THE BEE: OMAHA. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2.", 1919.
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TWO TELLING
ARGUMENTS
Against H. R. Bill No. 355.
MRS. McKELVIE, WIFE OF THE GOVERNOR
OF THE STATE OF NEBRASKA, IS AS WELL
VERSED IN MOTION PICTURES AND THEIR PRO
DUCTION AS ANYONE IN THIS STATE IN FACT
IS RECOGNIZED AS AN AUTHORITY ON THEM
BY THE MOTION PICTURE MAGAZINES OF THE
COUNTRY AND BY THE PRODUCERS OF FILMS.
SHE KNOWS PERSONALLY MOST OF THE IG
STARS OF THE CINEMA WORLD. HER OPINION
OF THE PROPOSED BILL AS QUOTED IN AN IN
TERVIEWS THE BEE, FEB. 19TH, IS DECIDEDLY
ADVERSE.
"Censorship, the present ques
tion - which practically every
woman of the Omaha clubs
speaks to me of is very interest
ing, although I meet with much
disapproval about my views," she
continued.
Against Movie Censorship.
"I do not approve of this bill
before the legislature for state
censorship. Motion pictures are
not a child's art they are the art
of grown people and should not
be put on the basis of a child's
pastime.
"Everything has to go through
its cheap stage, but why should
pictures, more than the legitimate
stage, be dictated to in this man
ner. "State censorship is "not going
to remove the evil that is not
striking at the heart of the mat
ter. As long as there is state cen
sorship these pictures will be pro
duced, for if they are not accept
able to Ohio, Nebraska or Penn
sylvania they can be used in other
states with the added publicity of
censorship. Federal censorship, at
the studios themselves, is the
only way to strike at the heart of
the matter. In this way money for
production wll be spared and
waste eliminated.
Public Opinion Big Issue.
"There is one other way, and
that is the real way public
opinion. The producers are asking
their writers for 'clean pictures
and it is public opinion, for the
motion picture as well as the le
gitimate stage, that should gov
ern the scenes.v
The American Film Industry
states that it will not attempt to market
its product where such a bill is in force.
The wire is self-explanatory.
POSTAL TELEGRAPH COMMERCIAL CABLES
CLARENCE H. MACKAY, President.
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H. M. THOMAS
STANDARD ADJUSTMENT CO
OMAHA NEBR
PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING MEMBERS OF NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF MOTION PICTURE INDUSTRY, IF CENSOR.
SHIP BILL PASSES IN NEBR CANNOT AND WILL NOT SHIP
MOTION PICTURES INTO STATE.
I FEEL IT MY DUTY TO ADVISE YOU NOW AS THEY WILL
NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGE RESULTING
FROM CLOSING PICTURE THEATRES.
GABRIEL L. HESS
CHAIRMAN CENSORSHIP COMMITTEE.
To
Your
Senatoi
Clip this Coupon
send it today to
Lincoln.
KM
I am opposed to
the proposed Censor
ship Bill on Motion Pic
ture Films. I look to the
T?pnrpRpntatives from this
district to protect my interests.
Signed
Address
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IS
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" VTEBRASKA is on the verge of being saddled with a
state-wide censorship law that is crude to the point
of being a travesty on the intelligence and sense of jus
tice of the people of this great commonwealth. '
Without even a show of investigation of a problem
that unquestionably is one of tremendous importance,
both as to property values involved and also to the wel
fare of the public, a bill has been drafted, and there are
indications that it will become a law within a short time.
With no" known qualifications and no special training
for the position, the political appointees who become
the censorship board of this state will be the czars of
what you are to see for your education and for your
amusements. .
The proposed bill covers none of the weaknesses of
censorships of the past
It takes no cognizance of the fact that every film is
rigidly censored before ever reaching Nebraska.
It is so unintelligent and iniquitous that the film in
dustry will never accept it, but will marshal every force
to prevent its execution, or will refuse to enter where
it is in operation.
The passage of this law may mean no motion pictures
in this state.
s
Producing and distributing' heads of the motion pic
ture industry state that they cannot and will not at
tempt to market their .films in Nebraska under the
workings of this proposed law.
. Do you want the motion picture to die in
this state? Do you wish to see it attempt a
life under straggling conditions.
It is your duty to protect your own inter
ests in this matter.
c
tt vr
P
THIS COUP
N
D IT TODAY
THE PROTECTION OF YOUR OWN INTERESTS.
J
OM
mm -u w
To
Your
Representative
I am opposed to
the proposed Censor
ship Bill on Motion Pic
ture. Films. I look to the
Representatives from this
district to protect my interests.
Signed
Address
i
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