New Britain Herald Newspaper, October 25, 1929, Page 13

Watch and Ward Society Leader Explains Boston Ban System For Books, Magazines and Theatricals Charles S. Bodwell, For- mer Unitarian Clergy- Defends Present Plan — Public Morals Guarded. man, Boston, Oct. 25 (UP)~Advance ensorship, which has made “ban- ned fn Boston” a stock phrase, was defended today by Charles S. Bod- well, whose business it is to decide what Bostonians may or may not read. Bodwell, once a Unitarian minis- ter in Oklahoma, that rather novel organization, the New England Watch and Ward so- ciety, which was founded more than half a century ago for “the promo- tion of public morality and the re- moval of corrupting agencies.” As such, following a policy es- tablished by his predecessor, the late Jason Franklin Chase, Bodwell cxamines questionable books and magazines submitted to the society and passes on their merits from a standpoint of purity. Typical Business Man There is nothing Puritanical about Bodwell--nothing of the ap- pearance of the high-hatted, frock- coated, long-face “censor” popular- ly pictured by cartoonists. He is a typical American business man who rely belleves that his work is cssential to the protection of pub- lic morals. “Lots of people seem to think that we're a lot of fanatics,” he ob- served in an interview today, ‘‘and that when we see words like ‘fudge’ or ‘pickles’ in a book or magazine we are shocked and order the pub- lication banned. “That is foolishness, of course. We never ban anything unless there is real justification. Some of the words and phrases that are printed 1 books and magazines today are absolutely disgusting. You wouldn't dare repeat them in this office be- | cause you'd know you'd be thrown out if you did. It's only when such rotten language is used, or when the whole theme of a story goes beyond the borders of the risque, that we act.” Bodwell said that In his exper- ience he had found that most pub- lications deemed objectionable were bhanned because the tone of the story as a whole was “filthy” and not because a single word or phrase came under this category. Boston's System Explained Boston’s advance censorship sys- tem as regards books and maga- zines works like this: The booksellers' committee sub- mits to Bodwell a new book which they feel may not be up to Boston standards of purlty. Bodwgll peruses the book. Tf it meets his approval he returns it with his “O. K.” If he thinks it is objectionable he in turn submits it to the Watch and Ward society’s committee of three, ‘a sort of su- preme court composed of Raymond Calkins, clergyman; Frank . trown, architect, and Dr. David D. Scannell, surgeon. If the committee concurs with Rodwell in the helief that the hook Is actionable, the offending volume is secretary of| | | | | | | NEW BRITAIN DAILY HERALD. FRIDAY, Q(‘TOBFR 2—3 'Bull Fighter Refuses to Land As is returned to the mittee With a recommendation that it be withdrawn from local shelves. | In virtually every abide by the soclety’s verdict. A magazine goes through a simi- lar process, being submitted to Bod- well by the distributor concerned. “I believe this system of advance has worked out both for the booksellers and maga- | censorship zine distributors a ing public,” Bodwe: 11 Books deemed actionable ly withdrawn from local shel Last month a total of nine maga- | zines were submitted to the society, which approved three and banned six. During last June, 13 magazines | were submitted, five being approved | and eight banned. “Some people have the idea that booksellers’ com- | case, booksellers| washington, Oct. sador Charles G. well, nd for the read- 11 said. Banned Three Senators Reed the commis tion of Da and, conscquent- | United States at the coming don arms conference. others—Secretary He Figures which he produced show- | L+ Stimson of the state departmen ed that during the past two years|2nd a total of 68 books has been sub- mitted to the society. Of this num- | had ber 57 were approved and 11 were | DAWES SELECTED . FOR NAVAL PARLEY \Hoover to Name Ambassador to England on Delegation 25 (A—Ambas- Dawes, who was one of the most prominent figures in the recent Anglo-American naval | discussions is to be a member of the | | delegation which will represent the Lon of Pennsvyi- vania, and Robinson of Arkansas previously been appointed to ion and with the es its personnel was re- garded as virtually complete, One or possibly two more | bers are to be selected, with the lat- {ter number probable if Great Brit- | lain finally adopts its proposed plan of a commission of six |one for cach of the five dominions |and one for the London government addi- mem- |itself. we ban almost everything that|' ; | Dawes is now in the United e o T attentlon, Bodwell lye i 55 1aave. of abisence. Before seld Rgbucvol foanisee rrom fihese | e ms Ve inoa e mo e oenn ¢ |ed to come to Washington for con- figures on hooks that many publications which book- sellers or magazine distributors sus- pect of being objectionable actually our approval.” reccive COMMUNISTS O Budapest, Hungary, Oct Communist Hungary have strike. Thus far t all efforts of the authorities to break up the demonstrta Their jailers say ferences with President Hoover | nd with Messrs. Stimson, Robinson and Reed. Just who the one or two othor American delegates are is still a STRIKE subject for speculation. 25 (A— | Technical advisers to be assigned prisoners throughout | from the navy department are ex- gone on a hunger | pected to include Admiral William hey have resisted | V. Pratt, commander-in-chief of {the United States fleet, and Rear ion. |Admiral Hilary P. 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