The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1904-02-05

1000 Arrests In Mahoning Co. Cap
ital During the Past Year-The
Gambling Mania as It Appears to
Chief Mcdowell.
Chief of Police w. w. Mcdowell, OF
Youngstown filed report Tor the year
1908, in which he deals with crime and
criminals like an expert criminologist.
However, Youngstown furnishes a
splendid field for observation, as there
were 1925 arrests made during the
year. This number can be better ap-
pretended when it is considered that
| in Canton but 1,746 offenders were
gathered in by the police.
Chief Mcdowell makes some very
timely deductions as to the use of mar
cotics and cigarettes, and also treats
the gambling mania in an intelligent
manner That portion of his report re-
| ferring to these evils is given as fol-
lows:
! II is well recognized fact that 80
per cent of all criminals of the profess
sional class, use some form of narcotic
drug. 1t Is also a fact that a larger
percentage of all the users of narcotic
drugs are criminally inclined The use
of narcotics are generally due to a
species of progression. They do not
become "fiends" at once. 1t Is not a
habit suddenly acquired. 1t is gener-
ally the result of the smoking of ciga-
rettes in early life when the habits and
Iinclinations are being formed. There
youth of our country as
THE SMOKING OF CIGARETTES,
as no other practice leads so directly
and so certainly to so many other bad
things. Cigarette smoking has caused
the downfall of more youths than any
other one thing. Cigarettes, and the
drugs to which they lead, is not only
more certain in their effects but they
have worse effects than whiskey and
they came quicker. During the last
year we have had many victims of this
habit under our care. In one case a
young boy was a raving maniac for
days as a result of the drug habit
brought about in short time by the
use Of cigarettes. This department nas
but little power to regulate this evil
and its suppression and perpetuation
of our energetic race must depend upon
the home and home influences.
Gambling is a most seductive and
fascinating crime for its votaries. 1t
appeals strongly to that portion of hu-
manity that desires to get something
for nothing and who love the
GOD OF CHANCE"
It is not confined to any one class, con-
dition, society or sex. 1t is not even a
product of civilization as almost every
savage tribe ever discovered had its
own game of chance. 1t appeals to the
leducated and the ignorant. 1t is prac-
ticed by the wealthy and the poor. 1t
lis the same fundamental instinct that
prompts the card party in the home OF
the crap game in the hovel. In the
home it is for "prizes" and in the hovel
II is for money. 1t Is ever the fascInat-
ing element of taking a chance and a
desire to win" Every good citizen de-
plores
and rightly, too, for, although its
effects are not always apparent they
are certain and destructive, both 20 for.
tune and self-respect It's danger lies
in the fact that it makes being robbed
fascinating to the victim. 1t takes
from the amateur devotee the livelihood
that belongs to his dependents. II robs
its professional followers of their nat,
ural confidence in their fellowmen ant
decreases their own self-respect just al
their true occupation becomes known
No man who lives by preying on his
fellowmen can have their respect ant
no man who has not the respect of hi!
Ifellowmen can respect himself. Ht
may have something that passes for 4
but 1t Is not self-respect. Our city |!
remarkably free from gambling anC
has been during the past year. and tn,
efforts of this department will be di
rected towards continuing this condi
tionL
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