The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-11-13
THEY ADMIT THAT 1T
MAY DO SOME GOOD
Secretiveness Of Unfortunate is
Likely to Render His Scheme
Abortive-Self-D Destruction
Usually Not Result
of Calm Deter
mination.
Especial to The Times Dispatch.

ffit3 Il
NEW YORK, November 12.-SocioloE-a
lists, physicians and students OF human
nature in general were much Interested
yesterday In the novel plan OF Tom I1.
johnson, Mayor OF Cleveland, Ohio, who 1
has appointed commission to advise
and comfort those who are contemplate
ing suicide. III sJ&
Although they were not convinced tlats
the plan was Of any practical valve, they
took the position that it opened up an
important field OF discussion and might
Indirectly be productive Of good.
'NIr. Johnsons idea," said Dr.. Thomas
Darlington, as certainly an interesting
one but in my opinion IT. does not SO
back far enough to be efficaclous 3 ss- err
sons who commit suicide do not talk
about it in advance, for they are usually
guided by sudden impulses. Even the he
respondent and the melancholy would re- ,-8
sent 1t If an official called upon them to
suggest that they refrain from taking
their lives. It will be necessary to go
back to the very onstitution of society
to accomplish anything at al There are
various commissions in this city which
!, help the people in general way, an and ; sla3
do not see that q suicide commission
could better matters any, for the causes Y
Of self-destruction are so varied. AlcO-$
holism. disease, love, despair, Jealousy,
envy, are only few of the causes.
The Pace That Kills.
..The rapid pace at which we live, the 8
envy which many have of those who are
wealthy, and the striving for money yiiT7;s
these are things with which no commits a
sion can labor. Tho Board Of Health has mas
4 think, in IA nlea sure. iced thes1. 81
her Of suicides BY restricting the isalSS
or poIsons. For Instance, it las.. caused 1g
the passage Of a city ordinance permit
ting only the five per cent. carbolic acitis
to be generally sold. Some good can n g i
doubt be done by making the means OF
suicide more difficult to obtain. Y ct this
problem is one which involves so many
considerations that 1t Is impossible fora D
commission to accomplish anything unless
1t applies itself to! nscertaining3 the gen.
ernl causes. 35
."rhis commission" said Judge Joseph
M. Deuel., will. perhaps. accomplish
something by agitatng this subject. but
5I fail to see how !. will succeed in It's
advisory capacity. / have for twenty
years studied the matter, and have wasted
quires and quires of paper over IT. The he
number Of suicides which are likely 70
occur In centers like New York and Lon,
don can be calculated with accuracy. 1t
Is fact that so many persons a year are
likely to take their own lives, The pres
ent law against attempting suicide, en:-sS
acted eighteen years ago. has had de-&
2tcrrent effect, / have no doubt. wa
..The act is felony, but there has
never been a conviction under it. and do
not think, although I have no exact ms
formation on the subject, that there has
ever been an Indictment. The matter wiz
have to be Investigated thoroughly. and /:
who knows that Mr.. Johnson's commits
sion may not arrive at a solution Of the
problem? Tho experiment is well worth
watching"
Insanity Causes Suicide.
DR.. John n Quackenbos. who has de-s
voted many years TO the study OF mental {
science, said yesterday that those who
committed suicide deliberately would
never take anybody into their conhdence,
ona that the majority Of persons VINO
tool, their own lives were subject to such
ohnrrot,on that they would not 90 I'M
search of advice ..4.,tSg
1s"I am inclined to think" he added, .that
80 commission would minister largely %
! class which would threaten TO END tnelr
lives to induce the authorities 70 slsas
them pecuniary aid. Many pfotess,ol'ailtt sly,
herrnrs get money by such means, ,There I!
is n ! man Who comes to my house occa 81 q
sionally threatening to blow o. out I, !, MS
brains on my doorstep unless gave nm ~
ouorter. The clergy arc able 10 90 mucH N
~ nreyent suicide and ! regard the
catholic confessional rs OF great value
for tho very fact that communicates
have somebody in whom they have coni,-
dence to whom they may tell their
trouhles It must save many lives
Dr., CARTON simon, who has made spe-
cial Investigations OF the. subject Of sui
eide, said yesterday that he did not thinK
Mr. Johnson's scheme would prove a sue 4
cess In the way In which It was planned.
but expressed the opinion that 1t would
accomplish some good, as any plan di-
rectcd to the alienation of the troubles
OF the unfortunate might.
MInnY MERiMETHER