Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/45

Rh Magazines of this caliber frequently carry innocent "western" titles, or something to suggest "Crime does not pay." But the poison is there is spite of the sugarcoating.

In the November 9, 1953, Newsweek, the FBI listed; "Availability of salacious literature and entertainment glorifying crime." as factors concerned with the terrifying increase in Juvenile delinquency for 1958.

Bear in mind, since Mr. Huover made his first statement in 1947, the erime publications and rot books have increased 1,000 percent.

Now let's get down to real facts and plow under these "rationalizations" of the hired journalists and hybrid educators.

Tn 1952, Judge Mulholland of the New York domestic relations court sent certain literuture to several educators, psychologists and psychiatrists for their opinions. (See Cathings Committee Report.)

The boy involved in this cuse was sevt to Dr. Joseph Manno, psychiatrist in charge of King's County Hospital. "I find that the child had read page 26 of one book before he commitied the crime, It is my opinion that the antisocial act wis precipitated by the reading of this book. It is obscene, provoking and detrimental to the healthy emotional growth of young people. Lt wiwisely stimulates and excites the sexual urges of young boys while they are still in the state of increased suggestibility. It would be wise if such hooks were prohibited by law to minors."

Dr. Ernest Harms, editor of The Nervous Child stated, "If I had anything to say about it, such books would be kept out of juvenile hands."

Dr. Kichard Uoffman of New York stared: "There are some phases of life that are not for the youngsters. Exposing juveniles to trashy muck under the name of [ileruture, produces the kind of effect in the potential delinquent as to light a torch for their lust. For this reason, such books should be condemned."

Dr. Frederic Wertham, psychiatrist of Queens Hospilal, New York, said, "From pages 28 to 31 of one hock, it described an episode where a group of boys pay a girl for having intercourse with them all, and then take the money away from her by violence. I have examined a number of boys who did just thatand this book should be a good primer for teaching it to those who haven't had the idea yet."

In answers ta the adyvocators of facts of life, Superintendent of New York Schools, Dr, Frank D. Whelan, stated: "Will a step-by-siep descriplion of how te josile a young girl in a subway ivain diminish delinqnency, or a detailed catalogue of the sex possibilities of a cellar club head youngsters to shun them? You dot put out a fire by fanning the flame."

J. Ritchie Stevenson, New York Vocational School: "The books are obscene and serve no gagd purpose. There is a tendency for the adolescent to imitate the characters portrayed in the bauoks. I would never recommend these filthy books to anyone. In fact, I feel these books are dangerous in the hands of the adalescent bay and girl."

There is more detailed testimony about the effect of such beaks; but the direct quotations from cross sertions of responsible men should serve to answer any fake ayguments from the opposition.

The Gathings Committee was set up by Congress to investigate the vast infiltration of indecent publications on newsstands across the Nation, In that report it was brought ont that some 250 million pocket books were sold each year and that an estimated 90 million comics per mouth hit the communities of our Nation.

Added to these are the unestimated number of girlie, murder, and smut, variety of which there is no accurate account.

The report also mude it clear that a few decent-minded men of the distribution business were deeply concerned, For example, Samuel Black, vice president of the Atlantic Coast Distributors, in r speech at their conrention April 1952, in florida, said: aFrankly, there is ne real excuse Jor much of the material we distribute. It is imperative that we free aurseiyes without delay. Qne wonders what manner of diseused mind ean contrive such tripe. Many of the magazines, in addition, carry advertisements, of a nature sv objectionable aud so personnal that we should not, under any circumstances, want our children to be exposed to it."