The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-08-31
SEATTLE, Aug. so,

sEAITLEs Aug. oos lSyu.
To THE EDITOR: 0nr next legislature should
take immediate action looking to the early es-
tabliebment OF one or more state institutions OF
an industrial and reformafory character for the
retaining aud education OF the army of youth
full Migrants that infest the streets and dives of
our cities and villages The pressing need of
such institutions in our state are manifest to all
observing minds. One'has but to look about
him. day or night, to see on every hand. IN
tutored, vicious recruits of this yagrant
class. who are daily becoming more
calloused and farther removed from
any hope Of reclamation. II taken
in time nearly all of these youths could be
nodded into useful citizens. but If left to grow
up under the baleful influences of their present
surroundings 1t Is only q question of few years
when they viii be enrolled as inmates Of the
penitentiary. These youthful habitues OF
fourth-rate saloons and low dives are already
giving the police and peace officers no small
amount OF trouble, and their presence 10 q mat
ter OF grave concern to every right-minded cili-
zen. The writer, In common with q majority of
people, believes that Ii is easier and
more economical to prevent crime
than It is to take care of and
attempt the reformation of hardened criminals.
In the cities of Tacoma and Seattle alone are to
be found candidates enough to furnish raw ma
teral for a reform-industrial institution of no
mean proportions. There are In the two cities
mentioned hundreds of children whose parents
seem unable or unwilling to keep them in
school or at home, who spend all their time in
resorts calculated TO degrade and bring them
TO final ruin. They frequent the most disrep-
utable localities, mixing with men and women
of the lowest types. and indulgiug in coarse,
obscene. profane language, Notwithstanding,
beer-drinking and card playing.
These statements may seem overdrawn, bat
their truth is easily demonstrated. While wait
ing for a delayed Portland train lately the
writer spent an hour at Cort's theater between
1880 and 1850 .. m. He took his scat well up
toward the front on the ground floor aud found
himself in the midst OF a lot of boys ranging in
ages between 10 and l6 years. There were by
actual count twenty-five of these youngsters
scattered about within his sight The majority
of these boys could not have been above Ia
years of age. while q number of them would
fall below IL small group OF five deserved
special mention. One OF the group, who made
himself very conspicuous by his free and easy
barroom style and loud talk. was questioned by
the writer and found to be the son OF o boiler
maker OF Seattle. This boy was II years old.
He said he worked in the shop with his father,
receiving 81 day wages. Although small for
his age he was evidently possessed OF a capa-
cious stomach and plenty OF spending money, for
within one hour he called for beer seven times,
esch time treating his companions, who also
drank beer or took cigars. The glasses weresight-
ly under the regulation size of beer mugs and
yet seven of them would be equal TO at least Ave
ordinary glasses. These youths seemed to be
perfectly familiar with the professional slang
and vernaculsr peculiar to variety theaters.
Their criticisms on the appearance and make
m of the female actresses were both frequent
and painful free" and showed they were being
well schooled in vice and depravity. How
much beer these youngsters fmhibed before and
after the writer's presence at the theater is
mstter of conjecture. It is fair 10 presume,
st,a& ffaf ,-r FIVE ~
occupied seats Ia this ubiquitous resort they
drank enough TO send them home IN a highly
muddled condition.
This Is but one place among q large number
OF communicating dives and localities where the
yagrant youths OF Washington are receiving the
finishing touches 10 it them for lives OF vio-
lence snd crime. Boys can be seen at cigar
stands along Washington and Jackson streets.
shaking dice for cigarettes and cigars Many of
the saloons are frequented By these kids"
while not A few OF them fud their way into
quarters of still more questionable repute.
These statements are easily verified.
Al present the boys who are arrested Tor petty
thieying are OF necessity incarcerated in our
eity or county jails. Only recently one OF our
tails contained af one time three or four boys,
none OF whom had attained the age of l6 years.
Thrown into the close compantonship of vile
criminal element. such as Is found inside those
institutions, can any one doubt but they VIII be-
come still more depraVeu auu ere long tafn Sut
full-aedged iawbreskersg
No state or city has the shadow OF right to
thus expose children 70 such leprous coatamin-
ating influences.
Fvery individual member OF society should
awake TO the fact that ne she is personally re-
snensible for q longer continuance OF such de-
plornble state az affairs, and see 10 II that our
NEXT legislature make provisions for the speedy
es,aslishrent of g resormatory home for these
unfortunate youths. Such an institution could
he nasie almost self-sppporting. Factories and
farm labor could give the needed employment,
while wisely conducted schools could lead their
minds into other channels and teach them in
time to ahhor their present state.
Here is q so!den opportunity for some OF our
beueyolently disposed men of wealth TO
contribute toward founding such an
institution, by procuring the land
and erecting the necessary buildings,
and then giving the same over into the hands OF
the state 70 BE- thereafter conducted az public
expense There are many more WAYS OF display
iue ones patriotism than by shouldering mus
ket or marching TO the lannon's mouth. Gen.
uine patriotism looks 10 the eoantrys good. and
what greater good can be accomplished than BY
tie adoption of some of the plans herein sug'
gestedf
1, 10 TO be hoped every newspaper IN the state
win agitate this matter until the mnch-needed
object shall have been attained "
c.