Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/288

276 Mr. . So that, actually, the incentive there is to get them sold, naturally ?

Mr, Eicruorn. Sure.

Mr. . Now, how many publications do you distribute, Mr, Fichhorn?

Mr, Ircmiuorn. I really couldn't tell you; seven or eight hundred titles.

Mr. . How is the selection made as to what you will distribute anc what you will not disiribute¢ Who does it? How was it done?

Mr, Erenirorn. Various oilicials of the company. Tf the publisher wants to distribute through our channels he comes to us and submits his publication and our officials tall 1. over and decide whether or nol we want to handle it,

Mr. . Is that based on the content of the material, or is it based on salability, or what?

Mr. Ercu orn. Everything.

The reliability of the publisher, lis reputation; the conlent of the magazine, aud whether we think it 1s salable or not.

Mr. . Now, we lave up there some exhibits and horror comics which | gather the American News Co. distribuies. We lad some testimony today, this morning, about St. Johns’ publications,

Mr. Kicutorn, twas not here this mornmg.

Mr. . How do you decide which ones of those you will send out, which ones you will not? Have you any criterta?

Mr. Kicunorx, No. As a matter of fact, we no longer distribute st. Johns’ publications beginning next week,

Mr. . Why is that?

Mr, Eicuitors. Ile is changing bis method of distribution to one of the other uational distributors.

Mr. . His total output?

Mr. Eieitorn. Yes, sir.

Mr. . How abont the others? Do you look through their publications before you distribute them ?

Mv. icuttorn, No.

Mr. . You distribute them by name, naturally ?

Ay. Ercunorn. Yes.

Mr. . What responsibility do you think a distributor should exercise in the realm of screentny the type of material which he will carry nd send out ?

Mr. Micitiorn, When we find a publisher putting out any titles that are objected to by officials or anybody else, then we take it up with the publisher and tell him we don't want him to put any more titles like that out.

Mr. . Then you actually wait for an oflicial complaint ?

Mr. Ercitorn. That is correct, unless we see that he is constantly patting ont things lke flat, then we will warn him and tell him.

Mr. . Do you get mary complaints from parent-teacher groups, parents, about erime and horror comics?

My. Ercunorn. | don't know what you mean by many. We get them here and there around the country, 1n various cities, campaigns are started by parent-teachers and organizations at different times,

Mr. . As a result of that have you taken any action to look into the content of some of these crime and horror comics?