Motography (Jan-Jun 1918)

1196 MOTOGRAPHY Vol. XIX, No. 26 no action about them, either in one way or another. The slacking director, the pro-German actor or star, the adroit propagandist, the firm or corporation secretly conniving in a hundred ways to further the cause of our enemies, the exhibitor who avoids booking certain patriotic pictures for fear they will offend his Teutonic patrons and incidentally hurt his own pocket, all these are simply traitors, neither more nor less. To employ them or to do business with them should not be profitable. And in a little time it will not be. The time draws near and nearer when every man must stand up and be counted. It is well then for each to see to it that his own house is clean. If he does not do so, it is probable that Uncle Sam will one day clean it for him and in a manner not at all to his liking. The motion picture field must be rid of these vermin. They are dangerous to the nation and to the organization with which they are identified or with which they transact business. It is said, that some are in high places. So much more imperative is it that the house-cleaning be done the more quickly and effectively. In order to facilitate this very necessary work, Motograthy will undertake to investigate thoroughly any reports it receives about any activities of these creatures and will see to it that they receive due and proper attention. All communications will, of course, be treated in strictest confidence. We believe, however, that the purposes of this editorial will have been fulfilled if the decent, one hundred per cent Americans, who constitute the great bulk of this industry, awaken to the menace which this small minority presents. Once this realization comes to them, they will put aside their personal differences and individual rivalries and get together. Motography is prepared to furnish the nucleus of the needed black list which this time comes. Out with the vermin ! habit is an assurance that any new undertakings it may announce later must already have demonstrated their merit. Executive Changes in Triangle THE appointment by Triangle of a new general manager is particularly interesting to the trade because of the long and successful record of the incumbent. The name of Percy Waters is favorably known to the "oldest inhabitant" of the industry, and stands out prominently among the comparatively few whom we may call the founders. The retiring manager, H. O. Davis, whose successful conduct of Triangle affairs has solidified for him many business friendships, is starting on a needed vacation preliminary to working out some plans which, doubtless, will be the subject of another interesting announcement before long. The record of Triangle itself has been remarkable in some ways. More closely than is usual in this industry its organization has followed the principles found most efficient in old line business. It early acquired the knack of maintaining its course uninfluenced by executive change, and the simple but oft neglected art of protecting its business reputation. With Mr. Waters in charge of distribution and Harry Aitkin handling production at the coast, the indications are that Triangle is going in for high class pictures exclusively. The company's conservative More Safety in Numbers THE new Chicago censorship plan — it should be * made clear that it is only a plan as yet, and not in effect by any means — has several advantages over the old system. These advantages, let us say at the outset, are dependent upon the fact that there are degrees of evil. A population of two and a half million (to say nothing of suburban populations dependent upon Chicago for their moral code) which has had imposed upon it a one-man dictatorship of what it shall and shall not see, will welcome almost any relief. A board of three executive censors and nine subordinate censors throws at least a faint glimmer of illumination athwart the dark shadow of medieval and inquisitorial practice. Though we abate not one jot our opposition to all picture censorship, we are willing to concede that, without reaching the top, there is still advantage in a step upward. If not real safety, there is certainly less danger in numbers. 'A single, individual censor, endowed with authority without responsibility, given power without accountability, may become as arbitrary as he pleases ; as dictatorial as he pleases ; as insufferably foolish as he is encouraged to become by the adulation of logicless women with an itch for sociological action and nothing else to do. A multiplicity of censors has at least the sane control of difference of opinion. With a jury on the job it is hardly probable that utter condemnation will be visited upon a wholly pure and innocent film. If they are human surely some of them will s"tick for fair play. Technically the new ordinance reduces to nine members the present Chicago censor board of twelve. Our readers have probably forgotten that Chicago had twelve censors, because their practice has been to pass the buck to Major Funkhouser; and the records show what he did with it. The advantage of the new plan, from our standpoint, is that instead of making one responsible for the verdict of twelve, it makes three responsible for the verdict of nine. It is still bad enough ; but we must say it is a little better. Under the proposed arrangement, the three major censors (no pun intended) will be appointed by the mayor and will draw four thousand dollar salaries. The figure is interesting because it is just about enough to attract men who know something about pictures — if the mayor considers that qualification in his appointments. Discussing censorship, Acting Chief Alcock of Chicago remarked "We will also ask for revocations where we find false posters advertising photoplays." This phase of the business, strictly speaking, has nothing to do with censorship, and we cannot find it in our heart to criticize the chief's stand. The use of false posters deserves condemnation, and has no support among the better elements of the industry. The new censorship ordinance is, as we have said, a step forward. Perhaps it is the best immediate relief we can expect ; for it is hardly reasonable to look for utter elimination of censorship in a city so censorbound as Chicago. Therefore we hope the Coughlin bill will pass, as a step toward something still better in another year.