The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-26
PRO BONO PUBLIC0.
Juvenile Court Accomplishing Much
for the Children of Washington.

EhO DUNN u OAAOOs
Juvenile Court Accomplishing Much
for the Children of Washington.
Editor The Washington Herald:
The narrowing details that come from
the Juvenile Court, and published In full
In the daily press OF this city. of broken
families, coming almost invariably from
a drinking man. teaches a special lesson
OF cause and effect
This man wrecks his home by the total
neglect OF his children. records of which
succeed each other as though these con-
dltions were necessary part OF every
day life.
The man as a hanger-on al the saloon,
totally oblivious OF everything but drink,
the mother toiling 10 support the family
as we'll as paying the rent and forced
contributions 10 the drink BILL on scant
wages and poor health. are distressing
reports in this Capital City OF the nation
OF everyday occurrence.
The children running in the streets, a
little at first. but gradually increasing
as they secure the ever charging de-
grees OF a street education.
Each advanced degree is more COM
plete in criminal incllnations and home
desertion. Each advanced lesson is one
step nearer graduation than its prede-
cessor. Each succeeding degree leading
the pupil nearer the danger line of i'm
propTiety, as II carries greater and still
greater contempt for law and order. as
well as greater disobedience for the
mothers admonitions.
Each new lesson increases the desire
to accomplish greater results on the ad-
vance line leading TO criminal supremacy,
for which he stTenuOusly adheres. as his
efficiency demonstrates itself. till he has
crossed the divide" and becomes wholly
addicted 10 criminal acts.
He may escape punishment for a while,
as he succeeds in evading arrest which
must come sooner or later as he becomes
more bold in his acts OF crime
He has grown into this criminal con-
ditiOn step by step. as the school of
practical results have been perfected in
leading that way
With the proper influences before him
TT home. with the complete moral evil
denee. clean cut in propriety. and moral
Ity about him. his graduation into
higher civilization might have been quite
as easy TO attain as the position he now
occupies at intervals behind the bars for
his criminal acts.
II is a question OF vital Importance 20
our people why the good people of the
District Of Columbia persist in retaining
a cause that produces such results
Better conditions could be established
quite as easily by removing the cause
leading directly to unhappiness.
The same cause contributes directly
and indirectly 10 the deplorable street
education for boys and girls Of tender
age.
It's elimination would open the way for
suppressing the street exhibit in favor Of
a humane education in the home itself
when the home is young and susceptible
10 the tender influences OF the mother.
The governing power Of this District
with all its wisdom. has a definite lesson
TO learn as we'll as execute.
II should lead in the better ways the
better plans for the welfare OF the peo-
pie. and not abandon the good leading
strings of advice in the effort to force
uncongeniaI conditions.
They are unnatural to progress and at
swords points with the elevating pro-
cesses without which the church itself
would be severely handicapped.
No up-to-date city holds greater peril
for It's people than the attempted en-
forcement Of the present Compulsory
vaccination law has for the parents and
children of this city.
1t has already shown. by its horrid re-
suits, another OF the make-shift attempts
10 overcome filth and filthy conditions
by injecting rotten" secretions, foreign
to health, into the arms of the children
TO overcome anticipated disease.
Actual disease and death have occurred
as n result Of this far-fetched theory IN
criminal practice. which still continues.
regardless OF its inhuman results 10 the
child.
AS teacher OF thirty years standing.
In a half dozen States, the present mani
festations in the Washington schools re-
garding compulsory vaccination" is the
nearest approach 10 legal child murder
of any innovation. of any Jurisprudence
outside the perlls of the early naviga-
tors in the "Cannibal Islands" that the
writer has ever been called 10 consider.
AS a criminal success the ordinance of
compulsory vaccination" is regarded as
having no equal
In laying the foundation OF disease and
contentious discipline. extending even to
the children on the streets in their MIN
ic regulations OF compulsive submissions
of brutality TO each other, in their ex-
perimental declarations of their forceful
leader. the lessons seem to be complete.
The keen observer cannot fail TO de-
teet conditions leading to criminal results
any day on the streets as a result Of
improper home delinquency, ripening for
suppression by the Juvenile Court.
Those Juveniles. in the course OF ma
ture. are rapidly growing into citizen
ship.
AS citizens they will soon be clamoring
for our places. AS citizens OF good or
of evil report we shall be held respon-
sible for satisfactory results as they
come 10 the front. 1t is no idle tale
they are rapidly coming our way. we see
them every day
Are we measuring Up TO the necessities