Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/145

Rh Mr. . Yes, sir.

Senator. Do you think that is a fair presentation.

Mr. . It is a perfectly fair presentation.

Senator. If you think that is fair, then that is all i want te know abont your association, I think ii is traveling wider false colors. I think you ought to at least give the fact that these people are paid or have been paid by comic-book publishers.

I do not think it is a fair evaluation to leave to parents of children these rather favorable appraisals of liorror and comic books written by someone who has been paid by the publishers without you even divulging the fact.

Tt you had stated it in here, then they would be on guard.

But according to al! this literature they occupy some big position with a school and hospital anc you conceal the fact that they were paid.

I would like, Mr. Chairman, at this point, to read the footnote on page 225.

The. The Senator from Tennessee may proceed.

Senator. From Dr, Wertham's bock, Seduction of the Innocent, it is footnote 4. I will read the preceding paragraph and then the footnote if I may:

The names of experts for the defense and of the institutions with which they are connected have been printed in millions of comic hoeks and are full-page comic-book adyertiseaments in the Saturday Vvening Post and the Saturday Review of Literature and are statements of publishers er their spokesmceu. The chairman of the section of the criminal law uf the bar association commenting ou the writer in the two special comie bouk issues af che Jourual of Mduealional Psychology found it "disappointing" that in a purportedly objective slucy, experts do not nmutke a conyalete disclosure of their fiterest. He mentions that when be wrote to one of the experts te write ahout this, she did not respond,

Then the footnote is:

According to the Kefauver Senate Crime Committee (special committee to inveslimiute organized crime in inferstare conaerce), the tolowing persons, anny others who ave thenght of as individual critics by the public have been ar are employed by the gomic book industry:

Dr. Jeanne A, Thompson, acting director, Bureau of Chiid Guidance, Board of Nducation, New York City; Sidonte Grnenherg, professar of edneation, New York University; Dr. Lavretta Lender, child psychiatrist in charge of the children's ward of Bellevue Hospital, New York City; Josecte runk, consultant on children's reading, Child Study Association of America.

The amount paid ranged from S300 a wonth over a period of wany years. Ont: expert, Professor Zorbangh, served as research consuttant in Puck, the comic weekly. One comic book pulitishor alone spent $750 a month on four children's experts who endorsed their products.

Dr. Gender is also on this list, I believe, is she not, as one of your people?

Mr. . That is right. She is one of the persons.

Senator. Mr. Chaimaav, I just say under those circum- stances, while I do not question the personal integrity of this witness, ihe opinion of the Child Study Assaciation in the comie book field will have little weight with me,

The. In the light of the colloquy which has taken place between the Senator from Tennessee and Mr. Dybwad, I think it might be well, sir, if you would furnish for the record a list, a complete list of the membership of your organization. Could that be done?

Mr. . Goodness, sir, this would be quite a task. I think it could be accomplished.