The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1911-09-08
Roasts THE Juvenile Court
and Likewise its Fo1


E. X Whitehead, of Child and
Animal Protection, sends out the
following roast for Judge Ben B.
Lindsey and his juvenile court:
1T is our unpleasant duty again
to warn other communities against
adopting the methods of the juve-
nile court in this city.
Ever since the cout was started
and the methods it was to use were
disclosed We have never failed, when
occasion offered, TO protest solidly
against them as being opposed to
experience and common sense and
certain TO bring bad results.
For a long time the com munity
itself was so carried away with
the novelty of the courts proceed
ings. and so few were either eXper-
fenced or judicious and able to dis
Germ their tendency and the essen
tiaI absurdity OF the claims made for
the court by its judge, that for
years we We're the only critic and
the only one TO point out its inev-
table end.
I'm the interest of the children
We have always maintained this po-
sition in the face of disbelief and
resentment, of centure and abuse.
Gradually as the more intelligent
and discerning members of the COM
munity learned the real character
of the court and its Judge, the bad
effects of its influence on children
brought before it and upon the chill
#
those who Condemn it and would
like to see it done away with en-
tirely as an institution unless it is
reformed has increased.
I'VE do not hesitate to say that
at the present time every well in
formed and reliable agency of child
protection in this city would agree in
saying that the juvenile court has
been not merely failure but a dis
tinct injury to majority of the
children brought before it and to
the children of the city in general.
When we say that, we mean the
courts, the prosecuting officials. the
public schools, the police department,
the state institutions for the care
of children, and many. even. of the
unofficial and less responsible per
sons and institutions interested in
children.
AT the same time, few, if any,
of these institutions and officials
would express their real opinion OF
the juvenile court except in conf
dence. They do not feel disposed
to criticise an institution in which
many people. not well informed
about 1t. still believe. They do not
wish, either. to be the victims of
the extraordinary vindictiveness
with which Judge Lindsey is accus-
toned to attack the motives and
the character of anyone who
criicises nina sort of weasel-like
ferocity which regards neither truth
nor decency.
Does this mean that the country
in general has been humbugged in
regard to the juvenile court? 1t
does.
1T means that nearly every sub
stantial claim for its work and its
achievements during the past ten
years has been untrue. 1t means
that our own citizens who believe in
II haye been imposed upon. 1t means
that those who have read and lis
tened with wonder and admiration
to graphic and pathetic tales of its
success in dealing with child offend
ers have been for the most part, de
liberately deceived.
Il am sorry II Is so, but I'M
less other communities he misled
and suffer the same disappointment
and injury this city has, II is our
duty to repeat it again. the warning
we have been giving for ten years.
III proof is asked for we refer
the questioner to the authenticated
figures on the extraordinary and al
arming increase in Juvenile crime
during the life of the Juvenile court
and under its unhindered and ex-
elusive control. to the request OF
Judge Lindsey himself. made in Jan
uary of the present year to our
school board that parental
school" be established because
the present system is failure" to
the experience OF officials accus-
toned to deal with children by
authority already referred to. and
to individual cases practically with
out number"