Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/258

246 Mr. Davis. Our position is similar to other national distributors. This distributing business is very competitive, sir. ‘There are 7 or 8 within the independent ranks and there is American News Co. There has been an instance possibly of advancing and prepayment on magazines.

Mr. . In many cases some of these magazines could not be published if it were not for your financial aid?

Mr. Dayis, 1 wouldn’t say that. A man can print or publish a magazine, The advance cover is a very small portion of it.

Some publications we settle 60 days after they are off sale. Some 70 days after sale.

Mr. . Would you in any case advance or guarantee the print- ing bill?

Mr. Davis. No, sir.

Mr. . Let me ask you one question as to your foreign distri-- bution. Do you have foreign distribution ?

Mr, Davis. Yes, sir; some. Not a great deal. As far as we are coneerned, we go to Panama, South America, probably 2 couple of places down there, Bermuda, Honolulu, Alaska. ‘Thai is about all. Canada, naturally.

Mr. . I presume you do no greater screening for the material that is going abroad than you do for the material that is distributed here in the United States?

Mr, Davis. Our foreign business 1s not enough to talk about. It would not zmount to 200 a title.

Mr. . Do you make any attempt to screen the kinds of titles. that ure getting abroad, that might react in favor of the United States, or avainst the United States?

Mr. Davis. No, sir.

Mr. . You have no standard there, either?

Mr. Davis. No, sir.

Mr. . No further questions, Mr. Chairman.

Sevator Hennings. Mv. Davis, you have been good enough to come here. Ido not want to seem to be cross-examiume you, bul. I would like to ask you one question in order to clarify in nyy mind at least if a be so obtuse that I do not quite understand your meaning I widerstood you io suy that you think the comic book industry and the horror comics are necessary because of other unfortuuate condi- tions relating to the welfare of young peopte.

AsI recall your testimony, you bave said, too, thai you belteve the children need this sort of outlet by way of blowing off steam, because: of insufticient playgrounds, overcrowded schools, and other distress- me conditions with which we are all familiar.

T thought I understood you to say, too, that you were afraid that if the industry went too far in regulating itself, or amy other regidations were imposed upon it, that it might destroy the imagination of the American youth. ia

Mr. Davis. J think you must have me all confused with somebody else, Senator.

Senator Hunnrxes. I may have. T thought you said something about destroying the imagination of our children. This is not a “please answer yes or no” business. I was trying to briefly review and sum it up by asking for your observations on what is probably not 2