Evening star., 1925-07-03
LEWD PRINT WAR !.
WILL Be CONTINUED
Citizens Federation Head
Suggests Monthly Magazine
Survey by Committee.

Plans are underway to make the
committee that has been surveying
questionable magazines in Washing
ton permanent board of review to
assist District Attorney Peyton Gordon
in keeping periodicals that are sold
here well within the law that forbids
the distribution of lewd, indecent and
obscene literature.
Jesse c. Suter. president of the
Federation of Citizens Associations
and member of the committee, called
on Maj. Gordon this morning and dis
cussed the problem of lascivious
magazines and so-called art publica-
tions. He told the prosecutor that a
number of the magazines examined by
the committee were shocking in their
unveiled obscenity.
1t was pointed out both by Mai.
Gordon and Mr.. Suter that the fight
TO rid Washington Of such published
indecency should not stop with the
disappearance of the last Objectionable
magazine and booklet, but that steps
should be taken now to assure the
people of the National Capital that
these periodicals may never again re
appear here without being certain of
summary election again.
Suggests Monthly Survey.
With this in view. Mr.. Suter asked
the district attorney how he would
feel toward the creation of a perma-
nent committee TO survey magazines
sold here every month. mark anes
stories or pictures that might seem
offensive and send them to the prose
Cutor's Office for his decision as to
whether or not they were subjects for
prosecution.
Mr.. Suter stressed that this commit
tee would really be supplementary 10
Maj. Gordon's office. which is already
burdened with pressing court business
and is frankly unable to devote suffi-
Client time to the monthly survey of
magazines which present conditions al
most demand The committee would
review the magazines and leave the de
cision on those regarded as question
able up TO Maj. Gordon.
Offer Finds Favor.
The district attorney heartily ap-
proved the suggestion, and said he
would welcome such assistance. The
proposition is now TO be put up to the
Board of Commissioners of the Dis
trict, with the view TO having the COM
mittee formally appointed by them and
inSuring it an official status. In the
meantime another meeting Of the pres
ent temporary committee is to be
called, probably for early in the week.
Prosecutions are TO be asked in at
least two instances where newsdeal-
ers were found to be selling indecent
magazines. In both cases the obscen-
ity was contained in the reading mat
ter and not in the photographs, and
upon the courts decision in these
cases. il warrants are obtained, will
possibly rest the question of pressing
prosecution against three or four
other cases.
Not on GordOn's List
None of the magazines in question
was included in District Attorney Cor
don's list of banned publications. He
carefully warned the dealers that the
mere issuance of a list did not give
all other periodicals a clean bill Of
health and that they would have TO
be their own censors. The two In
stances found by the volunteer board
of review, il was stated, seem TO be
clear-cut violation of the law.
They will be presented to the district
attorney early Monday morning. and
he viii be asked to review the stories
found to be particularly offensive. II
his decision sustains the finding OF
the committee, officers will be sent out
to purchase the editions and warrants
will be issued on the basis of those
ly, so that additional prosecutions may
be pressed without delay if the court
finds verdict for the Government.