The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-24
CRAWFORD JACKSON
TO SPEAK TONIGHT
viii Talk on Work of Juvenile
Protectory
PLAN HIGHLY FAVORED
Association to Erect Home Which viii
Accommodate 100 Children From
Each of the Ten States
In the Circuit.
PLAN HIGHLY FAVORED

The Rev. Crawford Jackson of Atlanta.
chairman of the Juvenile Reformatory
committee, will conduct the services at
mass meeting tonight at o'clock at the
First Methodist church. 1t is DIR. Jack
sons purpose to analyze and explain the
objects of the Central Juvenile Protectory
association, now on foot and to promote
the movement in the Birmingham dis
trict. He will present the history of what
has been done and what Is being done in
the south for the prevention, protection
and reclamation of the wayward youth
from an immoral life.
At the present the association consists
of circuit of ten states Kentucky. Ten
nessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mis-
sissippi and Louisiana. At some chosen
point in one of these states suitable bodies
of land will be purchased for agricultural
and other purposes and one large central
home will be erected thereon to accom-
modate 100 children from each state of
the circuit. 1t Is estimated that this move
ment will call for the expenditure of
about $4,000. This once accomplished fur
Their developments will be carried through.
objects of Protectory.
The object Of the protectory is to cor
rect and give the proper training to de-
linquent and dependent children of both
sexes. All OF the inmates of the home will
be given mental. moral and Industrial
training. The chief object, however, is
to correct juvenile criminals and train
them for the business world
This new project has been taken up all
over the south. and is meeting with gen.
eral success everywhere. 1t has caused
much discussion among prominent minis
ters and educators, who have spoken most
favorable of 1t. One is quoted as follows:
About all 1 can say Is to express my
hearty sympathy with and believe in your
purpose. The chance of the success Of
the country lies with the boy and not
with the man. That applies peculiarly to
those boys who tend to drift off into
courses which mean that unless they are
checked they will be formidable additions
to the criminal population when they grow
older 1t Is eminently worth while to try
to prevent their being menaces to and ex-
penses and sores In society, while there is
Chance OF reforming Ine0l.
Crime on Increase.
DR.. Jackson points out that crime is on
the increase and shows why in the follow
! ing manner.
Again let it be asked-and the question
implies an acknowledged fact-"why Is
crime on the increase in our day?' The
rapidly multiplying facilities for general
| IL
cord. The church rarely ever reaches the
criminal, whether adult or juvenile; and
our legal machinery is set in motion mere
ly for his punishment. This. as a penalty
for wrong doing, is necessary, but unless
coupled with wise measures for the re-
clamation of the wrongdoer punishment
only converts the criminal into a more
effective tool of future menace to the
state
The criminal is the one individual in our
midst for whom the very least provision
is made looking to his salvation and flu
ture usefulness; and of all men he Is the
one most In need of such provision, both
for his own and societys sake. But in
stead of his receiving the needed help, In
most instances the very steps are taken
which conduoe to his greater criminality.
Then can it not be rightly asked and
answered, Is not crime on the increase,
at least in part, because of our unwise
methods in dealing with the criminal
himself?
To be a little more pointed, have we not
| in Georgia and elsewhere been training
our hayward and neglected children into
criminals by putting them In criminal
atmosphere and then foolishly asked the
question, why is crime on the Increase
| To find number of children sick be-
cause of some deadly germs in their sys-
tenn, and place them where more such
germs would be received and then ask
why they were, when turned loose, spread
/ ing contagion and death in our midst
such course would entitle such man to
a place in an institution for lunatics or
criminals. And yet that is exactly what
we have been doing.