Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-29
SUTTON ON JUVENILE COURT
Judge EBlightens an Audience on the
Object and workings of the
Tribunal.

A special feature Of the very pleasing
and largely attended meeting OF Omaha
court No 10, Tribe Of Ben Hur, Tuesday
evening in the Rohrbough block, was the
address of Judge Sutton of the juvenile
court on the subject of The Juvenile Law
and Court"
Preceding Judge Sutton's address short
musical program was given. j. NJ. Van
Glider acted as master of ceremonies, and.
after stating the object of the gathering,
introduced Judge Sutton, who spoke for
a short while upon the subject of fra
ternal organizations and the excellent re-
suits flowing from them and their import
anoe toward developng~a better citizen
ship and brotherly feeling among all men.
on the subject of the juvenile court the
judge said:
The Juvenile court and juvenile law con-
stitute the most important subject that
we have had yet TO encounter or will en-
counter for years to come. The object Of
the juvenile law is not TO punish, but TO
protect the child; not to injure, but 20
help him. The juvenile law gives to the
juvenile court absolute power over the
children of Nebraska under IS years of
age. Unless the parents show that they
can take better care of their children, the
children can be taken away from the
parents. II the parents do not take care
of their children the juvenile court will.
Prior to the enactment of the juvenile
court law the only recourse for handling
an incorrigible child was to place him or
her In jan among old and hardened Grim
inals, from out of which they would come
in most cases confirmed criminals inOcu-
lated with the poison of their association.
As last resort, incorrigible children are
sent to the industrial school at Kearney
or Geneva We always seek TO give them
a chance before resOrting to this last ex-
pedient. II often happens that we parole
the children, but keep a strict surveillance
over them through the probation officers.
At the Detention home they are given the
best of Christian care and are surrounded
by every good and moral influence, under
a kind and motherly manager, who seeks
to win them back TO a moral life by ten
der affection and love rather than by Sc
! we're measures.
There is some good in every child and
/ we seek to find and cultivate that good
| element within them. Some of the chill
I dren are homeless waits and orphans.
! Others are worse than orphans, being the
4 neglected children of Incorporate and
/ vicious parents. who have abandoned them.
R There are now twenty-six children at the
Detention home.
II Is your duty as good citizens to help
! In this great work. IL Is as much to your
interest to see to the full enforcement
OF the juvenile law as 1t is ours If you
know of bad children I'm your own neigh
borhood or block that need the attention
OF the juvenile court it is your duty 10
report them TO the court. If you do not
care to do so in person or by signing your
/ name TO the complaint do not sign youT
name. But II would be better Tor you "a
make the complaint in person. In any
event the report will be looked into. The
officers of the Juvenile court are doing
their duty faithfully and much good Is
coming from their work, but without youI
assistance but little can be done effectively
Following Judge suttons address short
musical and literary program was rem
dered, after which Mrs. Mary Iatky OF
Lincoln, supreme deputy of the order, pre-
scented the prize banner to the court fol
the largest percentage of increase in mem
bership during the past year Of any cour'
in the state. The evening closed with serv
ing of refreshments. followed by dancing