OIL

Mr. Upton Sinclair, whose book "Oil" was recently suppressed in Boston, came to Boston to be present at the defense hearing. He seems to have three arguments for his defense. The first is his twenty-five year old son who is to be offered as evidence that Mr. Sinclair Senior is not a corrupting influence to all young minds. The second argument purports to be from a forthcoming biography of Mr. Sinclair which alludes to him as a Puritan. The third is that most of the quoted bad passages are really from the "Song of Solomon", and anyway Mr. Sinclair feels that the objection to his book is "on political grounds" only. He further shows the courage of his convictions by avowing his intention to read the page chiefly in question on Boston Common censors or no censors.

Mr. Sinclair has obviously achieved fame. He has political enemies, a biographer, and an uncorrupted son. But has he a sense of humor?