Motion Picture News (Jul-Oct 1914)

20 THE MOTION PICTURE NEWS has had considerable trouble with the Board of Censors in the past, and has incurred great expense as a'resuh. In ahnost every case it has called upon the League for the help and moral support to which their membership entitled them. Has it, with the exception of one case, ever had this assistance rendered? No ! Why ? "For the past year and a half has this League had the unanimous support of its members in any crisis or action taken for general uplift of the business? No! Why? ■'Has there been any attempted cooperation with exchanges for mutual advantage that has not caused a series of dissentions and ended in a fiasco? No! Why? "Has the League for the past year and a half been slowly losing attendance of members until it is a rare occasion indeed when there are more than a bare quorum present at any regular meeting? Yes! Why? "Has the control of the members slowly slipped from the grasp of the League to such an extent that some houses in almost every district and every house in some districts are running an unlimited number of reels for five cents ; in some cases as many as nine or ten reels? Yes! Why? Some Criticisms "Has the dignity of this League been upheld by both officers and members to such an extent that they are in a position to demand and receive the respect that should be accorded to an organization of this kind? No! Why? Is it not a fact that some actual members, exchanges and non-member exhibitors consider the League as a joke and have no hesitancy in so stating? Yes! Why? "Has the M. P. E. L. of San Francisco, known nationally as one of the strongest locals, affiliated with the National League, slowly retrograded and wasted away through internal strife and petty bickering to merely a name and a memory? Yes! Why? "As a possible reason for the necessity of some of the above mentioned questions, I refer you to the second paragraph of this communication, which furnishes one instance of the high-handed usurpation of authority by the few and the violation of the rights of other members of this League who have a right to an opportunity to voice their opinion before any action in any manner is taken. The facts in this particular instance follow : "Two officers of the M. P. E. L. of San Francisco, the president and secretary, without authority or sanction of the League, or knowledge of its members, appeared before Chief of Police White and put the League on record, intentionally or otherwise, as favoring the action of the police department in censoring films depicting war of any TYPE OF LOBBY "WHICH POLICE OF SAN European nation, either as fiction or fact, and this at a time when an exhibitor of San Francisco was then in the courts contesting the legality of the police censorship in a inatter that directly affected every exhibitor and exchange of San Francisco and the cities and towns of northern California whose local censor boards are influenced to some extent by the ruling of the San Francisco censors. "Has this League ever advocated or fought for any form of local censorship? That it should now stand in the false light of acquiescence to, or what is far worse, as favoring stringent and unwarranted censorship imposed at this time by the police is due solely to the fact that the policy of this League has been in the past and is now turned, twisted and juggled by a few for reasons that are sufficient only unto themselves? Will Bring Stricter Censorship "Did these gentlemen give this matter careful and thorough consideration before acting, or did they commit the League and its influence to this course governed solely by conditions existing in their own particular locality, without thought or regard to possible circumstances surrounding other exhibitors, a number of whom are so situated that the enforcement of the drastic ruling of police and censors in this matter will result in hardship and financial loss immediately, and indirectly lead to a stricter censorship of all films in the future ? "As an exhibitor who in the past has been a loyal member of the M. P. E. L. of San Francisco, believing the action of the president and secretary to be against the wishes of the majority of FRANCISCO OBJECT TO AS "BLOCKADED" the exhibitors of San Francisco, I, as manager of the Silver Palace Theatre, 729 Market street, enter protest against the assumption of the authority as vested in the League as a whole by any officer or officers of this League without the knowledge and due sanction of the League, according to the constitution and by-laws. "Therefore, I trust some member who is in good standing will make a motion that statements of the president and secretary as published August 11 be repudiated ; that a committee be appointed to wait upon Chief of Police White and express the opinion of the League as ordered by a vote of the members present. "Respectfully yours, (Signed) "Charles Stillwell, "Manager. "Silver Palace Theatre Company." SPOKANE LEAGUE LAUNCHED Special to The Motion Picture News Spokane, Wash.. Aug. 31. The Spokane Moving Picture Exhibitors League, formerly christened under that name and permanently organized, has started its career. The membership of the league is to include managers of Spokane and its neighbor city, Hillyard. Succeeding the temporary officers, the following have been elected to handle the organization's affairs: B. W. Copeland, of the Rex, president; C. E. Stilwell, of the Unique, vice-president; A. R. Patton, of the Lyric, secretary, and Sam W. B Cohn, of the Spokane, treasurer. A constitution and by-laws was adopted. The organization will meet for business on the first Tuesday of each moMth and socially on the third Tuesday.