The San Francisco call., 1901-11-14
JUVENILE CRIME.

n
deney the penologists are going back to the in
fuerces OF juvenile life The theories OF Lom-
broso and the other believers that there is abnormal
ty in which is ncorrigib1e are not altogether
cepted since in scores of cases criminals are found
free of the stgmata of degeneracy. When the assas-
sin Czolgosz photographed the tyros in the
school of Lombrose thought they saw in his face the
stamp of degeneracy. But the scientific report upon
him expressly declares that he bore none of the ab
normal stigmata
Going back to the origin of crime in the early i'm
pressons of life made in childhood there is grow
ing school which believes that child started the
lap of good mother and we'll and wisely trained,
and protected against evil impressions and contacts
during the years that precede maturity of judgment,
may be considered safe from criminal action, except
in the case of those crimes of passion which
proof of criminal instinct
During the late session of the Congress of Mothers
in Princeton ILL., an address was delivered by Judge
C. ]. Nicely of the Juvenile Court of Chicago. That
court is organized as branch of the judicial estab-
lishment which has charge of all matters relating to
Juvenile crime and incorrgibility The fact that in
great American city special tribunal is required for
that purpose emphasizes the Importance of it and
gives one unpleasant realization OF the extent to
which crime is rooted in juvenile life in this country
Judge Nicely said that the prevention of crime is OF
more importance than its cure He condemned the
severity OF penalties for, minor offenses and their
ightness for oenses of greater gravity and advised
reformation of the juvenile penal code in that respect
He found the origin of much crime in juvenile idle
and the want OF early training. He regards the
kindergarten as a part of the public school system
as a great safeguard, because it introduces those
ideas of form color and spatial relations which are
the foundation of knowledge of the trades and han
dicrafts. Given this foundation and all juveniles
who have bent toward the handicrafts begin early
the mental habit which aids them in the direction Of
their natural impulse.
A frightful condition is disclosed by the penal
statistics of the United States A heavy percentage
OF the native American criminals are found to be
under 80, and their criminal to have begun in
their tee3ss. OF these very small percentage are
found to have ANY trade handicra by which to
earn bread They by no means illiterate but are
found to have fair common school education This
last fact is made of by the opponents of pub
lie school system, who charge that the germs Of
crime acquired in school This is not true. The
fault seems to be that when the school training is
acquired there is some foreclosure of opportunity
that blocks the way OF American youth into the han
dicrats and vocations for which their public school
education is preparation. Idleness at that precise
point in juvenile life canker that soon eats away
all the uprghtness and virtue ncucated at home and
in school, and its awful consequences appear in the
army OF young criminals found in our jals peniten-
taries and State schools for the incorrigibe. These
serious problems appeared concurrenty with the de-
cay OF the apprenticeship system and have increased
in gravity as we get further away from it.
As Judge Nicely sees benefit in the kindergarten
incline to the opinion that the made there
should not be lost, but that with the kindergarten
preceding the primary classes in the public schools
the grammar grade should be supplemented by the
mechanical school In completely equipped me-
chanical school any trade or handicraft may be
thoroughly learned The great need of this country
is and is be, for skilled workmen Why is it that
in every branch of American industry men are found
in charge who born and trained abroad? In
all our metal and smelling works that is the rule
Going further, the same state of affairs is found
among the worlmen. 1t is fortunate for our indus
tries that able to command the services of
these trained men, but it is unfortunate for our nst-
tuons that Americans who should fill their due per-
cenage of these places are morally rottng in prisons
and reform schools.
1t is time that the promoters of public school
system everywhere should appreciate the Importance
o! this practical form of education. Against it will
arise complaints about the cost But we affirm that
it costs the taxpayers less to make sef-supporng
skilled mechanic out OF boy than it does to police
him, stand his depredations upon property catch
him and either hang him support him in prison. 1t
will be that what add to the expense OF
out schools is~taken out OF the of administering
Our criminal law.
IT is announced that the French Minister ~ Com,