Moving Picture World (Feb 1917)

February 10, 1917 THE M0Y1MG PICTURE WORLD wnat &ut tion, n© theater ©pinions may be ©n the liquor quescan publicly afford to endorse the saloon f faintly happiness or an acquisition to a neigblbwfaood without disclaiming its boasted benefits and preferment We d© not want to take ©usly, bust at the same time it is worth. It certainly s statement to© senwant I© take it for what mis with some food for We hare troubles enough of our own without courting and championing others. I Unadulterated Graft MANY of the mi hip, either are playing into their We Have Troubles Enough of Our Own ■ Bysamspe&m CAN it be possible that the exhibitors of New Jersey are going to follow out the program as set forth rather humorously in the New York Morning Sun of January 12? At this time, when Sunday el being agitated, it would be a very grave mistake. We cannot believe that the exhibitors are so nearsighted. It would be contradicting in one breath what they claim in another. They have taken unto themselves the credit that the '"movies" lessened the saloons and now they are going to help keep them all open. Here is what the Sun says in the first paragraph ; "MUTEMPEKAKCE OF PROHIBITION" EDUCATIONAL FILM PLAY FOR JERSEY FOLK. The ©emon Rams,, already begSiMsiiBg; to stretch hi* leg* <ssw«ff jib Jersey im apptehemswm ©tftbe day they sick the water spaniel* ©n hint,, has appealed Son his wememis hour ^ to the mwvies few help, and flue n»»©viie$y always eager to ©folige, being sM thing* to all hbscm, wiM seek to prolong tine Bemusm's 4smsaieiille in the land ©tf real applejack. So©n, mm sonse nearby Jersey city, Jfutlley, possibly,, films exhibiting the horrors ©ff pr©hibitti©n as contrasted with the benefits of licensed liqu©r will fee shown to the mime or less thoughtful voter — and they're going to make it strong. You can see from the above paragraph how our status on different que$ti©ns of public interest is estimated. Evidently we are considered a vacillating set with no decided ©pinion or stand on anything. Is this because we have always dodged the issue, to play safe and be with the whining side, or because we have no established policy? This very matter was discussed at one of the league meetings a short time ago. It was mentioned that the liquor interests had expressed a willingness to assist in our appeal for ©pen Sundays, and it would be to our interest to call ©n them. It was the c©nsen$us ©f ©pmi©n, however, that we w©uld hurt ©ur cause if we broached such an affihati©n. The exhibitors were advised to f ©rget it — t© av©id politics as we would p©is©n. In the face of all this we hesitate to believe the New Jersey exbibitt©r$ are flirting with the "dem©n rum," Ridicule is a most poignant corrective and the Sun uses it, most amusingly, and, while it does not say so, it certainly sh©w$ that we w©wld be held up t© greater ridicule. o&ze is sum ing stock ©f the world if they lay claim to anything but a money-making ©rganizati©n, seeking f av©r without regard t© the e©njpany they keep ©r the principles they endorse. We must compliment the Sun for its sense of humor and keen satire displayed in this paragraph : One fibn will give a cl©seup ©f Bangor in prohifoitii©n Maine at 1(01 p, m, on amy Saturday night. After the Kiashline ©f Tve got to g© da©wn to Bangor and git drunk and gosh! haow I dew dred W there will foe jolly little scenes of suceessfiHil Maine souses wending their way homeward under die peaceful stars, bounding fronn lamppost to lamppost. And next "A Quiet Sunday in Kansas" will reveal a family group foearatifully stewed on foootiack whiskey which father has ©fotained by mortgaging the fiiwer. Tine contrast to these pictures ©f h©w prohibition doesn't prohibit will he films exhibiting gentle spoken, gentle actimg $al©©n keepers presiding with dignity and geniality over sweet, clean dabs for p©©r men as they rran in Jersey, acc©rding to the liqu©r men, not a s©uf -wabbly, everybody The news from Patterson has it that the first rran of these first aids to the dem©n will be presented s©on in many Jersey towns. The organized liqu©r dealers are having the pictures The moving picture theater is a family resort, and rapidly becoming a neighborhood club house. The managers of the theaters are to a certain extent custodians of their patrons' welfare and happiness, No matter , state or local, could see how the hands of hungry politicians enthusiasm for censorship might they not realize how such unand entirely wasteful legislation taxes and adding expense to legitimate actual quotations from the Tirginia Legislature is worthy of careful consideration and certainly shows the "real reason" behind the clamor for censorship in every instance; An art relating to motion picture films, reels or stereopticon views or slides; providing a system ©f examination, approval and regulation thereof, and of the banners, posters and other like advertising matter rased in connection therewith; creating the Board of Censors; and providing penalties for the violation of this Act, Sec, 3, The B©ard shall c©n$i$t ©f tw© male residents and citizens ©f West Virginia, ©ne ©f whom shall be selected from the political party polling the second highest vote at the last general election prior to their appointment. Said tw© male members ©f the Board shall have authority to employ, and, with the approval of the Governor, fix the salary of, an associate member of the Board, who shall be a female resident ©f the State, * * * Sec, 11, The Chairman shall receive an annual salary ot three tfo©usand dollars; the vice-chairman or female member, the annual salary fixed by the other members as provided in Section 3 of this bill; and the secretary an annual salary of twenty-four hundred dollars. The salaries shall be payable monthly. Sec, 12, The Board, with the approval of the Governor, shall have authority to employ and prescribe the duties of, such employees as the work of the Board may necessarily require and fix their salaries. The salary of such employees shall not exceed in the aggregate, the sum of five thousand dollars annually. Sec, 13, Each member and employee of the Board shall be allowed all expenses, of whatsoever nature, actually and necessarily incurred by him or her in carrying out the purposes of this act. Sec 16, The money necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act shall foe appropriated by the Legislature to the Board as an item in the general appropriation bill. Sec, 17, The Board shall be provided with adequate offices, equipment, supplies and rooms with which to properly conduct the work and affairs of the Board in the City of Fairmont, in the State of West Virginia, and the expense thereof shall foe paid out of money appropriated by the Legislature under this Act, Sec. 18. The printing and binding necessary for the proper performance of the duties of the Board, or the proper preservation of the records of the Board, shall be done at the expense of the State of West Virginia upon requisition of the Board. Here we have provisions for a yearly salary list around thirteen thousand dollars, with additional expenses that may run into an equal amount or even more. In other words, without allowing for the expense to which film men will be put in submitting every reel for inspection,