The Hattiesburg news., 1910-09-29
ASSOCIATION ESSENTIAL
TIL THE LIFE Of MANKIND

Washington, D. c., Sept. 29.-The
following paper has been prepared by
Dr. ]. st. Aubin, doctor of law and
president of the court of appeals of
Paris, to be read before the American
Prison Association, now in session
here:
Among the natural tendencies, we
might almost say, the necessities, OF
man is that of association; the
effort to attain by union things which
no one could accomplish alone. 1t
may be association against the oppres-
sion of one person, or against the vio-
lence of many; sometimes for the de-
fence of common interests. In our
own days we see association Of all
kinds to protect material and economic
Interests. This right of association,
which has great advantages, has also
grave dangers. Legitimate in itself,
it may become source of peril to
state by organizations against public
order. That is why government has
had to intervene, not to suppress the
right of associations Zone does not
suppress a natural right, but to regu'
late it and to mete out penalties when
the association is criminal.
"The nations themselves have had to
submit to this natural law We cite
as an instance the agreement between
governments for the extradition OF
criminals which unite nations against
crime in the ends of furthering justice.
Among nations, as among criminals,
there is natural tendency to associate,
usually for defense or for protection.
"This power of association, which
has proved such powerful lever
among modern peoples, could not es-
cape the watchful attention of crimi-
nails. If crime requires for its ac-
accomplishment the union of certain
number of persons, it would seem the
duty of the lawmakers to provide a
penalty for such a union, so that those
who associate themselves for the pur-
pose of the crime should suffer the
same penalties as those really guilty
of breaking the law. In fact, the laws
relating to this have from time to
time been passed, and it is certain
that organized bands of criminals are
less heard of at present than formerly.
But to know exactly the situation of
country in this respect and whether
crime is increasing or decreasing, one
must know the number of crimes really
committed whose authors escape ar
rest. Looking at it in this way it is
evident that the bands of criminals
will exist in France as well as in 9th
er countries. In the United States the
black hand is an organization which
is not only national, but is related to
an analogous organization in Sicily.
In italy we have the Banana" the
"Camora" and the "Maffia," which, in
spite of incessant efforts against them.
dissolve only to re-unite, greater
menace than ever. In England and
Spain and all European countries there
are similar criminal bands, and in the
interest of public safety they should
be put to an end at all hazards.
'"The two types of crime which mark
our day are swindling (escroquerie)
and the extortion of hushmoney
| (chantage) (blackmaiD. Swindling
is now carried on in such a careful
way by its authors that 1t is like a
scientific problem how to compass
their ends and at the same time es-
cape the clutches of the law.
"Chantage'' is a crime that has de-
veloped with the power of the press.
It is the exploitation of the individual
by the individual who profits by the