New-York tribune., 1911-09-11
PERIL OF HOOuCAN|SM
England AnxiousIy Studying One
of Her GraveSt Problems.
CASE OF WAR CONSIDERED
Protection of Wives and Families
of Soldiers Serving Abroad
Would Be a Primary Duty.

| London, Sept 2-The peril OF hooligan'
SIN disclosed by the outbreaks Of preda-
tory and destructive violence during tho
ecent strikes is engaging the anxious con-
sideration of law-abidlng people in all parts
OF the country.
An army officer service In repressine
the rioting IN Liverpool, appalled, by tht
revelation OF the dangerous residuum In
that city. expressed last week his fears OF
what would happen in England II the
country became involved in a foreign war
and the withdrawal of the troops left the
police to deal unassisted with mob out
break. The troops, he said, had been "en
deavoring 10 hold back a scum the ike
OF which Paris never saw In her worst
days" Below are some representative
opinions upon the subject. These and the
floods OF letters from the industrial CEN
tres show that the imperative necessity OF
dealing Immediately with the danger Is
universally recognized
Knows Of No Remedy.
Mr.. Hutchinson, Lord Mayor OF Liverpool
stated Yesterday: "To say that Liverpool S
hooligan element is as bad even as the
lITPSenl-udN AldfNtS VI iS' ~ 'i'S
opinion. an overstatement." He agreed
however. that Liverpool has hooligan ele-
ment which constitutes a danger to the
community. He added: They don't work
they are OF no use; we don't want them
They are a menace and a nuisance. | know
of no remedy for such an element OF dan
ger within the city. The laws of the coun-
try to-day are toe lenient to enable us TO
deal with beings of this type"
Mr. Hutchinson disagreed with the LV'
erpool officers statement that the police
mans baton is useless. Il think the baton
lis still effectual." he said THE down
right hooligans are really towards and will
run at the sight of anything like deter
mined force, such as the police display 80
admirably"
Il. A. Armitage. Manchester magis-
/ trate. said "IIoolganism is a problem
which is now coming to the front and
which must be dealt with The recent
strikes have shown how grave and real the
danger is. There is an old saying that If
a man lives in a pgsty he will have the
habits of a pig Accepting this as a
truism. IL is clear that until we get better
surroundings for the residuum OF the
masses we cannot hope for a great I'M
provemeut either in their manners or con-
duct"
A leading Manchester manufacturer
stated: "Supposng the country were with
out troops and an outbreak Of hoonganishl
occurred. there would never be any diff
Guilty i'm getting volunteer corps strong
enough to deal with any outbreak Of vio-
lence Of this sort"
Bad Housing Creates Ruffianisr'.
Councillor Pratt of Glasgow. thought
that the Liverpool officer was too pessi-
mistc He had confidence in the govern
ment of the day taking steps TO protect
the wives and families of men who might
he called upon in case Of war. He felt that
the housing system created hufflanism.
HoolieanisIn. he added, was not so proVa-
lent in Glasgow as formerly.
Mr.. Mckenzie, Chief Constable OF car,
diff, said the only way TO protect wives ano
families from the hooligans In times ol
war, when there were no soldiers aDout,
was by the respectable citizens uniting to-
gether.
4 Cardiff magistrate stated: Train the
police in the use of the rife Make them
military police. so that when a crisis such
as IS foreshadowed comes they will be able
TO act as substitutes for the soldiers
Hooliganism is our chief and only danger
and now is the time 10 act, when recent
events are fresh In the mind ~
Alderman U..G. Saver. chairman OF the
Birmingham Watch Committee and q
magistrate, said: There is an element In
this city which is a menace to the In
ha btants II there were signs Of this ele-
ment asserting itself 10 the danger Of life
and property We should Immediately enroll
special constables under the powers OF the
magistrates 10 act in a drastic. manner
We should arm them II necessary, and
also arm the police. There was danger
I'm birmingham during the recent strike
which few people realized. and II was only
| the prompt and effective steps taken to
deal with it that prevented n serious out
| brpab -