U.S. Drive Against Pornography

Press, Volume XCV, Issue 28269, 6 May 1957, Page 13

U.S. Drive Against Pornography

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, May 3.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation Director, Mr J. Edgar Hoover, yesterday called on communities throughout the United States to crush “filthmongering” in obscene material. He called dealers in pornography sewage salesmen who had created a pollution problem for civil leaders, lawmakers, and police to solve. In his monthly statement in the Law Enforcement Bulletin, Mr Hoover said. “Too often the purveyor of filth in movies, playing cards, books, photographs, and other devices reaps a rich reward as a result of lackadaisical public opposition to his evil occupation.” Mr Hoover said this despicable business required close attention with the coming of the school holidays, when youngsters had more time on their hands, and “the beginning of the seasonal rise in sex •crimes?’

“It would be naive to assume that there is no relation between the mounting deluge of such filth and the increase in sex crimes,” he said.

Such offences, excluding rape and prostitution, in cities of 2500 or more population, rose from 38.5 per 100.000 persons in 1953 to 47.5 in 1956.