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378 ^> <^> ^> The Motion Picture Industry
tary censorship was improving.16 They contended that selfregulation was in keeping with the American conception of self-government; that federal supervision, because of its political character, would only increase the alleged abuses existing in state and municipal censorship boards; and that the repudiation of censorship in Massachusetts 17 indicated that the people of this country opposed it. These opponents of the bill ridiculed the idea that political censorship suppressed crime; as an instance they cited Chicago, whose rigid censorship for over 12 years, excluding films showing bootleggers, hold-ups, and the carrying of firearms, had scarcely made Chicago a model city.18 Finally, the idea that Congress more than the individual states could divorce politics from censorial duties was looked upon as impracticable. In 1926, President Coolidge declared himself opposed to the Upshaw bill. The United States Daily of April 21, 1926, said in part:
Mr. Coolidge believes, it was stated, that the Congress should not undertake the creation of a national censorship board unless the states themselves specifically approve.
It was pointed out that Mr. Coolidge, as governor of Massachusetts, vetoed a film censorship act passed by the state legislature. He took this action on constitutional grounds.
Of late, the President has heard no material criticism of the character of motion picture production. This he attributes to the fact that the producers themselves undertook to reform their industry, and in his opinion they have taken long strides in the right direction. Will Hays, former Postmaster General and now "movie Czar", has been a most helpful influence in this work, it was stated.
Motion pictures, in the opinion of the Executive, have been a great element in creating better understanding among the nations. American producers, it was pointed out, have brought the people of
16 See Barrett, "Work of the National Board of Review", Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, Vol. 128, November, 1926, p. 175.
17 In 1920, the Massachusetts Legislature passed a film censorship bill which was vetoed by Governor Coolidge. In 1921, the bill was approved by Governor Cox. In 1922, by referendum, the bill was defeated almost three votes to one.
18 See Censorship in the United States by James N. Rosenberg. (The Court Press, 47 West Street, New York.)