The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-07
Topeka Mans Ridiculous State
ment About Police Court.
Says rs Per Cent of Offenders
Are from "higher Glasses.
KEEP OUT THE NAMES.
Have Money to Pay Newspapers
to Suppress Facts.
Scholarly Address by Prof.
Z. w. Blackmar.

L. W.. BIackmar.
w. A. S. Bird OF Topeka, formerly
city attorney, delivered an address be-
fore the Kansas Association of Chari-
ties and Corrections in which he made
two or three startling statements.
He said that rs per cent of the Of
fenses in minor courts are committed
by members of the higher classes of
society.
Then he went farther and said the
reason people do not hear of this con-
dition is because this class of people
are able to pay money to keep the
facts out of the papers.
In the first place if Mr.. Bird had
taken five minutes to investigate he
would have found that not five per cent
of police court cases are of people in
the higher class of society. He ought
to be called to account for such a ridic-
ulous misstatement of facts.
In the second place. Mr.. Bird ought
to fortify his wonderful grasp on the
situation by giving some examples. If
people pay to keep their names out of
the papers. Mr.. Bird, who are they and
what papers have they paid? Let US
know the facts as you have them OF
lndl you KNOW what you
were talking about.
Mr.. Bird is old enough to be more
careful in his statement and has had
enough public experience to know that
he was not telling the truth.
The opening meeting of the annual
convention of the Kansas Association
of Charities and Corrections was held
at the First United Presbyterian
church last night.
The attendance was light, and Gov
ernor w. ]. Bailey, who was to have
given the address of welcome, was not
present. Mayor w. S. Bergundthal
failed also to put in an appearance.
w A. S. Bird of Topeka, president
Of the association, delivered the an
nual address.
President Bird said in part:
Il am surprised when I note the
small number present. I sometimes
think that the greatest subjects arouse
the least interest. This is a great
work, and L firmly believe that the
time will come when this cause will
get the recognition it deserves. I be-
lieve that we only perform our whole
duty when we make it possible for the
children to receive, through the
school and churches, the right idea of
real charity.
Many children are in want of an
citizenship, They need it more and
it will do them more good than a
nights lodging or a meal.
"A year and a half ago the Kansas
river valley suffered from the greatest
flood in the states history. In this
city within a few hours the charitable
societies, churches and women's fed
erations Joined in relieving the suffer-
hand in hand. 1t was my pleasure to
be one of a committee from a local
lodge which raised the first thousand
dollars for the relief of the flood suf
ferers. We bought forty-three sewing
machines for First ward widows, and
enabled them in that way to make a
living
President Bird spoke highly of the
ing them for the good work they have
been doing for the past 800 years. He
also spoke of a Topeka man who was
engaged in the business of finding
homes and employment for the needy.
Mr.. Bird made a startling statement
concerning the crimes in the minor
courts. He stated that, in his eight
years as a city official he had learned
that IS per cent of the petit crimes
brought before such courts were not
committed by the children of the lower,
or even middle strata of society. He
explained this ridiculous statement by
saying that the general public did not
hear of these facts, because the youth
of the upper class, could, "by the use
of little money, keep their little af-
fairs out of the papers, while the poor
boy, having either 1n11uence or money,
is published"
Mr. Bird also stated that he believed
the public should be excluded from the
courts when young criminals are on
trial.
Mr. Bird has some ideas concerning
foreign immigration. II am prepared
to assert" he said, that 20 per cent
of the young criminals are of foreign
birth or parentage." He also believes
that the government should fix prohibit
tive requirements for emigrants, such
as to require a clean bill of health. life
long good morals, money enough to
keep them five years, and other such
II believe that the best way to clean
out crime is to take the lid off once in
a while, and let the world see it, he
said.
This statement conf1icted considera-
bly, with his former statement that the
public should be excluded from the
courts.
Mr.. Bird was followed by Professor
F. w Blackmar, of the State univer-
sity, who took as his subject, THE Sci
ence and Art of Prevention" His dis
course was sane, and we'll couched, and
showed careful study of the subject.
There is nothing of the rambling, ire