The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-29
FRON OTHER PENS
CENSORSHIP OF NOVELS.


There are growing indications both
in England and America that in this
day, when everyone can write book,
and no book can be so bad that it can
not find publiSher-of sort-Some
sort of authority to pass upon the
question whether or not a book is fit
to be published lis necessary. There
is a school of writer's in England who
make a business of writing novels on
erotic themes; novels which deal with
all sorts of sex problems, and which
offend good taste and decency, and in
that country the evil is becoming so
marked that it would not be at all sur
prising If the office of censor of litera-
ture were created.
In this country we have. in some
measure, a federal censorship, exer-
cised in the power of the postmaster
general, to exclude from the mails any
literature he deems harmful to the
morals of the commonwealth. This does
not always work very well, to be sure,
as books banned by the postoffice de-
partment find in that very fact a good
advertisement. and there is no way of
preventing their sale in the cities.
The solon who will devise some plan
of law that will serve to restrain the
output of works of fiction that, i'll writ
ten or well written, are harmful in their
tendencies, shameful in their imagin-
ings nasty as to morals, will deserve
we'll of his country. Fortunately, there
seems in this country, at least, to be
quick realization of the harm that this
growth of eroticism in literature may
do to the book trade. In some cities
already the booksellers have got to-
gether and have agreed not to sell ques-
tionable fiction. This Is move in the
right Observation-Disclosures Herald.
-
MODERN DEVELOPMENT.
The greatest peaceable migratory
movement of the world rose higher In
the first quarter of last year than IT
had ever done before in recorded his
tory. One of the important facts then
overlooked was the back flow. going on
in connection with it to such an ex-
tent that in the first quarter of 1907
97,731 immigrants returned to Europe
| from the single port of New York. This
was offset then by arrivals of more
than four to one for every departure
while during the same period this year
from the same port there are 23S.ooo
departures. or almost two departures
reported for every arrival
| Aside from causes well understood
as result of temporary conditions,
| this movement forward and back
around the world has features of per-
| manence which belong to the develop
ment of cheap and rapid transit in the
recent past between country and coun-
try. The first class ocean steamer
which this year carries 5000 persons
! across the Atlantic in five days. offers
| it's most exclusive passengers suites
of roms at $500 up, with rates almost
! nominal for those who do not pay to
be exempt from crowding. This
| change makes it possible now for the
thrift of those who have been counted
| only as population" in different coun-
| tries to do more in deciding their own
| fortunes than ever before in history
He is no longer marooned by the rising
/ tide of immigration. AS one of the re-
suits of progress in steam and electric
| ity. he has a choice in the final decis-
| ion of his own fate he never had be-
fore. He escapes from statistical totals
into freedom of choice which lately
belonged only to a comparatively small
| class of those who were able to afford
it.-St Louis Republic