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May 7, 1921 MOVING PICTURE WORLD 33 Can You Stand the Straight Truth? "In Ten Years — No Picture Business" — So Says a Man Who Knows These are a few of the things that must be done. If it takes a brand new national organization to do it let us bring that brand new national organization into being. If every big leader now in sight must step aside let them do so, for the need of co-operation is so great that no man and no group of men can be permitted to stand in the way. This statement goes for everybody in the exhibition, distribution and production branches and it includes the National Association. If it is possible not to sacrifice the present working bodies so much the better, but the big point is getting a definite, a genuine, a solid body that will function fairly and squarely 365 days a year. This is essential if we as an industry are to survive the foes without and the eternal warfare within. We are not the croaking frog in the dismal swamp. We are the firm believers in the future of our business, but we would be doing the soft, the easy and the weak thing if we didn't speak out now when so many are straddling and pussyfooting and trying to avoid their plain responsibilities. How is this order to be brought out of chaos? How are the factional differences and the absolute injustices of which both sides are guilty to be replaced by fair play and a decent understanding? Let the responsible men, exhibitors, distributors and producers call a nation-wide conference and attend that conference. Let it be held as early as possible. Don't let it be held in New York, for the great sections of the country outside of the metropolis have a distrust of New York control. Don't hold it in Chicago if the weather is warm, as it's too great a tax on the human disposition. Let it be some place in the West—say Denver for example—and let the call go out to every State in the Union. Let there be big exhibitors and little exhibitors, but let them be really representative men. Let the distributors, big and little, go personally and not by proxy. Let the producers do likewise. Suppose it would take a three-day or a six-day session and suppose it would be a considerable expense. What of it? Isn't it worth while from every possible point of view to get together and to get together now to save our business from its utter downfall? It most certainly would be worth all it cost in time or money and it would enable a stabilizing of our industry. The conference could well be made a convention with the biggest and the best men of our industry meeting for the sole purpose of a constructive unity. Politicians are neither needed nor desired. Business men are absolutely essential. Who will get behind this plan and start it? Exhibitors are you willing? Producers and distributors are you willing? Let any ten men start the ball rolling. The industry will follow! ARTHUR JAMES.