Exhibitors Herald (Dec 1921 - Mar 1922)

fanuarv 28, 1922 EXHIBITORS HERALD 43 Will H. Hays Hays Accepts Offer to Head Producer-Distributor Alliance Postmaster General May Form New Organization President Harding States Cabinet Member Is Given Opportunity to Do Great Public Service (Washington Bureau, Exhibitors Herald) WASHINGTON, D. C, Jan. 17.— Emphasizing the great opportunities which exist for advancing the motion picture industry and declaring that he felt he should not refuse the opportunity for carrying out a helpful public service, Postmaster General Will H. Hays on January 14 announced that he would accept the offer to head the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry, or a similar organization which might be formed to supplant it. President and Hays Hold Long Conference The decision to accept this position, although generally expected by the industry, was announced only after a conference between President Harding and the postmaster general lasting for more than an hour and a half, during which the matter was thoroughly discussed. Xo date has been set for the postmaster general to leave the cabinet and. in fact, it was said after the conference that the details of the new position were yet to be agreed upon, and that everything depended upon the contract which was offered by the organization. "With the president's consent I have decided to undertake the work suggested by the motion picture producers and distributors." declared the postmaster general before leaving the White House. "Xo contract has been executed as yet. I am assuming, of course, that a satisfactory contract will be possible and one which will make certain the carrying out of the high purposes contemplated for this great industry." POSTMASTER GENERAL accepts offer to head the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry. Who Is Will H ays : (As told in "Who's Who in America") Born Sullivan, Ind„ Nov. 5, 1879. B. A. »t Wabash College, Ind., 1900. Admitted to Indiana bar 1900. City attorney, Sullivan, 1910-1913. Director, People's State Bank, Sullivan. Politics: Elected Republican precinct committeeman before age of 21. Chairman Republican County Committee, Sullivan County, and member Republican State Advisory Committee, Ind., 1904-1908. Chairman Speaker's Bureau, Republican State Committee, campaigns of 1906 and 1908. Chairman Republican State Committee, Second District, 1910-1914. Chairman Republican State Central Committee since 1914. Chairman Indiana State Council of Defense, 1917-1918. Chairman Republican National Committee since Feb., 1918. Appointed Postmaster General by President Harding, March, 1921. Member Indiana Bar Association. Mason (32' K. T. Shriner), K. P., Elk. Clubs: University, Columbia, Marion, Indianapolis Country, Indianapolis; Terre Haute Country; Illinois Athletic and Chicago Athletic, Chicago; Metropolitan, Washington; Union League, New York. The purposes referred to, it was explained, include the elimination of evils of which the industry and the public have complained and the united effort on the part of various branches of the industry to further Americanization work, education, etc. There is no combination contemplated involving production and distribution which would tend to confine competition, but only matters of mutual interest will be given co-operative action. An effort will also be made to raise the general standard of films. Following the conference, President Harding also made a statement, in which he faid: "The postmaster general and I have been discussing at considerable length the proposal which has been made to him to become the head of a national association of motion picture producers and distributors. If the arrangement proves to be. when the details are worked out, what it seems to be, I cannot well interpose any objection to Mr. Hays retiring from the cabinet to take up a work so important. It is too great sn opportunity for a helpful public service for him to refuse. I shall be more than sorry to have him retire from the Cabinet where he has already made so fine a record, but we have agreed Hays Movement Favored in West (Special to Exhibitors Herald) LOS ANGELES, Jan. 17— A poll of leaders of the film industry here shows strong approval of Will Hays becoming head of the National Association of the Motion Picture Industry. to look upon the situation from the broadest viewpoint and seek the highest public good." The offer of the motion picture men. it is said, carries with it a salary of $150.000 annually. It is understood from various sources that the contract to be submitted will extend for a period of three years. The nature of the agreement, as stated previously, will be decided upon at a conference between Mr. Hays and the producers and distributors. Is Great Organizer In his Political activities. Postmaster General Hays has gained an enviable record as an organizer. It was this attribute which first brought him into national prominence in 1916 when his work enabled the Republicans to carry Ind'ana in the presidential election. His work so attracted the attention of Theodore Roosevelt and Senator Boise Penrose that these two leaders sponsored Mr. Hays for chairman of the Republican national committee. Following his selection for the post in 1918. he entered upon his new duties with a vigor that had not been seen in Republican ranks since the days of xfark Hanna. Favors Freedom of Press Postmaster General Hays frequently has voiced his advocacy of the freedom rf the press and the freedom of speech. Only recently he announced opposition to the Walsh amendment to the Ramseyer anti-gambling bill which would interfere with the freedom of the press. Mr. Hays wrote at that time: "The whole bill had better be defeated, in my opinion, than to add this additional curtailment of the freedom of the press. There has been a very strong tendency