New-York tribune., 1903-06-03
THE GANGS OF BAD BOYS.
Fair Dealing with Them by the Police
Urged.

To the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir. The article in to-day-s Tribune concerning
Gangs Of Bad Boys is timely and worthy OF at
tention and with your permission would be much
obliged to YOU if YOU would allow to add few
remarks by way Of discussion, and also contribute
a mite toward completing the tale Of woe About
one week ago the West Side Taxpayers Association
sent letter TO His Honor Mayor Low, asking
him TO call the attention Of the Police Commissioner
10 the rranks and crimes OF bad boys, and suggest
that the police all over the city be requested %
take the bad boys of the street a little more seT1-
ously than seems 10 be done. This request was
asked and the suggestion made because the wicked
ness and bad conduct of many boys in the streets
are common all over the city The West Side TAX
rlayers' Association also suggested that the ponce
be instructed TO act fairly toward the boys ana 70
Go this continuously and judicously, and not IN
perfuncto1y and spasmodic fashion. The Mayor
promptly acted OF the suggestion Of the assocla-
ton and Commissioner Greene was equally prompt
in notifying the captains Of police con the west
Side. so far as IS known 10 the writer After COM
missioner Greene had communicated with the cap
rains in regard 10 the bad boys Of this part OF the
city several Of the captains called on the writer
and in each instance we had pleasant chat on the
difficulty OF managing the juvenile offender ana
other allied subjects.
IS NOT an original thing to say that most people
who are made to suffer by the bad boy OF the
streets are often far from being logical when they
begin 70 give for the cause OF the bad boy
Some have blamed the Mayor because he has not
''--~-~
force Others blame the Commissioner or the cap
tains Il not the police from top 20 bottom But
most Of the reasouings Of the sufferers from the
doines OF bad boys swing about the Indifference
negligence or perverse Incompetence OF the police
generally OF course all such Geological furninat-
ing is sheer rot. OF course the bad boy is the
product Of the social conditions Of city life, and
his existence is no due to the police than
cholera or typhoid is generated by doctors But
the police very important therapeutic factor
in dealing with the bad boy One captain OF police
told me that he feels obliged arrest all boys who
MAY on the streets. even when the game is pitch
ing ball. That I told him, IS quite TOO rigId way
o. aPPtsng gor1acHe ~c Ioe VeI he said little mis-
derneanors lead up TO crimes, and there you are
tally with what judcious officer ought TO DO.
Not the innocent players but the vicious boy should
police as remedy for the punishment or correction
OF the bad boy is under discussion we should not
Many other elements crop up and neutralize the
action Of the police such as the PITY or
press charge: the disturbing effect Of a political
pull or the i'll assorted motives OF maglsuate Of
not cease TO be vigilant. and they should all cui-
tvate and practice a wise and discriminating KING
We ali are Influenced by example. but that is nos
lives And though bad boys may be influenced by
the punishment to which some vicious boys may be
should not rest content after they have succeeded
in having few Young rascaIs suGcessfqliy prose prose
p+ p he BLESSED with good and well behaved boys
state Of affairs that viii be- more conducive TO De
;5eIoning such boys than our arrangements Of city
life al present allow TO hope for.
We may expect some good to be accomplished BY
eiE Ieg Of the asfstrates Of chldrens courts but
these all desperate remedies our no. IS FOR pet
ing measures and conditions. rather than IN the
corrective vigilance Of the police OF the wisdom Of
NeTr-York May 81 1909.