Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-20

been little or no increase in the proper
ton of arrests for burglary ana ROD
berry" But the lamentable feature Is
that It is demonstrated that this n
crease in Chicago has been no more
rapid than that which has taken place
in Philadelphia, Cincinnati and many
other cities.
The homicide statistics for the larger
cities show that Lexington, Kys heads
the list Then come, in the order
named. Kansas City, Kas.: Louisville,
KY; Cincinnati. St. Louis, Mo. The
next to these is San Francisco, with
an average of 9.25 per 100000 popula-
tion, and Los Angeles with 3. 1t is
quite drop to the much talked-of
Chicago, which shows a percentage of
7.S0.
Unenviable Pre-emlnence
We emphasized in our last letter the
violence used toward those accused of
crime. Now note the location of the
cities that lead in crimes of violence.
They belong to the convict camp south.
The brutal administration of the crimi-
nal law in California for sixty years
past has resulted finally in the forma-
tion of the Prison Reform league, which
is issuing these letters. Note, there
fore, the unenviable position that Cali
fornia's two largest cities-San Fran
cisco and Los Angeles-oecupy as cen
ters of crimes of violence. They are
far worse than Chicago; yet the lat
ter murders six times as many an
nually as does London, which is easily
the worlds metropolis
sporadic outburst of violence in
London some years ago led to move
ment in certain quarters for arming
the police with revolvers. The entire
British nation rose in revolt, declaring,
with British common sense, that If the
criminal knew he was in danger of
being shot he would see to it that he
himself was the first to shoot. This Is
exactly what happened about year
ago in Los Angeles, when Captain Au-
BILE was killed. The revolver was
knocked out of his hand and he him
self was shot.
Apart from newspaper and magazine
articles and the facts the Prison Re-
form. league is laying before the pub
lie we have such works as mo. 9OO9'
and "The Turn of the Balance" writ
ten by thoroughly responsible men who
have regulations at stake. The author
of the latter is the mayor of Toledo,
Ohio, and q national, if not an inter-
national figure. Let anyone read such
works and then ask himself whether
taking the descriptions as true, he
would not be likely to resist arrest
ana escape TO bQCH HGilS
on earth as are many of our prisons,
even at the cost of taking the arrest
ing officers life. Here you have the
straight explanation of the observation
that to-day the robbers weapon is
used to injure. MAIN and kill"
Police Remedy Useless
The police are we'll aware that their
lives are becoming more and more en-
do fhaxy hoUa qpifafnd for
legislative measures that shall make
it more difficult for the ordinary citi-
zen to obtain firearms. But apart
from other serious and fundamental
objections 1t is obvious that the pro-
posed remedy is childish. The man
who proposes to resort to violence will
always get the means of doing so. If
you succeed in putting the revolver be-
yond his reach he viii use the knife;
If that is impossible a stone or, club
will serve his purpose. To destroy life
is the easiest thing in the world, and
murder would be universal were 1t not
that there Is a most powerful racial
instinct that holds temptation in
check. Those who advocate, support or
tolerate the reign of violence, which
receives its most striking modern ex-
emplihcation in our treatment of
criminals, are doing their part in kill
ing LQdI llNdludDle TdCidl luSllflCI.
They are sowing the wind, and. unless
protest is made effective we shall reap
the whirfwind.
Closely associated with crimes of vio-
lence perpetrated against others is the
alarming growth of suicide, for both
have their root in contempt for hu-
man life and happiness. We quote
from Prof. Bushnell previously referred
to as high authority: with our grow
ing Industrial disorder is associated a
startling recent increase in crime and
vice. Suicides have increased in the
nineteen years, from 1889 to 1908, more
than five times as fast as has the
population. Murders and homicides, in
the twenty years, between 1885 and
1904 have increased more than three
times as fast as has the population.
Their growth has been almost steady,
showing it is not the result of acct
dental causes, but of some sinister evil
in the nation, which is steadily working
increasing wrong"
In urging, therefore, the abolition of
capital punishment as being the
quintessence of the mistaken policy of
social vengeance; in urging the substi-
tuition of opportunities to reform for
brutal punishments that are supposed
to, but do not, deter; in pleading for
a cessation of the rule of whence as
applied to those accused OF offenses
against the commonwealth, the Prison
Reform league is engaged in a far
greater task than that of inaugurating
some trifling, palliative measures. 1t is
fighting for the overthrow of a bar
barrie philosophy that ids threatening
the very existence of the nation.