The San Francisco call., 1909-10-28

CDGE Ben B. Lindsey OF Denver Is
beyond doubt a political insur-
gent of the most valuable type,
man who has helped by practice 10
show younger. men how Independently
they may carry on their political cam
paign without having to rely on the
dangerous influence of partisan cam
paign mana gers. But Judge Lindsey's
most signal beneht to this country is
his work in establishing the juvenils
court, in proving to America that the
youthful delinquent is not a criminal,
and should be kept from the contain
ination of the hardened criminals.
In the second installmept of Judge
Lindsey's photographed article.
"The Beast and the Jungle" which is
presented in the November number of
Everybody's Magazine, just issued,
the county Judge of Denver tells
vividly the causes which prompted
him to institute the Juvenile court,
and relates the strong play he made
to create a sentiment which forced the
legislature of Colorado to pass the
laws necessary for the equipment of
the court
In one respect Judge Lindsey's arti-
Gle will arouse the sympa athetic at
tention of newspapers and newspaper
men. The judge mentions repeatedly
the part which the newspapers took in
aiding his fight, and tells how he Sc
cured the aid of the press to put his
cause before the people. The majority
of the reformers devote their atten-
tion to the imperfect side OF the news
papers, and give little if any credit to
the Journalism which has supported
them or made it possible for them to
bring their work before the public.
In this installment stands out the
memorable fact that OF all the reform
ers in America today Judge Lindsey
is the most valuable, as he is the con-
structive reformer. He has done some
thing new. Grand juries and indict-
ments have existed for hundreds of
years; but a Juvenile court is modern.
the system of balancing bad boys" on
left in them goes back to Denver, and
not to Runnymede.
Lindsey. rather early in his political
career, reaffiliated himself with the
democratic party organization in DEN
yer, believing vainly that it was cleaner
than the republican. He discovered
that there was little difference. How
ever, he worked hard with the party,
and after losing the party nomination
for district attorney, for which he had
made no great fight and could produce
no financial backing, he was appointed
judge of the county court, bench
similar in many details of its jurisdic-
tion to the superior courts of California.
There he saw "the beasts OF the Jungle
awaiting him.
Politicians went to Lindsey for the
reward of their support of him when
he was appointed. Lindsey gives names
in his article in manner which must
make the people-some people-of Dem
yer squirm. when the flaming red
cover of Everybody's is Haunted on
the newsstands. One supporter-Fred
P. Watts, a county commissioner.
wanted to be appointed administrator
of whatever estates might be involved
before the court. The incident which
aroused the Judge to an appreciation of
the need of court for young offenders
is related graphically. A boy was con-
victed of stealing coal from the rail-
road. His mother who was in the
courtroom, screamed in anguish when
she heard the words of the commit
ment.
Il did not know what to do" writes
Judge Lindsey. 'I thought I had no
power, under the law, to do anything