The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-04-01
JUVENILE COURT JUDGE.

We believe that so far as the per
sonality Of the newly appointed Judge
of the Juvenile court is concerned, the
public will heartily approve Of the
selection of the Rev. p. A Simpkin.
He is man naturally adapted by
his fervent interest in and care for tho
youth, and his deep concern in hui
manity, TO fulfill admirably the duties
Of this position. His zeal is great
in this cause, his heart is right, and
he is experienced in the sort Of work
that is required
But before taking up that duty, We
think that he should resign his min
istrv. This for two reasons,
First, the commingling of religious
acts with civil affairs, with the subor
dination Of civil to ecclesiastical
control. is the curse Of all this
region. 1t is offensive, resulting in
its usual manifestations in con-
trolling political policies and ruling
the civil administrations. tt is
largely because of this evil and
abnormal condition that The Trib
une has occasion daily TO protest,
and to demand that Utah shall come
into accord with American principles
and practices universal elsewhere, in
wholly separating church and state,
and following the scripture rule,
"Render therefore unto Caesar the
things which are Caesars: and unto
God the things that are God s."
The reverse policy. tho mingling of
civil and religious functions. has al.
ways made trouble wherever practiced.
1t always will make trouble. And we
believe that the suggestion from
which the appointment of Mr. Simpkin
was brought about originated in tho
hierarchic desire to see how ''the
enemy" would take dose of &C.
clesiasticism in civil affairs, when an
other than one of the elders of the
Mormon church were the official bene-
fciary.
For second reason why Mr.. Simp
kin should resign his ministry if he
takes this office we urge that the
duties of Juvenile court Judge, with
the activities therein implied, are suf
flcient to occupy the whole of his time
1t is true that the mere holding of the
court would not do this; and it is true
that there will be probation officers
who will look up truants and hoodlums.
But there is nothing like the hand and
the eye of the master. The judge
should attend to much of the outdoor
himself, He should be-
come acquainted personally with the
youths who need his attention and care.
He should meet their parents, If they
have any, and if they have not, that
is all the. more reason why his per-
sonal attention should 90 out to those
who need it. Parents will talk more
intimately with the Judge than with
probation officer, and reciprocally, the
judge can get more specific under
standing of conditions by personal con-
tact; and he can speak the authorita-
tive word without any public appear
ance in court, which the probation of
ficer can not do,
There is very great work to be
done in the way of uplifting the youth
of this city. Clubs should be organ
ized-many of them. Centers of health
ful interest should be created to 'wean
the young away from vicious attrac-
tions and engage their affections and
hearts upon things that are good and
helpful 4 very extensive field Of
operations opens up in this direction:
even with the best Of help and plenty
of 1T, in the way Of probation officers,
the whole time of the Judge of the
Juvenile court can be profitably en-
ployed in work appertaining to MS
duties, if he is Jealous and disposed to
do everything possible in benefiting the
young people and making his court of
the utmost utility to the people and
to the interests of those for whom
the court was especially created.
We are decidedly Of the opinion,
therefore, on both of these leading
grounds, that Mr., Simpkn ought TO
resign his pastornte if he accepts this