the bill if it came out once more. Assemblyman William J. McGovern from the bailiwick of Hudson is one of the opponents of the bill, and he does not think that it will ever be moved from where it now rests. The senate would most likely pass the bill if it ever reached that body, but there is small prospect the senate will vote upon it. Hard Fight in Virginia In Virginia the exhibitors are not in such an enviable position as the theatre men of New Jersey. With the sudden and unexpected departure for Europe of Rev. James Cannon, Jr., author of the censorship bill, chances for defeating the measure were materially improved, but the exhibitors are not at all assured of victory. Dr. Cannon had worked out his plan of campaign against the screen carefully and thoroughly, and he left instructions to his political and religious supporters to bring every possible influence to bear upon the lawmakers in the effort to obtain the passage of the bill at this term of the legislature. This week will decide the fate of the bill. It is scheduled to be advanced to its third reading and engrossment in both Senate and House. A determined effort to have it dismissed from the calendar will be made in the Senate. The best that can be expected in the House is to have it "passed by" for future consideration, when it comes up in the regular order of business. Cannon Has Strong Support Pursuant to instructions sent out by Cannon, Methodist and Baptist ministers in every city, town and county of Virginia have besieged their representatives in both branches of the legislature with exhortations by mail and wire to support and work for the passage of the censorship measure. This system is Cannon's favorite method of bringing influence to bear. He is the editor and publisher of the Christian Advocate, official journal of the Methodist denomination in the state, and has employed that publication to excellent advantage in his political achievements. It is believed that the bill will pass the House by an overwhelming vote. The broader caliber of the Senate gives the exhibitors some hope, however. Maryland Exhibitors Active In Maryland the exhibitors are working tooth and toenail to get a bill passed that will repeal the present censorship law and relieve them of regulation which they declare is expensive and entirely unnecessary as well as irksome. Theatre owners from all parts of the state wen: to Annapolis the other day and presented their case to the legislature with vigor. The exhibitors, led by Frank A. Hornig, E. C. Sandel and Walter Pacy of their legislative committee,