The St. Louis Republic., 1903-01-01
PRESIDENT OF CORRECTION BOARD
PLEADS FOR JUVENILE COURT LAW.

Doctor Edward C. Runse, Superintendent
of the St. Louis Insane Asylum, and presi-
dent OF the Missouri Conference of Chari-
ties and Corrections, yesterday made the
following comment upon the proposed juve-
nile court law
THE juvenile offender has of late fur
nished food for an animated public discus
sion. which in itself is promising sign OF
the times, as in the vide field of Sociologic
science no problem ranks in importance
with the one embracing the delinquent and
dependent child.
We of the Missouri Conference OF Chari-
ties and Corrections are justly proud OF
having been instrumental in bringing this
vital question to focus. with the promise
of early legislative results. In my capac-
ity president of the conference. deem
II my outy TO define the attitude Of this
body toward some of the provisions of the
act to regulate the treatmant and control OF
dependent. neglected and delinquent chill
dren. recommended for submission to the
State Legislature.
Upon the request of some active mem-
hers of the conference. the bill was drafted
along lines laid down by similar Illinois
law, and Its principal features were unani-
mously approved by the conference at Its
Seuaia meeting after the presentation Of
an exhaustive commentary by our hcnored
guest, Judge Iuthill of Chicago. AS the
Illinois law In Its original form. except for
one minor amendment. had stood the test
of twelve years existence on the statutes.
and had thus cast off the swaddling clothes
Of an experiment we thousht it safe to
father a bill shaped in the main after the
Illinois prototype, with such notifications
as appeared necessary in the light of local
conditions.
THE most exacting critic cannot con-
struc single sentence as an attempt on
the part of the State at assuming arbitrary
authority or at ruthlessly interfering with
the natural prerogative of the parent.
There is not the slightest intention to re-
viye Spartan laws , that pres prescribed absolute
the provisions Of the contemplated Iegisla-
tive act cover cases in which parental care
FENDER its % very name NJ a a hollow n,os mockers. S u
AIMED AT THE INDIVIDUAL
1.-The widespread agitation for municipal
Fairgrounds. breathing spots and public
hathhousss. has not met with any pro;
Children eolIec.iSeiy @ While 'as the ntsiHt iii in
question aims at the individual child. We
may be entirely out Of sympathy with the
my with their undeniable tendency toward
effacement of individuality. but We must
recognize the right of the body polite to
menacing its wellbeing: and to restrict the
evolution OF the individual within the lines
Of general safety.
act stringent laws for the prevention Of
the spread of pestIleniial diseases. all
practicable measures directed against the;
that most dangerous and costuest class,
the criminals Iahn, should m unanastiosnabiy
is in keeping with this advanced view OF
the States junction. by going to tie very
child as well as at the actual offender.
The student Of abnormal childlife meets
not infrequently with delinquency develop
", either of which may be the outgrowth
these ars irrsasemable eases and must
should not be forgotten that the otherwise
normal child, when neglected during lis
formative period. most readily joins the
1T is out of confederation for the neg
leeted child growing up without proper
law minutely establishes the relationship
between the State and the different associa-
tions whose purpose 1t is TO place the child
ing the requirements of home thus saw
ing many child Of the notwithstanding ef-
feet OF the life in public or semipublic IN
''The functionary to whom all matters
pertaining to the neglected. dependent and
delinquent children are to be referred for
presiding over the Juvenile Court. The
law as drafted provides for the selection Of
to occupy the bench in this newly created
court.
PREFERS CIRCUIT JUDGE.
Il feel authorized to state that the con-
ference would most strenuously object to
any anne ndment to the bill which would
take the selection Of the Juvenile Court
Judge out Of the hands of the Judges of the
Circuit Court. The contention that the latter
would have OF necessity to shoulder an in
creased burden. can be easily met by the
creation Of an additional circuit Judgeship.
nifty with any os the other circuit courts, !
and its incumbent is expected to possess
qualifications Of possibly higher order than
fu nhepu avH tkA
around his selection SHOULD be placed all
safeguards attainable under our system Of
government. The Arguments presented In /
a manner similar to the one in vogue In
the appointment Of Police Court Judge
are hardly convincing in the light Of past ;
pectation that the highest executive office :
in our municipalities viii invariably be f!Ied
able methods. - -. -.
"LaWs are not enacted for the nonce. tut