The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-03-06
Fanatic Censorship Reversed

We are not as idiotic as we thought when Mrs. Mary
Ware bennett, a grandmother of much refinement and
intelligence, was convicted and sentenced to a year in
prison and to pay a fine of $500 in a federal court in
New York ten months ago. The federal court of appeals
has reversed the conviction and automatically yoided
her penalties, which were imposed on the ground that a
book on sex life written for the information and guild
ance Of her grandchildren was an immoral work and
that in sending a copy by mail to a friend in Virginia
she had violated the federal laws.
The case created a great Juror at the time, both for
and against Mrs. bennett, especially in the ranks of wom-
ems societies and liberal organizations. Both the Y. ".
c. A. and the Y. M. c. A., as well as the Epworth league,
had used the bennett pamphlet as a means Of teaching
youth the facts of sex life. 1t was circulated through
parents and thus could reach the young only at the dis
cretion of their elders.
The judicial opinion indicating q return to sanity was
written by Judge Augustus N. Hand and was concurred
in by his two colleagues. which is still more notable evil
dence that censorship has not completely locoed the
courts. There IS left room for hope that a sensible stand
may yet be taken in other phases Of the censorship craze.
For instance in the importation of certain classic books
In other tongues than English which the tariff tinkerers
would bar from importation into the country, or in the
ban on some classic works Of art. This ban would reach
to literary masterpieces which find their lieu only: In the
circles Of discriminating scholarship and have no partic-
ular appeal to any other clientele, except when atten-
ton is. called to them by some evl-minded fanatic, thus
suggesting the impression that there must be the sole
merit Of raciness about their context. instead Of social
gospel, literary art and fictional felicity.
In fact, real literary garbage Of domestic authorship
and publication daily is passed by and overlooked to
make war on books which deal dazingly with social and
sexual problems Of the day along with inspiration and
thoughtfuuess
This subject Of censorship itself was ~strikinsly censured
in . meeting Of q puritanical association in Chicago the
other. day, when Or. Louis I. Mann. . cleric. attacked
narfowness Of this type a. Historically the arch enemy
Of art. science. and morality" He. said that the middle
eesyweT not creative becauss Of severe censorship, and
called the history Of censorship . history Of stupidity"
III ! had to choose" d.. Mann declared. between the
two sxtxemss-a rigid censorship on the one hand ana
10 coneornaip on tho other-I would unl1edta&ingly
eheose no censorahip.
ssTbo much censorship plays into the hands Of the
9anatao4 even = no censorship plays into the handsAof
IN ibEtine. Censuship present : conflict between two
u5neipisA The one socal control and the other personal
1Nb941.
sneaial contE0 + nscssnasy and ~ mlst realiss ths
Fenp1t6nps q creating the proper Environment. and the
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