The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-05-08
CRIMINALS.
a Consideration of Some of the Causes
That Them.

To the Editor Of the indianapolis Journal:
The Journal a few weeks ago referred to
the lamentable increase of Juvenile GRIM
inals. The fact is indisputable. but the
cause or causes of this fact are not so APP
parent. and back of these are to be studied
the cause or causes of these more imme-
date causes. for whoever would intelligent
" study the situation must take in the re-
mote as we'll as the immediate causes if he
would deal with it intelligently. Two truths
always meet US in this study; first. Juvenile
criminals are found almost exclusively in
cities and large towns. and always among
the unemployed classes of boys. This sug-
gests at the beginning that want of en-
ployment is an ever present factor in the
problem. The statistics show tina 81 per
cent. of the enrolment at Plainield come
from the class known in the report as
'loafers," according to the statements of
the boys themselves on entering the school.
whereas those best able TO know say that
not one of them, at the time of arrest and
conviction, had any steady employment
which meant a purpose to make a living by
work. By the same statistics it is shown
that Marion county is credited with one
fourth the entire enrolment from the State,
anu OAC WIZ - ~ ICIANA0AA ~ hAACN say
these are practically if not absolutely all
from indianapolis. AS the account is kept
only with counties. the distinction between
town and country is in no case kept, but
the figures show that In all the counties
represented by large figures there are cities
or large towns, so that in our study of the
situation il is safe to assume that the
causes of juvenile idleness are found chief
~ in cities.
Any intelligent study of the situation
must take in many years. Such a condition
as is now in indianapolis cannot grow in enc
year or one decade; hence several decades
must be studied, and the influences which
tend to. If they do not compel idleness,
must be studied. Let us in our study take
at least two-thirds of a century. That will
take us anterior TO the introduction of
much labor-saving machinery. 1t is safe TO
assume that even on farms not one-half the
manual labor is required for given results
that was used sixty years ago, when wheat
was sown broadcast. reaped with sickles
and threshed with fails and winnowed with
sheets. Where are the other half OF work
ingmen? They have gravitated into the
cities in quest of work. and they constitute
no small portion of the city's population;
but they are there confronted by the ubi-
quitous labor-saving machine. 1t is not ex-
travagant TO assume that one-fourth
the manual labor of the kind of work which
enters into city life is now required for
given results. One who is in position to
know says that i'm the building industry
hardly one-tenth the number of men and
boys are employed that were required when
lumber was seasoned by stacking on the
fence or by an Impoverished kiln and was
dressed by jack planes. and when doors
and sash and blinds were made by hand.
Where are the other three-fourths? The
machine has even invaded the printing
office and turned out 90 per cent. OF the
typesetters, some of them too old to learn
any other trade. Where are they? \ not
less potent factor in contributing to the
army of the unemployed is the trespassing
of women and girls upon the traditional
fields OF labor belonging TO men. They are
not TO be censured for this. but rather TO be
commended, but where are their brothers?
Still demanding mans wages or no work.
they have joined the army of the unem-
ployed which furnishes so large a per cent.
OF our criminals. And vet another factor
enters into the problem. Three or four
decades ago. under the guise of humanity.
a crusade was begun against child labor.
and the small boy was turned out of the
factory and shop TO run riot in the street,
except the few hours he is compelled TO ap-
pear in school a few months every wear. so
that boys who would have worked If they
had had a chance are inmates Of the Re
form School. Whether the morals or the
health of these boys have been improved by
this cruelty, practiced under the cloak OF
School and the gangs of street gamins that
infest the city testify.
But almost simultaneously with the intro
duction OF labor-saving machinery came
the most potent factor OF all Ii was small
at the beginning, but il has grown with the
growth OF the other factors until il has
become chief OF all. = little over
nifty years ago the operatives OF
the industries most affected by the
Introduction of machinery combined
tries all but a limited number of workers
This was at first 10 maintain the wage
scale. but its chief aim is TO limit the mum
Der of men that may be employed in any