B A Y University Daily Kansan Monday, March 7, 1955 Does Your Newsstand Look Different Lately? After sentiment against trashy comic books had grown to tremendous proportions last year, the comic book industry decided to have another try at self-censorship. The last whirl at a cleanup came after a similar public uprising in 1947. Parent associations had voiced stormy protests against horror comics, which had reached their peak of popularity. So, 14 publishers formed the Association of Comics Magazines publishers, set up a code of minimum editorial standards, adopted a seal of approval, and named Henry E. Schultz general counsel. Mr. Schultz had been counsel to Macfadden, Hillman, and other publishers. The objective was to clean up children's reading material. The code set up by the group had the following objective: The elimination of "sexy, wanton comics, featuring crime, sadistic torture, vulgar and obscene language, divorce and attacks on religion." And although Mr. Schultz set up a board of censors consisting of educators, librarians, PTAers, and public association members, the results of the crusade were meager. The kids paid little attention to the seal-bearing publications and were buying the maverick books in huge quantities—it was fairly obvious the kids wanted sex, sadism, and horror. Eventually the code and seal were scrapped, and, although the ACMP is still in existence, most of the publishers dropped out. Today, comic book sales have dropped devastatingly. There have been a number of factors in this sales slump. First, a book by psychiatrist Frederic Wertham, entitled "Seduction of the Innocent," added a good deal of fuel to the fire. The book was a widely reviewed study of 'comics. It concerned the congressional investigation of TV and comic book violence, and the many newspaper exposes touched off by the Hartford cleanup. Second, the federal investigation which is being carried on by the Hendrickson committee, has played a part. The committee has uncovered many facts about comic books, although the committee's findings still are inconclusive. Third, almost every state has had bills in legislature to censor comics or exclude them from news-stands. All of these factors are taking a heavy toll of the revenue collected for the sale of comic books—and the publishers are getting panicky. Therefore, the Comics Magazine Association of America was organized a few months ago to try to put the industry back on its feet. The organization has set up a code and selected a "czar" to enforce a strict set of censorship rules. But this second attempt to clean up the comics will fail just as miserably as the first unless the new "czar" can establish himself and gain the respect of educational and parental groups all over the country. He also will have to be paid the salary that he is worth. If the new "czar" can gain the respect of the persons who will support him—primarily the parents of comic book purchasers—then the comic industry can pull out of its present slump. If he doesn't produce, then the industry probably will continue its present downhill trend. —Tom Lyons Robins to Convertibles . . . ..Ah, Spring... and Poems to Cadillacs Most people think of the robin as the classic "harbinger of spring." Not so on a college campus, where the convertible replaces the robin and usually precedes him. Convertibles are an interesting phenomenon. Their real purpose is not one of locomotion, for as a general rule the person or persons in one have no particular desire to go anywhere at all, but rather just wish to be seen in one. From a man's point of view there's nothing quite so wonderful as to be seen driving a convertible filled to bursting with girls in shorts or swim suits, and from the girl's standpoint it's just as delightful to be seen in such attire in a convertible. Of course, a girl would just as soon have the car and the man to herself instead of being forced to share the spotlight. It is a debatable question as to just what the designer of the convertible had in mind. Did he intend the car as a showcase for pretty legs and faces, or did he think that by providing people with a topless car he would help them cultivate an appreciation of the beauties of nature? People seem to have decided the question in favor of the showcase. In all fairness to the designer, shouldn't we compromise and try both? This spring promises to be a beautiful one, both warmer and drier than last year, and convertibles soon will be sprouting like the flowers. KU is situated on one of the few hills in the state and fortunately does not lend itself either to the planting of wheat or the drilling of oil wells. The University spends a lot of money in care of the grounds, and the placement of the buildings helps create a picturesque scene. The grass, weather permitting, will be green, and flowers and blossoming trees will provide the necessary touches of color. As for a view, there's nothing to beat the Kaw valley from the Campanile. The countryside around Lawrence is nothing to sneeze at either, (unless you have a cold). So this spring, instead of parading up and down Jayhawk boulevard in that convertible so people can look at you, why not try having a look at nature? You may find it very rewarding. —Margot Baker With the campus getting so spread out it shouldn't be long before everyone who can't afford a car is riding a bicycle. YOU IS HOLLERIN' FOR BWITCHED? I BEEN HOLLERIN FOR BOTHERED----I THINK IT WAS HIM WAFTED AWAY. Monday, March 21. is the first day of spring, and if the amount of study can be used as a judgment, spring has already been here about six weeks. We think of how warm it feels to sit drowsily on the steps of Strong, which now takes on the appearance of an arctic landscape. We remember the warm oppressive classrooms and shiver as a cold blast of air whistles down our upturned collar. We are just about fed up with the jingle of tire chains, the harsh rasp of the snow shovel, and runny noses. During the long cold weeks of December, January, and February, we think of the first days of spring with its lush green grass and warm breezes as we slide through the snow. "Just think," we say, "in a few months we'll be standing on this same spot bracketed by the water sprinklers so ingeniously set out by the buildings and grounds department." It's bad enough to be walking along and suddenly become aware of the fact that the stream from a sprinkler is about to overtake you from the rear, but then you look up and see a similar stream bearing down from the front. You get used to it after a while. Spring seems to be good for everything but class attendance. There are the Grove and Lone Star Lake to visit, the first few games of the Kansas City Athletics to attend, squirrels to watch, etc. It's plain to see that study just doesn't lend itself to spring. Gordon Hudelson When William Bissell was elected as first Republican governor of Illinois, John A. Logan, then a state representative, protested Bissell's eligibility on grounds that Bissell disqualified himself by acceptance of a challenge to fight a duel with Jefferson Davis. University of Kansas Student Newspaper News Room, KU 251 Ad Room, KU 378 Member of the Inland Daily Press association. Associated Collegiate Press association. Represented by 420 Madison ave., N.Y.Mail postage rates: $3 a semester or $4.50 a year (add $1 a semester if in lawrence). Published at Lawrence University, January; university year except Saturdays and Sundays. University holidays and examination periods. Entered as second class matter. Sept. 17, 1910, at Lawrence, Kan. Daily Hansan Executive Editor Letty Lemon Maryman Alex DeYonko Jr. Grand- anion, Karen Hilmer, Jackier Linn News Editor Nancy Neville News Editor Kevin Carr Sports Editor Stan Hamilton Wire Editor Tom Lyons Society Editor Mary Bess Stephens Asst. Society Ed. Frane Counfer Associate Editors C.M.Pickett News Advisor C. M. Pickett NEWS STAFF EDITORIAL STAFI Editorial Editor...Gene Shank Ed. Assistants: Elizabeth Wohlgemuth. JOHN HERRINGTON HUSINESS STAFF Business Mgr. Audey Holmes Advertising Mgr. Martha Chambers Nat. Adv. Mgr. Leonard Jurden Cir. Mgr. Georgia Wallace Classified Mgr. James Cazier Business Advisor Gene Brantton This is the time when human beings revive from the dull wintertime, revive in heart, in soul, and in mind. Dreaming young men and romantic girls feel, in spite of the last attempts of snow and ice, that there is a new air, that there will be growing and blossoming and songs of birds very soon. Everyone believes he can be a poet, and pages and pages of verse tell the stories of innocent feelings, sleepless nights, and dreams and desires—the human attributes of spring. This was the time—a time which our grandparents knew, which inspired poets to create great poems, which filled everyone who was young and optimistic with the magic of spring, and which gave old people a happy smile and the hope for another summer. Did I say this is the time . . . ? Today spring approaches us less romantically, less overwhelmingly—more in a practical way. There will be talk of spring in the papers and in the streets of the towns brush-and-sweeping machines will remove the dirt which remained from the long and strong winter. There will be new colors, especially on the cars. If you have enough imagination you may forget how much those colors remind you of toothpaste advertising and you will think of flowers and gardens. And if there is a bird's song in the early morning, you will find that it comes from the radio of your neighbor on the next floor. And if a young man tells a girl that he loves her she will ask, untouched by his feelings, "Does your father have a Cadillac?" Or is there still something which may give us the feeling of spring and of a new beginning, in spite of the change of times? Maybe you'll discover it in yourself one of these days, when the sky is clear and the wind comes from the south. Heiko Engelkes Why does that grand piano in the lobby of the Union have to be so close to the TV set? Who wants Chopin with George Gobei?