The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-09-23
The Gang Habit Among Boys

Kansas City Star.
 It used to be like living through a nightmare for one of the Main Street boys to get caught alone within the precincts of the ''Zimmerman's corner crowd" If any hazardous errand made it necessary for him to pass the border line he would slink along, nursing the hope that he would not be seen, yet know ing in his heart that such an expecta- tion was vain. The Zimmerman's cor ner fellows always had their pickets set. Here's one O dem Main Street doods," was the signal, and at least half dozen boys and sometimes a dozen or two dozen would close in on the intruder. He would be bullyragged and taunted and probably cuffed while the tormentors would single out a bigeared kid about half the size of the lone enemy and bet that he could flick the big beef'' with one hand tied behind him.
 Nothing but time could mitigate the effect of such affronts, and the Main Street. boy would salve his self-esteem by refecting what he would do to one of those "duffers' when he "got him" down in Dallmeyer's Alley. There was the same rivalry between the Dutch town crowd" and the Richmond Hillers." on the opposite side of the town. But oc- casionally the Main Streeters and the Zimmerman's corner kids would get to- gether in amity to oppose the combined Richmond Hill gang and the Dutch Town 'fellers."
 That was usually on Saturday when the ball games were played on the old Vampire grounds. There wasn't any | nightmare sensation in such occurrences, for the gang spirit was at its height and | the 'boys had the courage which comes | from numbers. The game usually broke | up in a fight at about the seventh in | ming, but there were always some big | ger loafers looking on who separated the 1 boys, and the gangs would draw off in opposite directions, shouting what they would do" to one another next time and calling back uncomplmentary allu- | sfons to the fathers and other relatives | of their enemies.
 Perhaps most men can remember their own participation in such juvenile rival | ries. Their recollections are amusing for | the most part and they do not realize that frequently there are disastrous re- suits from the gang habit in boys In cities, especially, the habit is responsi- ble for much of the crime with which the police have to contend. Idle youths | of the tenement quarters are apt to be- | come vicious when they experience the spur of emulation in evil directions. They
 
 which they would rot do upon their own initiative. The drinking habits of the Wine Street gang" 1n Kansas City were | responsible for the murder by young Red l mond of that fine young fellow. Tom Scruggs. Only recently complaints have been made to the police that another gang-this time of negro boys in the North End-has assaulted the white boys who resort to Shelly Park. Youths who are strange to the crowd have been set upon and beaten with clubs and stones bv the gang which parades the vicinity of the park, If one of the victims should show fight killing might follow.
 There should be every means taken to break up these crowds of young toughs. If tn: boys have gotten away from the restraint of their parents the police and ! the officers of the Juvenile Court should make special efforts to piS h:bit their | gang propentity. It would be a work of kindness to them to arrest and punish them and prevent a probable criminal career.