Page:1954 Juvenile Delinquency Testimony.pdf/244

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JUVENILE DELINQUENCY

toward comic magazines that appeared in the paper in Cleveland, he had one of his Jarger dealers who operates 4 or 5 supermarket out- lets, and who is deing a tremendous volume on comics, call him up aml discontinue all comtes.

He said he would not be bothered by trying to disseminate what was good and what was bad.

Our wholesaler conld do nothing abeut it. He had te take out all of the comics that the man was handling, and he was selling a vast quantity of them.

Our wholesaler had been very cautious about the type of eomies he put into that supermarket, but, you see, his hands were tied,

Now, gentlemen, if there issnch a thing as tie-in sales, he cond say, “You must keep them in there. You must sell those good clean comics,” but he ean’t even do that.

Se how in the world can a statement be made that he can feree a retailer to handle a specific title or a horror title or anything that you choose. It just is not done; it can’t be done in this business. Jt is not done Trom a national newssland level, and 1t is not done from a local wholesale level.

The Chairman. You are speaking for all distributors when you say that?

Mr. Cnampertain. Iam giving you clear-cut examples; yes, sir, for all distributers.

The Chairman. Did you hear Mr. Freedman’s example?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN. Yes, sit.

The Chairman. Do you dispute that testimony?

Mr, Cuamner.ain, Yes, sir.

The Chairman. Do you dispute the testimony of a man who actually has daily contact with this problem?

Mr, CHawBertain. I dispute it; yes, sir. Ife cannot be forced and has never been forced to handle and try to sell any or all magazines that he receives from any source of distribution. ‘That we cannot da that with any retailer in the United States.

As I say, you can have visual evidence of it in any wholesale agency you go into, or newsstand you choose to visit. I think you will find by the courthouse here there are many news dealers that handle 10 titles, and that is all they can accept, because they are open for just a short portion of the day’s business and they will only handle a very limited number of titles.

The Chairman. Why do you suppose the legislatures of two great States of this country, the great State of New York—I am reminded there are three—the great State of New York, my own State of New Jersey, and I am proud to say I think it is a great State, have passed laws to control these tie-in sales, if there have not been tie-in sales?

Mr. Ciramnernain. Because, sir, I say that you have had testimony to the effect that there are definitely tie-in sales, but T do not believe that you can produce factual evidence to prove that there have been tze-in sales in this business,

Senator TTennincs. Do you mean in any instance whatsover?

Mi. Cramprrnaix. Well, you may find an isolated ease where an overzealous routeman, for example, went in and demanded that a dealer handle certain things. Jfowever, if you eo to that wholesaler who that routeman works for, you will get the clear story of what goes on in our business.