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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (March 20, 1955)
bsceniity vs. Censorship Qs Comsc-ISoolk Control Memma By PHILIP B. LOWRV Stale Senator Last week. Representatives i-uirell and Mann and I received petitions signed by 1,301 Jack rrm son county residents urg ing our sup port of legis lation to con trol the dis tribu t i o n of obscene publi cations a n those tending to incite the commission of crime. These pe titions specifically requested support of Senate Bill 173 wnich is a companion measure to Senate Bill 172. The two bills are commonly known as the "comic book legislation." Because these two bills have raised such widespread support and contain so many policy atid legal questions, Jackson county citizens have a right to be fully informed about them. Senate Bill 172 seeks to es tablish a censorship board at the county level. Its duty would be to segregate good and bad pub lications in the hope of effec tively deterring the sale, distri bution and reading of those listed as unfit. Bans Block Booking Senate Bill 173 proposes to make illegal what is commonly referred to as "block booking. a his is a practice by which a magazine distributor makes the standard best-selling publica tions available to a retailer only if the retailer accepts for sale other magazines designated by the distributor. In effect, a block-booking contract may pro vide that if a buyer wants one good item he must take a ques tionable one along with it. These two bills were assigned for study to the Senate Judiciary Committee. After general com mittee discussion, it was agreed that the subject merited the creation of a subcommittee to study intensively the problem presented. Senator McMinimee of Tillamook, Senator Geddes of Roseburg and I make up the subcommittee. 'Standing Room Only It was decided to hold a pub lic hearing to get the public's reaction and to get at the facts. The developments at the hearing are worthy of reporting in some detail. As you would an ticipate, there was "standing room only," and very little of that, when the committee start ed the hearing. The subcommitte had de cided to limit the audience to adults. Some of the testimony, which was of a very direct char acter, proved the wisdom of this decision. Exhibits were offered in videnct by both the pro ponents and the opponents. These exhibits fully justified the most critical indictments that have been made about some of these publications. Briefly, the hearing developed these points: Definitions Lacking No one seemed to be able to define a "comic book." The bills are not aimed against Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck or the Lone Ranger, or publications of that type. Nor do the bills seek to elevate the reading standards of the juvenile followers of those publications. Neither are we talking about literary works of art which have occasional sordid passages. What the bills are in tended to eliminate are certain publications which are vicious and tend to incite crime. The distributors appear to say that these publications are intendad for adult consumption only. The testimony, however, indicated that the teenagers are avid purchasers. Several organizations in Ore- MARY'S ..CASA.. OPEN Daily & Sunday (Except Monday) - HOURS -5 P.M. to 9 P.M. Daily 2 P.M. to 8 P.M. Sundays Home of REAL Italian Food 537 Mary St. - Phone 2-5349 gon have, in various localities, attempted to enlist the coopera tion of the distributors without much success. An organization which has made a lengthy study of the problem in Oregon un equivocally recommended against any form of censorship. Censoring and marking "for adults only" is only a boost for teenagers as well as adult de mand. Great Volume This material with which we are concerned is published in such vast quantities (over 200 publications a week) and so fre quently that a censorship board would probably be overwhelmed in attempting to segregate the decent from the indecent. The testimony tended to indicate that some of the paper-bound pocket books may be among the worst offenders. There seems to be a tremen ous demand for this trash. Many youngsters are eager to and do buy it. It then circulates widely on a "trade basis. Much of it is read without the knowledge of parents. The juvenile readers come from families in every walk of life. Scientific studies have not yet determined if there is any relationship between this type of reading and the inci dence of juvenile crime. Specific case studies show particular crimes of violence have been di rectly connected with the read ing of "comic books." The public seems not to be generally aware of how bad some of the stuff is that is being served up on the newsstand for cur children. Most distributors, according to the testimony given, make little, if any, at tempt to control the situation. Deny Block Booking Distributors who testified under oath denied that "block booking" is in use in Oregon. Other witnesses claimed that it is. There is a tremendous protit in this business. The horror, sex and crime books and magazines appear, in many cases, to com mand a better price than the decent ones. The publishers have done some self-regulating and clean ing up through a self-appointed censor. This may have resulted from a drop-leaf in sales because of an aroused public. But not all publishers have gone along with the self-censorship plan. The dis tributors who talk about the self-imposed censorship seem to have one standard of decency for the minors and a different one for adults. But they all buy from the same newsstand and have the same selection of publi cations. There is absolutely no restriction, other than the price, on who may buy what off a newsstand. Mailing through the United States mail is no assur ance of decency. Publishers and distributors may be putting on a weii-or-ganized counter attack to assure the public that this situation is now being, or will shortly be, controlled. However, it appears that many publishers are mak ing a real attempt to qo some thing about the situation. Advertisements Cited One of the real vices of the comic books" is the advertise ments appearing therein, which allow any reader to clip a cou pon and for a stated price re ceive publications of doubtful quality through the mail. The volume of objectionaoie material has been far greater in the past few years than during the pre-war years. Aside from these general findings, the hearing itself de veloped the dangers of censor ship. Individual ideas of moral ity vary greatly, and your fel low citizen may not see it quite as you do. An unrestricted right of censorship might soon de stroy our precious rights of free speech and free press. It seems never to have been successful to limit censorship to small doses. Therein lurks the real peril of censorship. It may be small today and destructive of individual liberties the next. One witness, testifying for a re sponsible state-wide organiza tion, suggested "book burning" as a solution. Under questioning by the committee he denied that he really meant this, but the subcommittee was not so sure the testimony wasn't given as a . We book PLUS! Also News & Color Cartoon Gates Open 6:30 - Show at 7 real expression of opinion are not going to join the " burners." Audience Hostile The audience appeared openly hostile toward the witnesses who opposed this legislation The opponents made it plain that they, too, were opposed to obscene publications, but sought to control it in a different man ner without abridging any con stitutional freedoms. It is the duty of the subcommittee, how ever, to find out if constitu tional arguments are being used to give respectability to offen sive publications. Considered legally, there is no question that the type cf censorship proposed by Senate Bill 172 has been declared un constitutional by the United States Supreme Court. The block booking problem, sought to be solved in Senate Bill 173, presents legal prob lems, because it could impair the right of freedom to contract. A slightly different approacn, without legal complications, would make it unlawful to re fuse to sell a particular publi cation to a retailer because the retailer refused delivery of obscene publications. Another Hearing Planned The subcommittee proposes, in a further hearing, to try to get at the bottom of the exist ence of block booking in Ore gon, and, if it exists, legally to regulate this part of the prob lem. If the retailers are in fact being pressured into the sale of the offending publications, as claimed, they need assistance Consideration will also be given to imposing some type of restric tion on sales to minors who are unaccompanied by parents. Pos sibly, there should be a re evaluation of the penalties. There is on the law books today in Oregon a statute which makes it a crime to sell, or offer for sale, obscene, lewd or crimi nal glorification publications The penalty for violation is six months imprisonment, $500 fine, or both. Testimony before the committee revealed most per sons are not even aware of this law, and no known complaints have ever filed to the knowledge of the witnesses. The best and the ultimate protection must be the constant vigilence of the parents and the public. Some retailers probably are not going to concern themselves with this problem until the pub lic lets them know that they have no intention of buying merchandise from those who offer these offensive publica tions. Suggests Check I have no personal knowledge of the present situation in Jack son county. Nor does the sub committee have any way of knowing whether the distribu tors will get some of this stuff off the newsstands while the matter is under investigation. Nevertheless, it would perhaps be a good idea for Jackson coun ty parents to actually check some of the newsstands and see what the situation is. A casual glance does not always suffice to reveal what is there. No one should expect the leg islature to pass some laws which are going to suddenly and miraculously eliminate this problem. Regulation of morality by legislation is, at best, diffi cult to accomplish. This is not only a state prob lem but a national one. All of the exhibits offered in evidence arrived in Oregon through inter state commerce. The roots of the problem seem to lie with a few Eastern publishing concerns. Parents are naturally and properly anxious for the legisla ture to help them with this problem, which has no easy an swer or solution. I wish there were some method by which we could constitutionally and effec tively legislate to dry up this source of rottenness in our midst immediately. Notwith standing the many obstacles, the subcommittee intends to do Its very best to make some propo sals to aid in solving this problem. 4-H Club News Ashland Sewing Club The Ashland 4-H Sewing club met March 11 at the home of our leader, Mrs. E. Johnston. Mrs. Johnston explained how to make a pocket with mitered corners. After the explanation each girl made a pocket to keep as reference. Refreshments were served. Nylia Cooper Reporter EATON'S DINNER HOUSE 812 Crater Lake Ave. ITALIAN AND AMERICAN DINNERS SPECIAL AU the Spahetti and Homemade Ravioli you can eat. Includes Home Made Bread, Butter and Coffee. j QQ 5CWRsl ITALLIAN DINNER $1.50 Open 5:30 PJM. Till 9 P.M. Fri Sat, Sun., and Mon. Only Psychiatric Worker Speaks for Acfivians Miss Mary Vandenberg, who does social psychiatric work for the Southern Oregon Child Guidance clinic, spoke Thurs day for Active club members when they met at the Rogue Valley Country club. Roy Tib betts was program chairman The club members voted to enter a queen contestant in the Pear Blossom festival and to sponsor a float in the festival parade. Sunday, March 20, 1955 MEDFORD (OREGON) MAIL TRIBUNE THIRTEEN Ashland Elks Lodge Entertains at Camp Camp White The Ashland Elks lodge entertained the vet erans here Friday night with a variety show from the Ashland Senior High school. Tom Swift was- master of ceremonies, Phyllis Knapp was the feature soloist. Others in the program were Yvonne Stimson, Betty Paske Evelyn Deets, Nancy Jeffries, Rex Clark, Ken Zimmerlee, Ger aid Stowell, Lanie Knox. Laurel Scripter, Bill Finnell, Ted Sil ver, Jack Reynolds, and Betty Sorenson. A c c o m p a nist was Sorenson. Accompanist was Marilyn Bushnell. Chairman Emil Kroeger was assisted by E. E. McLaughlin, and Roy Hartley for the Ashland Elks. Coffee and doughnuts were served. The first transcontinental air ship voyage was made by the Shenandoah, Lakehurst to San Diego, in 1924. 1 p.n ENDS TONITE V Hit nXX.tMMHIJAlU Vil PLUS a FaiDMUE SlepfienHcMir; ooOOOOoo Tonite MON. TUES. A GREAT ADVENTURE HIT MOVES HERE FROM CRATERIAN GREAT SAGA OF THE FABUL0U FIGHTING LEAD WUl AC THE Clhif tt HL""2SE VI VICTOR MATURE SUZAN BALL JOHN LUND A UNtvMlJNTfUT!ONl PLUS She's the in a man-trap! mk OHA Jlllfff BETRAYING NONE OF ANIMOSITY which has characterized relations between them, Sen. McCarthy (right), (R), wis., smiles as he shakes hands with Sen. McClellan (D), Ark., who succeeded' him as chairman, as Senate subcommittee reopens hearings on promotion, honorable discharge of Ma. Irving Peress, center of McCarthy's "Fifth Amendment" charges. (International) Electric Typewriter Workshop Scheduled Dr. Fred E. Winger of Oregon State College will conduct a teachers' workshop devoted to. classroom work with electric typewriters on Saturday, March 26, The workshop will be held at the Robertson School of Busi ness and is sponsored by the In ternational Business Machines corporation. Herb Kinder, local IBM sales representative, reported that in vitations have been sent to all commercial instructors in South ern Oregon and Northern Cali fornia. Approximated 40 ner- sons are expected to attend. The scnooi will be held from 9 a. m. to noon and from 1:15 to 3 p. m. A no-host luncheon will be held at noon. All in attendance will be furnished an IBM electric typewriter for use durine the conference. Woodland, Wash. 0J.R) Eight-year-old Patricia Keisala, Woodland, was fatally injured Friday when she was struck by an automobile as she waited for a school bus. Use Mail Tribune Want Ada 3 oASHLANDo 31 1 m NOW! Warner' Bros' CINEMASCOPE WarnerColor VAN I IPFI 111 HI-1-1 IN iikl kill Yr: MONA FREEMAN JAMES WHITMORE qiif? TAB "J-jf tes. HUNTER fiA' Stereophonic Souno ALDO RAY NANCY OLSON RAYMOND MASSEY DOROTHY MALONE ANNE FRANCIS CONTINUOUS TODAY - Jfr FROM , 12:45 P.M. nam wan ran II I 1 111 STARTS WEDNESDAY! Special Matinee 1:00 p.m. - i ffy Doors Open w z 4 & V Matinee L-J Z vSL4jS 12:30 p.m. "3 rwi . Evenings L wf 6:45 p.m. LADIES & GENTLEMEN: i SEE Deadly . Savage Game!. SEE Weird, Shocking Rites! SEE Maidens in Pre-Marital Ritual! Not since THE JAZZ SINGER brought up sound in 1 927 has there been, in my opinion, an entirely new type, unbelievable motion pic ture. At last, now there is one! It is called "KARAMOJA." ' It was film ed in the wonderful new Eastman-color. It Is the story of the Land of the Last Lost Tribe of Israel. Karamoians practice today the ancient rites of Baal. They worship the Golden Calf. Thev are of the Iron and Stone Age, living on a diet solely of blood and beer. They have changed nothing, made no progress. They are untouched my modern civilization. White man had never seen Inside Kara moja until Dr. William B. Treutle and his wife succeeded in entering this unchanged land of the Lobor mountains, two years ago. Dr. Treutle, a novice with a camera, filmed this unbelievable movie. I would recommend this film It's so dif ferent if it were playing some other theatre. Yet, I am extremely happy HALLMARK se lected this theatre for its exclusive local show ing. "KARAMOJA" will never be shown on TV. So be sure to see it at the CRATERIAN THEATRE starting Wednesday, March 23. . CRATERIAN MANAGEMENT MHiiilllNiilill 1 STARTS NO ADVANCE IN ADMISSION TBI AY THE SILVER GUP THAT BEGAN THE QUEST OF THE AGES! 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