The San Francisco call., 1909-10-28
GRAPHIC OUTLINE OF
GREAT REFORM FIGHT
Judge Lindsey, in Second Powerful Article, Spares None
Of the Exponents Of Corruption

but what I had done. The boy was
guilty. The law required that 1 should
sentence him. The mother might
scream herself dumb. but I was unable
to help her,
-She continued to scream. Two re-
porters. attracted by the uproar, came
to ask me il I could do something for
her. telephoned the district attorney
and asked him whether I could change
my order against the boy-make 1t
suspended sentence-and let me look
into the case myself. He was doubtful
-as ] was-about my right to do such
a thing. but 1 accepted the responsibility
of the act. and he consented to II.
After what seemed an hour to me-
during which 1 could still hear the
miserable woman waiIing-the boy
was returned to her. and she was
quieted.
sThen 1 took the first step toward
the founding of the juvenile court OF
Denver
Judge Lindsey relates how he went
to the boys house and found that the
family was wretchedly poor, the father
being an invalid from the effects OF
lead poisoning. acquired in the smeltsr
where he had worked for 70 hours a
day. In that home was the trail OF
the beast"
Judge Lindsey seviews bluntly the
Investigations he made into the con-
dition> OF the jails where the juvenile
offenders were kept. how they were
herded with bestiaI men. hardened
criminals. adopts in innumerabls vices.
who passed on to the younger gen
GRAFTON their evil knowledge. The sit
uation was intolerable.
Another intolerable condition was
discovered by Lindsey. He says:
II went to the clerk OF the court
This is all wrong I said. Tt Is all
Observation-Disclosures these children in
here on criminal charges-to be pun
ished-sentenced to prison--degraded
for life
"'Wen. judge he explained. we
sometimes get short on our fee ac-
counts and it helps to increase the fees
in this office to bring the kids here"
The hardest fight of the juvenile
work was Judge Lindsey's attack on
the wine rooms. which existed in viola
tion to the law. and in which young
girls were drugged and ruined.
The brewers and saloon ring fought
desperately against Lindsey's efforts to
enforce the law against the wine
rooms
Most drauatic oF tba asrra,5,+,-4
plays" which Judge Lindsey confesses
he made was one in which he
summoned Governor Peabody, Mayor
Wright. 10 prominent ministers of the
city, the police board and members of
the city council to listen TO the tales
of degradation in the jaiIs told by
small boys who had suffered most ter
ribly. physically and morally. from as
sociation with adult criminals in the
prisons. The committee listened. hor-
ror striken. and Governor Peabody
said hoarsely, Il never knew there was
such immortality in the world
Lindsey says that he had been called
crazy" for creating his agitation in
the cause of improved conditions for
JuNohHe OhenuerS- re quotes another
exclamation of Governor Peabody: IF
Judge Lindsay is crazy 1 want my
name written under his among the
crazy people"
That concludes the instaIlment.
which is a vigorous presentation of
evil political conditions. OF the COM
bination between politics and vice.
and OF the ray of hope which Lind
sey's work finally shed on the dark
Jungle OF Denver.