The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1901-12-05
CRIME AND ITS CAUSES:
Criminal. Ar. A STUDY. Evil Thrive.
Abnormal. s:: ...,. Conditions. .:
A STUDY.

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he might have added that it's inhabi-
tants are also the hardest drinkers.
Paris is noted for its licentiousness and
general immortality; France is nation
of drunkards. And so l might go on
adding fact after fact to prove my
assertion. Look at the statistics of
any prison and you will find that at
least IS per cent of it's inmates were
moderate or immoderate drinkers be-
fore arrest. So, my philanthropic
friends, do away with the liquor traffic
and you will notice another perceptible
decrease in crime.
The Social Environment.
One of the most damnable and dis
gusting producers of crime is the social
classification in our great cities. Every
large city has its "slums." The "slums"
are the districts where the poor, the de-
generate, and the general offscourings
of the social organism are herded to-
gether with indecent promiscuity, like
so many cattle. In these districts are
situated the drink shops, the gambling
dens, the brothels and other horrors of
vice which society not only tolerates,
but actually derives revenue from.
Think of the grim sarcasm of it, society
preying upon itself. The strongest
trampling under foot the weakest. Is
it any wonder that Cd house divided
against itself cannot stand?"
Now, if these conditions only con-
cerned adults or those who have
reached years of discretion, it would
not be nearly so terrible as it is. But
when we remember that little children,
little innocent children, are born and
brought up in these sinks of putre-
faction, by hundreds and thousands, it
is high time to look into this thing. 1t
passes my understanding how society
at large can expect little child to
grow up into model citizen, with due
respect for the law, when its only sur
roundings from babyhood up have been
those of tenement district" Its
only education is the evil that is in
stilled into its young impressionable
mind by the viragoes, rascals and
thieves who are its constant COM
panions. 1t never hears Gods name
except in blasphemy and profanity.
1t never sees blade of green grass or
hears bird sing 1t is totally un.
acquainted with cleanliness; its only
surroundings are dirt, greasy novels
and drinking dens. 1t soon learns to
drink liquor and smoke cigarettes
because it is "manlyw 1t soon learns
that it is ''smart" to get something for
nothing, in other words, to steal. 1t
never sees a pretty picture or book.
The best art it knows are the lewd
pictures in some dime novel, or the
posters in front of variety theatre
And yet, my friends, the anthropolo-
gists, criminologists, and all the other
| OiOS AOCo SAPCCI Culo ClIllO w SIOW
up amid such surroundings and be a
"model citizen" What hollow mockery!
So say, do away with the slums and
save the little children from these hot
beds of crime and pollution and you
will soon see an enormous decrease
in crime, especially amongst juvenile
offenders.
The sphere of Commerce.
Another very important factor in the
making of criminals is the modern
system of commercial intercourse. Man
is gregarious animal and hence it
comes about that he is in constant con-
tact with his fellow men through the
medium of trade and mutual interests.
But if mankind had deliberately set to
work to build up system of commerce