The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-10-05
ENDORSES PLAN
OF JUDGE CANN
TO STOP STREET L0AFING.
WORKS HARM TO THE ROYS. SAYS
SUPERINTENDENT ASHMORE.

Judge Cam Commended for Calling
Public Attention TO the Prevail
ence of the ENil-The Great Re-
sponSibility for 1t Rests on the
Pnrents-Many Parents Totally
Unit to Have Children-In Many
Cases Counterfeit the Work Done
by the acknowledgements of
All Elements Necessary-The Best
Method of Fighting the Evil.
SUIT. Otis Ashmore highly COM
mends the charge of Judge Cam to
the Superior Court grand jury iii
suggesting that It seek some means
whereby the children may be kept
off the streets at hi. hit. In discuss
ing the matter, Supt. Ashmore said:
Judge Cam should be highly COM
mended for his charge at it is very
timely Much of the criminality of
to-day, if traced back, would be found
to have its beginnings in loating on
the streets. AS to whether or not
the method suggested, the establish
ing of public reading room, etc., is
the correct one and the best avail
able I cannot say. But the sugges-
ton from the court should call the
public attention to the matter and
in the discussion, which will ensue,
the best method may be hit upon.
Personally l doubt if the estab-
lishment of a reading room would
work the desired cure. To my mind
the root of the entire trouble can be
taken away only by the parents. In
the vast majority of cases the fault
is entirely that of the parents.
1.-THE energies of the courts, the
schools, and the churches, should all
be united to break up this street-loaf-
ing. Nearly every night crowds OF
young boys can be seen congregating
on the street corners. Here they
come in contact with all kinds of as
sociates. They learn bad language
bad habits, the seeds, which later
develope into criminality are sown
here. The outside of the theater is
common loafing place for boys and
here | have often seen them picking
up cigar and cigarette stumps and
smoking them and indulging in all
manner of conversations.
Reform Begins at Home.
loafing once recognized every effort
should be put forth to begin reform.
And reform must begin at home. The
parents should take a greater interest
in their children. They should see to
1t that they have pleasant, well-lighted
rooms in which to study their lessons
and in which to read. Good books
should be supplied them and every
thing done to make life pleasant and
Many parents. in Savannah and in
other cities as well, have no right to
have any children. In this class be-
long those who look upon them some
what as a nuisance and a bother and
who are glad when they are away from
home, so glad that they never stop to
think where they may be loaf1ng. IN
der such home conditions IL IS not 70
be wondered at that the children rush
to the streets and seek their enjoy
ment there.
"The knowledge of evil in the mod
ern city boy of 10 years of age is tc
be lamented. They seem to know
everything that is bad, and the. aver
age 10-year-old boy knows more TO-
day than the country boy of 20. And
the pity of it is that It is mostly that
which he should not know and that
which works only for his own down
fall.
Cooperation Is Necessary.
"If the problem is to be solved co..
operation is necessary and the start
toward better things must be made al
home In many cases the utter lack
of proper home influence and proper
home training counteracts all the good
that has been done in the schools
Unless the parents help us all our ef'
forts will be unavailing.
"As have stated, l am not sure how
far a public place for the boys would
go toward solving the problem. Still
Judge Cam is to be commended fol
calling attention to the need of some
thing being done and, in the course o.
discussion, the best method will b'
reached Cooperation is absolutel!
necessary for success, the hearty co
operation of parents, schools, churchei
and the courts"
Work on Marine Hospital Resumed
Work on the new marine hospital