OBSERVATION

by Virginia

It appears to be time to issue a new warning and commentary concerning obscenity in the mail and in one's possession. Many people have no idea of the lengths in time and in effort that the Post Office Depart- ment will go in tracking down persons who mail forbid- den material. They not only go after the individual himself but they will keep track of return addresses of persons mailing things to him. These are also watched and the network spre a ds. If they find something incrim- inating one of these correspondents they take action, if after a time nothing further turns up they are likely to "call" on the individual and if it happens to you, you won't like it.

The best and safest way to protect yourself is to keep your nose clean. DON'T be a party to sending or receiving nude pictures, shots of people in compromis- ing positions, or verbal descriptions of erotic situations. Don't carry on further correspondence with any one who sends you anything like this except to tell him not to write anymore. Don't keep questionable material around your house or office. The P. O. now co-operat- es with local authorities so that prosecution can be carried out under state laws in order to circumvent re- cent Supreme Court decisions. Believe me when a man rings your doorbell and flashes an Inspector's card you will turn to jelly--and he knows it. He will be a past master of the alternate tough and buddy-buddy approach So you won't know if he is friend or foe. You don't have to tell him anything without your attorney present, but he'll be so friendly that you will not bother about the attorney. You may be completely innocent, but you will be scared, and when the interview is over a statement will be drafted and you will be asked to sign it. It will then be in the files. If you are innocent nothing further will happen, but that document remains there forever after as an indication that you were at one time a suspect in an obscene mail investigation. I don't think you'd care for that.