Motion Picture News (Mar-Apr 1923)

Motion PLctuie News Your Job PETER J. BRADY, labor leader, is out with a printed broadside, directed to the " Motion Picture Theatre Owners of New York State." And it's about as virile and true-blue a statement as has ever been made on the censorship situation in New York State. We subscribe to it just 100%. And also to this appeal to New York State exhibitors : It was fully demonstrated that all of the reform forces and Blue Law advocates are well organized and doing effective work to keep this iniquitous and un-American law upon the statute books. As this is a fight for freedom and justice, especially to the people who patronize your theatre, it is up to you to do your part in helping to abolish censorship which does not, and never can, censor. Therefore, write letters and interview your Assemblymen and Senators and point out to them the great burden this law is to the industry, and how this additional expense must be passed on to your patrons. The bill for censorship in New York State originated with a Brooklyn newspaper, a Brooklyn assemblyman and a Brooklyn woman. To say that the latter two persons didn't know and do not know what it was all about is expressing it mildly. The bill, of course, got the usual hysterical support of the Blue Law folks — this new order of legislative lobbyists, well-organized, daring to an extreme, and blinded by their own abnormal ambitions to the very principles of human welfare and progress. Save for the masterly plea of Judge Jenks, a pitifully weak defense was made for the motion picture and Governor Miller signed a bill that had been easily passed by a strictly political majority. * * * Governor Smith was elected by an overwhelming majority of the voters of New York State on a platform which branded the act as " an arbitrary and tyrannical law " and which stated: " We believe that a free press, untrammeled public criticism, the unfettered expression of moral and religious opinions and the adequate enforcement of the police power by local officials, are the remedies for any abuses that may exist in the exhibition of motion pictures." Plenty plain is that. And plenty plain was Governor Smith's inaugural address in which at length he defined personal liberty as expressed by the Constitution and the kind of " tyrannical government " that is trying to undermine " the freedom of a people." And plenty plain was the response of the people of New York State the unerring proof that at least the basis of popular government still exists with us. * * * Exhibitors of New York State — the issue is as clear as daylight. The censorship law of New York State is in politics and it's your job to take it out. Go, as Mr. Brady urges, to your Senator, Assemblyman, County Chairmen — of both parties, and to all other local statesmen and tell them the truth about censorship, about the censorship law and about the eternal rights of your audiences. Go and fight. Not as the blue law lobbyists fight because they fight like crazed women, with slander and downright lies. Go and fight earnestly — with facts. You never had a greater nor a more solemn cause. * * * We say it is your job. It is — but not merely as a motion picture man. It is your job as a citizen of the United States and for the sake of your government. And that, too, is the solemn duty of every man in the industry and especially the duty of its leaders. Vol. XXVII MARCH 31, 1923 NO. 13