Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/257

Rh Mr. . Do you think your standard would or should be differ- vent, depending on whether you thought the material would vet into the hands of kids?

Mr. Davis. L would say that our standard could stand improve- ment, being perfectly honest with you, particularly on covers, and on sone of the covers L looked at this morning, 1 would say that could be -done.

Mr. . Would you, sir, be concerned if yon knew that Frolic and magazines of that type are getting to kids?

Mr. Davis. Are getting on the same stands?

Mr. . Yes, where the comics are,

Ab. Davis. From my observation of Frolic on the newsstand or ‘Gala, or any of those other type girlie books, you usually find them so high up tt is hardly possible for a child to see them.

Mr. . What responsibility do you think if ts reasonable for the public to expect a mun in your position to assume for the type of material that he is going to distribute im relationship to crime and horror books?

Mr, Davis. The public has a perfeet right to expect magazines on the stands that wonld not violate any laws of deceney from people, of the type distributors we are, national distvrbutors. IT should think they svould expect that.

1 would not want them to read anything that I weuld no want my own family lo have. ‘That is the story.

The. We had one publisher here that told us the last time we were in New York he tried these magazines out on his friend's children. What do you think of a statement like that?

Mr. Davis. A lot of those fellowsthere is such a variety of think- ing ov this whole business. I tell you one thing, and J still stick to one thing I suid. that I think we can improve on our business and I think a lot of publishers can improve.

But L will say I lope we never destroy the imagination of Ameri- ean kids, ‘Chey are dreamers and they have been used to fantastic things. The more Indians that Bidfale Bill killed when I was a kid J liked it.

Senator Hunnxixes. You do not think it is possible to destroy the imagination, do you?

Mar, Davis. 1 don’t know, The kids imagine a lot. Kids are dreaim- ers. Take in New York City. I think you conld take every comic ont of Long Island—they would have more juvenile delinquency. You see the poor kids on 10th Avenue under the fire hose

Mr. . You say the crime and horror comics have no effect whatsoever?

Mr, Davis. I couldn’t make a statement of that nature. I wouldn’t know.

Mr. . But you woould not say that the publishers should wait until it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt before you take action?

Mr. Davis. I think if there is a doubt you should correct tt.

Mr. . We have on the board an organizational chart of some of the magazine companies that you are distributors for.

Mr, Davis. Yes, sir.

Mr. . Do you regularly make financial advances to those companies?