seive far more clearly than police that faint line where the protection of public morality ends and ugly censorship begins.

"All too often the mistake of police is that they try to put some innocuous book in jail. When the court rebuke s them they throw up their hands and say they need a stronger law. If they would turn their energies instead against the sleazy peddlers of blatant, commercialized pornography and here we mean the revolting stuff that is made and distributed through secret channels they would find that courts, juries and the public would support them.

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"They and the legislators would also find that existing law serves society's needs adequately."

The staff of THE LADDER commends the "San Franci soo Examiner" for taking a firm stand on this controversial isBue. For whenever there is a trend toward suppressi on of the press, there necessarily follows the suppression of free thought. We certainly do not advocate ob scenity or lewdness, but we are well aware of the differences of opinion as to what may constitute obscenity or lewdness, Only recently charges were reversed in the courts against ONE magazine (see Feb. LADDER), and the Kinsey Institute for Sex Research (see Apr. LADDER). It has become in recent times increasingly important that we look to safeguards of the free press rather than to the tightening of laws which may lead to the destruction of our American heritage of free thought and expression.

Del Martin

COMING NEXT ISSUE

A review of the talk given by Leo J. Zeff, clinical psychologist, on "What the Eastern Religions Can Mean to You". Announcement of the Mattachine Society's annual convention to be held in New York over Labor Day weekend. More short stories, poems, letters from our readers and articles of interest to all. Don't miss it. If you're not already a sub scriber become one at once.