Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1957-01-27

burgh, denies his organization puts
undue pressure on dealers.
"The NODL program" he says,
lis a voluntary one aimed at keep
ing from the Nations youth pub
locations which violate the stand
ards of good tastes and accepted
codes of polite behavior. This list Is
circulated to handlers of the pub
locations asking their voluntary help
in keeping them off the newsstands.
1t is the clear counsel of the NODL
that persuasion is the only proper
method of action"
THE efforts are necessary"
Bishop Dearden says, because Of
the inadequacy of the laws In
spite of all the care with which its
recommendations have been
drafted, the NODL has become the
target of abusive condemnation. It
is opposed not by argument, but by
epithet and misstatement."
Exploins Inodequoey'
Expanding Bishop Dearden's "in-
adequacy of the laws" statement.
Msgr. Thomas j. Fitzgerald, execu-
tive secretary of the NODL, says:
Under current statuatory law in
the United States. for publication
to be- judged obscene it must sub
stantially arouse sexual desires, and
the probability of this effect must
be so great as to outweigh whatever
merits the publication may possess.
But this standard. to use a legal
term, applies only to the reasonable
man. Until recently no provision
was made to protect the teen-ager
who, obviously, has not the maturi-
ty of judgment of the adult.
New York, Michigan, Nevada and
Maryland, however, now have laws.
that make point Of age. Practically
speaking, a publication which would
be obscene for an individual under
the age of 10 may not be sold him
in these States without violating the
law"
Msgr, Fitzgerald continues:
mo sensible person wants to
establish censorship for the sake
of censorship. No sensible person
wants to deprive adults of reading
matter suitable for adults. On the
other hand. however, our children
must be protected"
Differ on Effect
The publishers council and the
NODL differ widely on whether
certain books have sociological eff
fectS on adolescents.
The publishers refer to a study
by Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck of
Harvard University which says 1.-The
important influences on a childs
development are his real expert
ences. not what he reads about"
The NODL retaliates with reso-
luton adopted by the National
Council of Juvenile Court Judges.
which reads in part:
"There is a growing realization
that foul publications, through
their distribution to children and
youth and their extensive encour-
agement to read them, contribute
to the breakdown of the moral
sense In children which today is
causing an increase in juvenile de-
linquency throughout the Nation
and is often responsible for adult
criminality :"
All States except New Mexico
now have obscenity Lawsuit in
recent years many State legislatures
have considered legislation to
strengthen the regulations. with
special emphasis on making 1t diff
ficult for adolescents to obtain por-
nographic material.
How NODL Operates
How does the NODL Judge a
book?
A qualified reviewer reads the
book and marks any passages he
considers Objectionable. Five other
reviewers then go over the marked
pages and if all agree they are not
suitable for youth, the book goes
on the disapproved list. Publica-
tions listed as Objectionable are
those that glorify crime, portray
sex facts extensively, use obscene
speech Unfortunately or ridicule
any national, religious or racial
group.
There are more than 300 books
on the list today. The NODL also
circulates a list of approved books
for youth.
A few publishers-realizing the
influence of the NODL in many
States--now submit manuscripts in
advance to the organization. And
police in some cities use the list as
a guide in enforcing local obsceni-
ty laws.
The publishers council especially
objects to the NODL method OF se-
lecting only certain passages, say
ing q book should be judged for its
dominant effect. And it labels po-
lice use Of the list and the advance
submission of manuscripts as ,.ab-
surd-and q serious challenge to