The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-22

q minor under the ago of fourteen years
IS deserted, neglected or lll.trcntcd By
parents or guardians or Ia exposed to i'm
moral or vicious Influences and train
Ing ANY court Of record may OH appll.
cation take the child away from parents
or guardian and commit It to safe keep
Ing. sEt
t Our law also provides for the protec-
ton Of children against crielty or their
employment by parents or any person
for immoral or llurtful purposes; makes
1t a misdemeanor for any person to sell
bartcri glve,a furnish or cause to be sold
bnrtered. given or furnished to any minor
under sixteen years Of age cigarettes
OF tobacco or Intoxicating liquors; 1t
makes It mlsdemeanor for any
parent to fall to give his child proper
support, and we have established re-
formntories for both white and colored
delinquent children.
But the Colorado law Furnishes parents
or other persons who in any way aid
tho child In becoming delinquent. For
instance, If a child merely enters, pa
tronizes or visits certain harmful places,
no matter how innocent tho purpose Of
the child may lie, any person who direct
ed the child to go to such place or sent
It there upon an errand or message, IN
the eyes of the law contributes to tho
childs delinquency and is held to nc
~ Tam
delinquency Is not treated as crime.
It is defined simply as a condition into
which the child enters innocently or pur-
rosely, but it%is presumed to be con-
dillon which, If continued in, may make
the child criminal or otherwise bring
evil to It's life The Juvenile Court In
dealing with a delinquent child acts rather
In the capacity Of Chancery Court than
a Criminal Court. The petitions or COM
plants arc filed in the interest OF tho
child and not to degrade or punish It.
'rhe State is simply acting in Its capacity
as parens patrlae for the welfare Of Its
ward. Mark you, there Is no Interior
ence or disposition to interfere in the
affairs or parents who exercise proper
care over their offspring. Tho Colorado
law recognizes the home as the greatest
institution for the care of children and
the main purpose of the law Is to conf
pei parents textbook after the moral as
Well as the material welfare of their
little ones.
But ir the parents refuse to do their
duty the law holds them accoun be
The primary object is to protect the
child. to prevent the child from falling
into criminal habits, but If In spite Of
such efforts the child does fall, then the
law takes the child In hand and begins
the work of reformation and reclama-
ton.
There Is no more important work than
this The child brought up in the right
way is apt to continue therein. The
child that begins early to commit crime
and that Is treated by the courts as a
criminal is almost sure to grow up as
criminal and be forever lost.
Judge Lindsey. Of Denver. has conse-
created his life to the work OF saving
the criminal youth of his city. and we
believe that he is doing more for the
good of his city than any man therein.
iIe has established himself as the friend
of the boys OF the street They come
to him In all their troubles in perfect
confidence. He teaches them TO do right
for the sake of right and not through
the fear OF punishment, and he has saved
many lad from q life of crime. Yet
the entire expense OF the Juvenile Court
Of Denver is only about $4,000 year.
There Is demand In Richmond for an
other court. Why not make It Juvenile
Court. or course, the juvenile cases
would not begin to monopolzc the time
of the court. The money to pay the
expenses would bs wisely and benefit
c!ently expended.
--------------------:
Training the Negro.