New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-10-22
OUR HUMAN M|Sf|IS"
Or. Woods Hutchinson Talks CT
Successful Criminals.

Dr. Woods Hutchinson, writing In
"Everybodys MAGAZINE" about Our
Human Mshts" says: NO scheme Of
dealing with crime would be even approxi-
msteIy adequate and complete that did not
include the successful criminal as we'll as
the unsuccessful one. He Is probably. IL
is true. less numerous and renders certain
services 10 the community as an Offset
against the injuries which he infiicts. bur
he is of course. much more powerful and
probably. in the long run a more danger
Gus anti-social influence Just what Ills
percentiie frequency is il IL dificult 70 de-
termine on account Of the insdequacy %
the data-due 10 the fact that he has never
been caught and tagged-snd to the vague
ness OF the systems Of his classification.
But so far as the reports Of the Census
Bureau enable us 70 determine. he would
appear 10 approximate To the normal per-
centage Of detectives. namely. about one
half OF l per cent.
That such a class Of moral detectives
exists is unfortunately evidenced with
painful distinctness by the daily and week
~ personal experiences ~ every one Of rs.
The fact that our laws should have
signally failed 20 deal effectively with him,
as with his unsuccessful brother az tho
other end Of the scale. is little 70 be won
dered ar when We remember how many of
the laws were made under his direction or
modified by his representatives and how
many OF them are Interpreted by Judges
who. however honest personally, have re-
ceived the bulk NJ their legal training as
HIS confidential advisers
But there are encouraging signs that
the conscience ~ the people Is slowly he
ginning 70 awake 20 his encroachments:
the learned professions are showing synp-
toms Of being ashamed of the partnership
into which they have been entrapped
against the welfare OF the community.
and It looks as II at the present rate OF
judicial progress some indictments might
he found against him before he dies OF old
age. and possibly one or two Of him caught
and appropriately striped so as 10 die
courage the others.
I'm the mean time. as he has succeeded
in intrenching himself locally 50 securely
in his ward. rotten borough or state as
20 defy attack. one cannot help thinking at
times that II might be useful to return -
that curious old weapon Of the whole
people when once thoroughly aroused
against any single individual. namely.
ostracism. with It's accompanying sem
tence OF Punishment. on the whole. il ap-
pears 10 have worked well in classical
times.
oliver Wendell Holmes. when boy.
made the suggestion 70 his mother, after
discussing the case Of some village repro
ate, that IL would be an excellent idea TO
have an election every year at which
vote should be cast FOR the most unpopular
man in each community. and then, gently
but firmly, 10 take the individual 50 dcsis-
mated out and hang aim.
ut would hardly be necessary 70 proceed
10 such extreme lengths as this. but sup
posing, say at each Presidential election.
Il were permissible for any body Of five
thousand or more voters TO demand a vote
upon the name OF some alleged enemy Of
the common good. declaring him a traitor
to his country and an enemy to her peace.
Then suppose a majority OF the ballots
cast by the united American people in
dorsed this sentiment Suppose this indi-
vidual were then sentenced 70 Punishment
until say, the next Presidential election.
with loss OF all political rights anu WITHOUT
permission TO remove from the country or
to transfer any of his real estate or other
possessions save the moneys needed for
his personal support
AT the end of that period he might be
permitted to return on probation. unless
another submission Of his name We're called
for II this resulted in mis- condemnation
for a second time. the sentence at 0auirh
ment should become permanent ahd include
conhscation Of his property.
The system would, OF course, be subject
TO certain abuses; but IL would seem az II
II could hardly fail 10 produce chasten-
ing effect upon the high handed actions OF
certain financial magnates and political
bosses and TO render certain defiantly and
openly anti-social courses Of action dis
tinctly less popular"