The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-22

Vermont and New Hampshire having
the lowest rate of homicides, have most
immigrant and emigrant classes. Connect
icut. with twice the rate of homicides
as Massachusetts,, has about the same
rate of mixed population; and Rhode
Island, with about three times the rate
o. homicides as Connecticut, does not
exceed it by 10 per cent of immigrant and
emigrant people. and has less of this
element than Vermont and New Hamp-
shire yet eleven times the rate of hom-
icide. Nevada, with the highest and Yer
mont the lowest rate of homicides. have
emigrant and immigrant populations
within 10 per cent of each other In the
Pacific states the proportion of homicides
and emigrant and Immigrant people seem
to have little relation. Nevada, with four
times the rate of homicides as Wyoming,
has the same rate of mixed population.
Colorado. with more than twice as many
homicides as Washington, has the same
rate of mixed population. Utah and Wy
oming the same rate of homicide. but
varying rates of mixed people; Oregon
ore-fourth the rate of homicide as Nevada
but more immigrants anC less emlgrants.
The rate of homicide and those of foreign
born immigrants seem not to have re-
lation in Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada
Influences of Population.
"This varying ratio does not depend on
density of population. In Germany. with
252 inhabitants to the square mile, there
is but one homicide to 2S2 square miles;
while in Belgium there are seven homi-
cides to that same area with O54 inhabl-
tants to the square mile. In our country
one-tenth of the homicides are committed
in Texas, where there are eleven persons
to the square mile; but the rate is higher
In Arizona. Nevada and Montana. with
only one to the square mile. New York.
with seven and a quarter millions OF peo-
pie 1.-TWO millions forelgn-born), has a
lower rate than Georgia, with one-third
that population. In Nevada there is one
homicide to each 1886 of population, but
in Vermont one to each $500. The New
England states, WITH population OF
5,6l1 ,S51, have 259 homicides annually, while
California, with only 100000 people, has
422 Those sections having most urban
or semi-urban people have lower rates of
homicide.
Question of Learning.
at appears not to be a matter of Hitter
acy, for California, Colorado and Nevada
are lower in illteracy and higher in homi-
cdes than Alabama, Louisiana and Miss
issippi; while Virginia is higher in Hitter
acy and lower in homicides than Della
ware and MdTNldnu. mdSSdcnuStllS anu
Connecticut have fewer illiterates and
more homicides than Vermont, and Rhode
Island fewer illiterates and a higher rate
of homicide than Kentucky, Tennessee,
Georgia or the Carolinas.
THAT our, government is new Is no ex-
PLANTATION. A comparison of the census
of 1890 with that of 1885, we find the lat
ter shows only 1900 arrests for homicides
for that year, while according to the
figures published June l, 1890 there were
1868 prisoners for homicides. 1t appears
homicides increased 60 per cent, within
ten years, while the population had in
creased but % per cent.
Nor Is the high rate of homicide in
the United States due 10 our democratic
government, for in England where in
dividual liberty is, perhaps. greater they
have fewer homcides; while under the
democratic institutions of some of the
Spanish American republics. is an utter
disregard for the existing form of gov
eminent.
Bad Political Effects.
distinction should be made between
form of government and administration.
The spirit that makes possible an almost
perfect civil service in Germany and
England, is the foundation of strict