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-
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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