Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-02-04
NO HOME MEANS CRIME

The criminal statistics for the past
year seem to prove that laTessness II
greatly on the increase. And the most
discouraglng feature is this that the
number OF juvenile offenders is increas-
ing The annals Of 1902 are full OF rec
ords OF crime committed by boys ana
girls under seventeen years of age AS
a consequence of crime, f-destruetlon
Is on the increase, too, both among
young and old.
The question what causes this con-
dItion Is varlously answered. IL Is
thought that modern civilization with
is feyerish haste, deranges the nervous
system and causes disorder Then the
bringing people together IN large num-
bers is responsible for conditions that
excite the passions. The spirit OF COM
petition Is sharpened, and brotherly
sympathy is CORRESPONDENCE deadened.
selfshness is enthroned in the heart
and from that source many OF the
crimes spring. For right conduct Is
not possible when sellshness Is the
handspring OF human action"
Another cause that ustbe considered
is the tendency that is more and more
prevailing, TO neglect the building up
OF homes. The mass OF the people own
no homes, and some are wanderers up
on the face of the earth, without other
interests than those Of their own eNis-
on the face of the earth, without other
particular nelghborhood, and In their
wanderings from place to place, they
fall in with the lowest element, adding
to the corruption already existing ana
becoming further contaminated them
serves. The fact seems 10 be that In
dIviduals gradually are giving up the
fight against too powerful compete
tion, and with II the hope Of ever be-
coming able to own home aud raise
q family. And when that aim in life
is gone, the step back TO barbarous
conditions is not long. This does not,
OF course. explain entirely the tendon
cy TO increase Of crime in our genera
ton, but 1t certainly accounts TO some
extent for II.
The career OF the outlaw whose dead
body has these days furnished a
melancholy attraction TO morbid
throngs. seems TO illustrate the point.
He was a wanderer, laboring OCCASION
ally, but at the same time committing
crimes. His life as a soldier in the
Philippines did net improve his morals.
Saloons, dives, and such resorts often
took the place Of home. Is that not
the case with many who end their lives
in the death OF criminals? And is 1t
not true, that the increase OF crime Is
in proportion TO the tendency away
from homer The home is the great
moral institution Of humanity. ON It's
sanctlty depends the moral health Of
nations. This Is indisputable. Man
and woman without home influences
soon become moral wrecks drifting
about with wind and currents on the
ever restless sea Of life. and like dere-
lIcts they are not only lost themselves.
but they become a menace to every
other traveller that may come across
their erratic path. Look TO the home,
IN earnest. and crime viii decrease.
There Is, and has been for some time
a great cutlery against the vast cor
porations that make competition nearly
impossible. II should be needed. 1t is
q recognition Of the fact that the state
must come 20 the aid Of a vast number
OF It's citizens. and make Il possible for
them TO build up homes and families p
something that win become impossible
to a great majority, IL the present ten
sency 10 combination is to be developed
much longer