The Moving picture world (September 1923-October 1923)

G/te Movikg Picture WORLD Founded jn 1<)0J by J. P. Chalmers The Editor's Views R H. MINTEER, of the Cadiz Theatre Company, T^adiz, Ohio, feels so vitally about the * Admission Tax that he writes us as follows : "Enclosed is check for $5.00 to be used by MovingPicture World in the best possible way your publication can devise to remove the Admission Tax. I don't know what way that may be, and maybe you don't, but use it some way." We admit that we shall very probably return Mr. Minteer's check, not knowing of any fund that is being collected, or any means by which such donations can be used in fighting the Admission Tax at this minute. But the spirit that prompts his offering rings true. Mr. Minteer, who has had experience as a legislator, follows his opening sentence with some very interesting advice on the general method of con" ducting a legislative campaign. * * * ii T WOULD prefer that this donation be used as ' part of ary sort of campaign excepting one involving the signing of petitions. Mailing a lot of petitions to a Congressman is a dead letter. When you start fooling around with petitions you may as well cash in your checks. Petitions of all sorts flood Washington during the session — and on all sorts of subjects — so they don't mean a thing. "My idea is that there is always A WINNING ARGUMENT for any just cause. Why not study up a short, concise argument to present to your Representative and make it a point to see him and deliver it orally? "That will carry any law on earth and change any form of government. There is nothing on earth that will withstand a forcible logical argument. Get right to it, no nonsense, logic right from the shoulder and you win." * * * WE have seen the power of petitions in local political battles and have faith in that method for such occasions. But there is truth in Mr. Minteer's words regarding the uselessness of petitions in attempting to impress Washington. And there is decided strength to his attitude that somewhere out of the mass of words and discussion regarding the Admission Tax we must devise the WINNING ARGUMENT. The industry that goes to Washington next Winter seeking relief with the sole plea that "we need the money" isn't going to get anywhere. But a clear and logical case can be evolved out of the many real points such as these. "Lifting the tax off admissions under, let us say, fifty cents, would be helping the masses in their entertainment buying while not making any such proportionate drains on the Federal Government's revenue." "There is a vital community value to the small village theatre which should be preserved. Thousands of these exhibitors are merely hanging on now, in desperate hope of the tax being lifted before they have to give up the ghost. In point of absolute fact they are at this minute merely maintaining a collection agency for Uncle Sam and receiving no reward themselves for their labors." "Out of each town and village in the Representative's district the admission tax is yearly taking thousands of dollars. That money remaining at home, spent at home, would promote local business and local prosperity." "Even without the Admission Tax the picture theatre man is in most cases paying more than his share of levies to the cost of government — local, state, and Federal." * * * THESE are a few of the high lights that offhand thought presents. Our readers have favored us with a number of letters which they have sent to their Representatives, and many of the most widely applicable of these we have reprinted. We'd like to have more. Somewhere, some small town exhibitor with his own experience doing the prompting, is going to hit the bull's eye of the Admission Tax fight with a clear, brief, convincing argument. Let's have your thoughts. And the reactions of your Representative. No legislative battle in this industry was ever started as early as this Admission Tax undertaking. Let's benefit by the time available to exchange thought, marshal facts, and plan constructively. ROBERT E. WELSH.