Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

March 17, 1923 1257 Hearing at Albany ,N. Y.ton Censorship Repeal Film Representatives Carry Off Honors of the Day; Walker and Chase in Tilt WITH such speakers as Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis, of Brooklyn; Alice Duer Miller, the well-known writer of fiction; Edward P. Howard, editor-in-chief «t the American Press Association; Charles Pettijohn, general counsel of the Motion Picture Producers and Distrihutors of America; Peter J. Brady, of the New York State Federation of Labor, and Charles L. O'Reilly, president of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York, and recently elected bead of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners' Chamber of Commerce of New York, the motion picture industry carried off the honors of the day at the hearing which was held in the Senate Chamber at Albany, Tuesday afternoon, on the Walker-O'Connor bills calling for the repeal of motion picture censorship in New York State. Politically, these bills are known as the " Smith Administration " measures, voicing as they do the desires of Governor Alfred E. Smith. Up to the present time no hearing caused so much talk around the Capitol as the one of Tuesday afternoon. A delegation of about thirty-five, headed by Charles L. O'Reilly, came up from New York reaching the Capital City shortly before noon. Other sections of the state were represented, while many exhibitors in Albany and vicinity took advantage of the occasion and were present. Those favorable to a continuance of censorship were the first to be heard. These included Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein, of New York; Mrs. Ella Boole, State President of the W. C. T. U. ; Canon Chase, Mrs. Clarence Waterman, head of the Motion Picture Alliance; Ellen O'Grady, former deputy police commissioner of New York; Mrs. Frederick Pruyn, of Albany, prominent in the Republican party; Mrs. F. W. Coulson, of the State Federation of Women's Clubs; Mrs. John D. Whish, of the Mothers' Club of Albany ; Mrs. Everett Hamilton, of the New York City Federation of Women's Clubs; Mrs. L. D. S. Banker, of the Alliance of Women's Clubs of Brooklyn; Mrs. Chauncey Hamlin, representing Buffalo and western New York ; Dr. Frederick M. Gordon, general secretary of the Brooklyn Federation of Churches; Mrs. Henry Streeber, of the Women's Club, of Albany; Frank Niles, of Syracuse, and Dr. H. L. Bowlby, of the Lord's Day Alliance. Rabbi Goldstein contended that censorship was absolutely necessary as a safeguard of moral freedom, while Mrs. Boole claimed that the commission had accomplished what was expected, and that pictures had improved during the last year or so. Canon Chase said that he was speaking as the representative of the New York State Civic League as well as the New York State Federation of Churches. Before Canon Chase completed his argument he was in a wrangle with Senator Walker, who took certain exceptions to what Canon Chase was saying, particularly as to the assertion made by Senator Walker a year agorelative to what the preacher was receiving in his collection. There was a sharp tilt, which ended in both hisses and applause. Mrs. Clarence Waterman referred to some of the deletions made by the commission as showing the necessity of censorship in this state. " I now go to the movies," said Mrs. Covers the Field from Studio to Projection Room Editor, Motion Picture News, Dear Sir: I cannot be without the NEWS, as it covers the field from Studio to the projection room and I can always find any thing in regard to the Photoplay in your NEWS. (Signed) GARLAND L. GOLDIE, American Theatre, Cherokee, Iowa. O'Grady, " without a feeling of shame. If the fathers and mothers were here today they would cry out not to do away with the Commission. If you repeal this law the resultant evil will rebound on you." The arguments presented by the other speakers favoring censorship were much the same, and consisted mainly in telling the committee before whom the hearing was held, of action taken and resolutions passed by their body endorsing censorship. Speakers for the industry were announced by former Senator Walter Herrick, the task on the other side having been performed by Assemblyman Walter F. Clayton, of Brooklyn, who introduced the censorship bill in the Legislature two years ago. The first speaker was Dr. Newell Dwight Hillis, who presented one of the most able arguments of the entire afternoon, and whose words were listened to with rapt attention. At the very outset Dr. Hillis stated that he was representing no one but himself, standing squarely on his feet and speaking as a citizen. He declared in the course of his talk that there were no three persons in the world so constituted as to tell the millions just what they should see. Alice Duer Miller, who followed, admitted that perhaps censorship had been a little better administered in New York State than in some of the other states, but even at that there was absolutely no excuse whatever for its existence. The speaker cited a number of instances where eliminations had been made by the commission, and which were nonsensical in the extreme. Edward P. Howard, editor-in-chief of the American Press Association, and representing 347 weekly newspapers in New York State informed the committee that censorship was wrong fundamentally, and extremely dangerous to the liberty of the American people. He stated that the newspapers were opposed to censorship and that on the freedom of the press and the freedom of speech rested all of our Americanism. Frederick Howe, former director of the People's Institute, the next speaker, spoke of the shackles which bound writers who were obliged to shift and twist in meeting the demands of 47 different kinds of censorship. The speaker asserted that if there was anything the matter with pictures today that the industry would clean itself, and in fact had cleansed itself, not through censorship, but by the wholesome natural demands of the people. Charles C. Pettijohn, general counsel for the producers and distributors, proved the star speaker of the hearing. " I'm proud of the industry and its achievements," said Mr. Pettijohn. A moment later, his voice ringing through the Chamber, he told Canon Chase and his associates why the people of Massachusetts had voted as they did on the question of censorship, and branded as a lie the statement made by Canon Chase a short time before that the votes had been bought by the money which flooded the state and which came from the motion picture industry. " I will not backstep or apologize for a single moment for this industry," said Mr. Pettijohn. " Why did not Canon Chase tell this committee that when this country was plunged into war that the President called upon the motion picture people to prove to the nations of the world that America was in the fight and was to help them? " That's the first ammunition which was sent abroad; not bullets," said Mr. Pettijohn, and the crowd applauded to the echo. " Why don't you tell the committee," shaking his finger at Canon Chase, " that today we are furnishing motion pictures free of charge to every hospital where our broken soldier boys are attempting to regain their health? If they are so torn with shock and shell that they can not sit up, then they view these pictures on the ceilings." The crowd applauded even more vociferously. An attempt was made at this time hy Assemblyman Clayton to bring the hearing to a close, at least so far as those favoring the repeal of the law were concerned. It was clearly evident to everyone that this side was in command. Chairman Downing objected, however, to Assemblyman Clayton's attempts, declaring that Mr. Clayton was not going to " censor the chair." Peter J. Brady, of the New York State Federation of Labor, followed with a short argument. Assemblyman Clayton requested fifteen minutes for rebuttal. Chairman Downing objected on the grounds that both sides had consumed the allotted time. The fairness which characterized the hearing, however, became evident a moment later when, at the request of Senator Walker, Chairman Downing stated that he would allow five more minutes. Chairman Cobb, of the Motion Picture Commission, was then introduced. He admitted that his Commission was only human, and as such made mistakes. He said then that the motion picture people would admit generally that the Commission had been exceedingly liberal in its judgment of the good and bad in pictures, and always gave the benefit of the doubt. The last speaker was Charles L. O'Reilly, who cited a number of eliminations made by the Commission, some of which brought forth a roar of laughter from everyone. The next move at Albany will probably not occur within the next two or three weeks, when the committee will report the bill out and it will go to a vote. There is no question but that it will pass the Senate, which is Democratic by one, but it will probably have hard sledding in the AsseroMy, which is Republican by a majority of six.