Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-23
FIVE MAGAZINES
ARE HELD OBSCENE
Maj. Hesse Gives Police 48
Hours to Clean Up Their
Districts.

The names Of Ave magazines whose
July numbers have been declared ap-
parent violations Of the law forbiddinG
the sale Of indecent literature and
obscene art" in the District of Co
lunlbia were sent to the commanders
of all police precincts this morning by
Maj. Edwin B. Hesse with instructions
to arrest all vendors found having
them in their possession.
Mai. Hesse informed the precinct
commanders that he would expect
them to "clean up" their districts
within the next 48 hours and obtain
satisfactory court action wherever
persons are discovered having obJec
ttonable magazines and "art" period
tcals in their possession for sale. THIS
action followed a survey OF hair
dozen districts yesterday by a reporter
for The Star.
The reporters investigation dis
closed that obscene magazines may
still be purchased In Washington
despite the promise of newsstand
dealers and others dealing in maya
zines to clean all Objectionable issues
from their stalls permanently last
Summer. Although conditions were
far better than before the campaign
last year, the presence even of small
numbers indicated the beginning of
a return to the old order.
Would Visit Wholesalers.
Mai. Hesse declared that while he
would push the prosecution of deal
ers to the limit, he expressed a be-
lief that the best way to handle the
situation in this city is through the
wholesale dealers, who distribute 30
per cent of the magazines sold by
the retail trade. He believes that
If the distributors, who are. equally
culpable with the retailers, will co.
operate with him, the remaining
traffic in Objectionable publications
can be stopped completely in short
order
Mai. Hesse declared he would be
glad to have the distributors send him
copies Of any magazines that would
seem to be questionable. If they are
subject to prosecution, he will so warn
the dealers, and they can in this way
save themselves the expense of court
action and at the same time spare
the damaging publicity their past
heads. He said he would be just as
quick to approve periodicals that do
not violate the law.
"The great majority Of magazines
coming into Washington are perfectly
all right" Maj. Hesse said. Dealers
know they can sell them without fear
of trouble. There are q few, too, that
are just as plainly indecent, and the
dealers might just as well understand
we are going to stop their sale and
order the publishers to cease shipping.
Then there may be a few to arouse
doubt. With this type we will be glad
to help the dealer to a decision
Offers to Cooperate.
William H. Smith, the distributor
whose arrest several days ago dis
closed renewal Of the sale OF lewd pub
LEGATIONS in Washington, called The
Star this morning and voluntarily Of
fered to cooperate with the police to
this extent He expressed a belief
that the other three distributors would
also accept Maj. Hesse's suggestion.
Mr.. Smith expressed regret, too, over
the publicity he has received.
'I will be only too glad to stop the
sale of Objectionable magazines COM
| ing to my place." ne said. After all,
of this variety of publications and l
simply handled them to meet the
competition of other dealers. can
celed orders for a number Of maya
zines which were declared Illegal last
year, and I am ready to cooperate
again now If they will give me a
chance.
This last campaign has hurt me a
lot. People are even beginning to
| blame me for the sale of some very
revolving little books that found their
way into Washington last year.
had nothing whatever to do with
them and I notice that they have
completely disappeared now as re-
suit Of The Stars crusade last Sum-
mer. I just want to say that do not
want to go against public opinion and
/ will do my best to help the police en-
force the law"