The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-01-10
Millions for correction" Not One
Cent For prevention.

|
Ye are astounded every year abou
this time on reading the reports o.
our city corrective" institutions
likewise those of our state and ever
our nation. Millions of money rails
ed by taxation go annually into oul
institutions for those of our fellow
citizens who "have gone astray.'
Enormous buildings, costly plants
and many men are set apart all over
our land to correct the faults or
vices of our less fortunate brethren
For after all they are our brethren.
Moreover, more still are the build
ings, plants and guards for those who
have become insane, many from vice
and neglect and still again the same
thing for our poor; many of whom
arethere from vice and neglect.
These causes are not alone the rea-
son for all the inmates of our aims
houses and asylums, of course, but
are of large number.
Have you travelled day after day
in the cars and as you entered or left
some populous city seen some enor-
nous building, or group of buildings
and asked what is that?
How often has the answer been:
"Our reform school," "Our peni-
Tertiary" "Our aims house." etc.
How often, if ever, have you heard,
"That, why that is our institution to
train boys and girls so there will be
less likelihood of crime amongst
them" l have never heard such an
answer and have never seen such a
building in this country. Have you?
With the exception Of the Y. M.
G. A. there is no organized effort in
this country for the prevention rath-
err than the correction of evil. The
churches, of course, are agencies for
such ideas, but unfortunately their
efforts are by word rather than by
deed. They have the plants for the
purpose in their magnificent build
ings, but how often are they locked?
They are open on Sundays most of
the day and sometimes two evenings
a week. The rest of the time these
vast plants for good are locked and
the deacons hold the keys.
Are we on the right track? Are
we doing our duty by correcting evil?
Should we not prevent it? Isn't the
old adage true, "An ounce of pre-
vention is worth a pound of cure?
Some will say, "How about our IL
braries? Are they not preventative
Yes, in way, they
are. Have you entered one lately?
Do you suppose the young lad or
girl who needs prevention" will en-
ter them much, or even if they do
stay long?
"Silence! Silence! Whisper! Walk
lightly! Sit down! Don't make a
noise!" Will your full blooded, red
FLOODED boy submit to such regula-
ions? We might even ask, can he
After twenty years in
innate association with boys, | can
safely say not ten per cent of the
'eal boys can or will submit to such
The animal in him makes him
ramp unconsciously; he must whis-
lie and even YELL The red blood de-
nands an outlet, and he will go
where he can have this outlet.
Where is that?" you ask.
Unfortunately the saloon, the
street corner, the pool room, the
heap, low theatre, these are the
,laces where no signs of Silence"
re exposed. Must he go there?
Where else? Is there no way to pro-
ide for him?
Yes indeed, there is way. The
:. M. G. A. has succeeded we'll But
his is private place and money
aust be paid for the right to go
here. The town, city, county and
tate must provide free places SINH
lr.
These are the preventative" in
titutions which will soon reduce the
ecessity for Corrective" ones. | !
ont presume to say that all crime !
i'll disappear by such means. For t
art of our criminals are the victims '
heredity.
Listen to the story Of almost all
cnA yNy x,xi1l