Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1912-02-05
A BOY. THE POLICE AND A PRIEST
dubuque Telegraph

II Martin ObSitri2k. 10 years u aee
landed in Dubuque last week. n was
picked up by the police-we nave ,he
most marvellous boy-catchers IN 'he
| world on our police force-and put IN
! the matron's quarters.
There a priest. the shepherd Of
! friendLess boys, to whom this news
| paper has had occasion before to re-
I! fer. and who is doing a great and
necessary work-met Martin. To him
martin told his story.
His home was in a town In Illinois
His father was a saloonkeeper. he
had stolen $50 from his father and
was sent to the reform school. Upon
| his release he returned to his fathers
home. His father turned him out.
| Martin "hit the road" and got of at
Dubuque.
The police communicated with the
boys father. Don't send him here.
I don't want him and won't receive
him." answered the father. I'll take
the boy" said the priest. get him a
lob. and watch eel him. He Is not
so far gone that he can't be saved"
But the wise ~police-the very. very
wise police-hguring that. left here
Martin would give them trouble, got a
ticket for him. put him on the train
and sent him back to the Illinois town
from which he came. What business
OF theirs that his father would not
open the door to him? What business
OF theirs that he would be forced to
become a boy Of the streets? What
business Of theirs that. in all probable
!ty. he would become a criminal? The
police department OF Dubuque-spare
the marks not organized to save
COWS to orderly society: it is its bust
ness to kick them from pillar to post.
to impress them with the belief that
every hand is against them: to refuse
to put them in the keeping OF a PRIEST
ly guardian who by kindness and coun-
sci and wise guidance might make
men Of them.
Who is responsible for Martin Obsit-
rick? Experience teaches that no boy
becomes hopelessly bad unless he is
made so by others. If Martins home
training was such as it should have
been he would not be what he is: If
his parents were what they should be
they would not shut the door against
him. 1t is unfortunately true that
some parents give their children ex-
amples in wickedness that necessarily
poison the minds of the little ones.
Many parents hardly ever are in po-
sition to give an account of their
children's whereabouts, nor do they
seem to care, while others believe in
bringing them up on the streets. This
criminal Indifference n neglect by
the parents coupled with an " en-
vironment, bad associations, ETC.. is
the cause Of the physical and moral
ruin of many children. Are the chill
dren then, to be punished for the sins
Of their parents? Is Martin Obsitrick
to be looked upon and treated as a
criminal? Are we to commend the
| zeal Of the police. seeking the well
fare ca Of the community in sending
thu poor lad to a home that is not a
home, to a parent who is not a father,
and rejecting the offer to provide the
boy with a good boarding place, a Job.
a friend and hope?
The social problem is not in way
Of solution when the police take such
a view Of their duty. Such methods
make criminals Of boys and embftter
them against government and against
humanity. Let there be effort to save
unfortunate children, for If there
shall not be the reaping will be a
Whirlwind Of anarchy.