The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-08-11
A FLEA FOR THE YOUTH.

sevGSsl days ago three boys We're
arrest in Rich, ond charged with
steal1x. from the Y. NJ. c. a. They
We're escorted by officer to the police
station, kept ever night, then taken
to the Police Court and placed in the
cage with all the adult criminals at
the morning levoe. AS If that were
not bad enough several other boys
went to court TO witness the trial
and remained there as we are in
formed, until the case was disposed
Of
Does not this narrative stir the blood
of every man and woman who feels
the slightest interest in the welfare
of the boys of Richmond? We have
subscribed $4,000 for a Y NJ. G.. A.
building for the good of our youths;
yet when boys are arrested for crime
they are treated as adult criminals,
locked up in the police station pen
ned in with the worst characters in
town and tried in open court before
the mixed audience that daily attends
that interesting show, and other boys
are permitted to come in and witness
the performance.
There Is but one remedy for this
alarming evil and that is juvenile
court with presicing Judge who
will make study of boys and their
evil tendencies AMI deal with them
In N
tried and proven in other cities. Iuve-
nile courts Should be established in
the cities of -Eisgfhia by legislative
enactment, and a movement IN that
direction should be started at once.
The Tines-Dispatch urges that citi-
zens of this city meet together in
conference at the first opportunity and
take such steps as may seem expedient
to secure the desired result They
should endeavor also TO get citizens of
other cities and the press to co operate
with them, and then endeavor by Joint
action TO induce the strongest men
In the Legislature to introduce a bill
end push it through.
Don't talk back about the cost of
such reform. We are spending mil
lions year TO educate the boys and
girls OF the state, and shall we halt
at a few thousand dollars to save the
delinquents from life Of crime? Is
1t not economical from every point OF
view TO spend the money? If we dc
not SO regard IL, we must set a low
estimate indeed upon the virtue ant
welfare Of our youth, The record
would doubtless show that most o
the conVicts in the penitentiary to-da,
began their career of crime whe,
young, and had they been properly dis
ciplned when frs, detected, the chance
are that they would have been saved
True. we have reformatorles in Nir
Vinia for criminal boys, and they ar
better than the penitentary for sue
cases. But no boy should be sen
to the penitentary II II 20 nos
sible to save him otherwise. 1t i
; poor start for young man, heave
knows, to be sent out into the wor,
at his majority as graduate from
state reformatoryl
Let us use the ounce Of preyentio,
and the pound, II need be, to save ever
delinquent boy from such a fate. II
conceded hy those who have made
study of the subject that The iuveni
court rs the best agency yet devise
for this work II has been bIesstr
TO Denver Chicago and other ctti
which have tried II, and II win be
blessing 10 the cities Of Virginia,
the hands Of competent Judge. /
us start the movement at once
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THE SOUTH AND THE PREslDEN,
We print elsewhere an editorial
ticle from the New York sun in VIII
#t a. fWeslts the rridc ,,f so,,tf,.,ns r..