Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-05-28
THE CRIMINAL WAVE.

Some time the people Of this coun-
try viii awake to IA realization of the
fact that an epidemic OF crime is
threatening the very life Of the nation.
Those who keep posted on the sub
ject claim that something like eight
or ten thousand murders year are
regularly being committed IN the Unit
ed States They say that Americans
murder seven times as many persons
per million inhabitants as do the Kais-
crs subjects, and that. with the ex-
ception Of Russian Poland, Calabria.
aud Sicily, our own country Is the
most criminal OF all Civilized lands.
Incredible as such statements appear.
they are based on nothing but the
cold passIonless foundation OF statis-
teal inquiry.
But murders and homlcides are not
the only class of crimes in which an
increase is noted. Rurglares ana
robberies are said to be increasing as
Well Ordinary misdemeanors are also
more common than ever. Thefts Of
churchware, communion cups, and
contribution-boX funds are said to be
on the increase.
George Allan England in n magazine
article claims that criminal disregard
OF moral standards is permeating every
class OF society. Superficial observers
used to ascrlbe many crimes 10 power
ty but prosperity shows no Improve
ment IN moral conditions. The writer
mentioned claims that crime exists in
much more extensive though more po-
litely disguised, forms among our bet
ter" casses--our plutocrats. why
specify he says, with the operations
of high finance. wall Street, and the
divorce court matters OF everyday COM
ment. nay so familiar to us now as
almost TO have lost the power of be-
stirring comment? Who will deny that
business today Is for the most part
carried on with little scruple either for
the law, when the law can be success
fully cvaded, or for the principles Of
ethics, which have now grown rather
moth eaten in precencc of this new
higher law we have heard so much
discussed without IN any way seek
ing to bclittlc the virtues Of many of
our people. It may be safely asserted
that double-dealug, graft. eXtortion,
adulteration. commercial obliquitS Call
these when practicable and prohtablcl.
with a growing disregard for the mar
riage relation. a divorce-rate which IS
a national scandal, and an ever-In-
creasing mass OF violent crimes, all
point toward a. weakening, a breaking
down. OF the moral stamina of our
Icople-a potential even If not an ac-
tuaI inclination toward lawlessness.'
we fear this Is true. But what is
the remedy? 10 discuss the disease
is of little use except with view to
find some cure. 1t Is a complex ques-
ton Whatever tends so lessen quar-
rels among men and women, jealousy
desire Tor mtoNlcants, strikes, riots,
race hatred oupidlty, and thirst for
revenge. win lessen the criminal record,
for most crimes have their origin in the
uuhrldlcd passions.
Then, the proper regard for law by
the officers whose duty II ia to main
tain IL. would go long way. In this
country. however. where officers de-
pend upon votes for their Offices the
lomrutIon is strong TO overlook the
disorders of those from whom votes are
expected aud thus crimes are tolerat-
cd. If not officially sanctioned. We
see uo brighter prospects as long as
the criminal clement rs In a position
to exercise uroug influence upon the
administration OF the government 81 a