Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-09-12

over hundred and fifty thousand wht
had participated In strike riots resultin,
In homicide and injury 70 persons an,
property, who had gone unpublished. Tn
Chicago Tribune gives figures which shoy
tnat from 1881 to 1908, inclusive, the mum
Der Of homicides committed IN the Unite,
states Increased from LS6e to nearly sooo
Iii 10 years the total number was 1SS, 1872
while during the Civil War the whole MUM
Der OF men on the Union side who wer,
Killed or died Of wounds. was 10000. II
Louisville. Ken. during the year endint
August 1. last. A homicldes were com
mitted and there was not one legal ex
ecution; while during the year 1909 In tn,
city Of London with It's enormous popu
iation. there were only 10 cases OF muir
der. OF these murderers six committed
suicide, four were convicted and execu
ted, four were found to be insane, ant
one died while waiting trial. We have
the testimony Of Andrew White. who
says: THE murder rate In the United
States Is from ten to twenty times great
er than the murder rate OF the British
empire and other northern European
countries"
That the spirit OF lawlessness has grown
rapidly and has manifested itself in the
lower crimes and misdemeanors as well
as in the highest crime, Is the opinion OF
men who have had much to do with law
enforcement few years ago the police
commissioner Of Boston was asked to give
a statement as to the behavior OF boys
and whether II had become better or
worse during his long observance He
tells us that the change has been decided
iy for the worse in the last 20 years; that
whereas formerly the pranks Of the boys
were apt TO be prompted by a spirit of
fun and to be destitute OF a really HARM
ful and lawless intent. the disposition of
n great many boys now is to damage
out Of mere wantonness. sheer
love OF destruction. He expresses the
opinion that the average boy Of to-day
has far less regard for law as law than
had the boy OF generation ago.
This is not quoted as an Endorsement,
necessarily. OF the opinion expressed. but
L Is interesting as a piece OF evidence
Or the subject which Is under discussion
A Few years ago Ambassador Reid
spoke In this country on Some Points
of Difference between the Educational
systems Of the Two Great English
Speaking Countries" He discusses to
bur disparagement the attitude of
children Of the two nations in respect
10 reverence OF the law. He praises
The English taught children by saying
hat they are respectful to those set
over them. grounded in the morals Of
Christian civilization. with an instinc-
fvA 80 ~.
becoming regard for the authorities
hat represent IT," Then he thought.
'ully inquiries III the interest Of the
'epublic requires that every child
hall he compelled to learn to read
is laws. does not the same interest as
absolutely require that every child
'hould be taught. ana should be un
lble to escape being taught the abso-
ute necessity Of respect for those laws
md prompt and dutiful obedience to
he officers OF the law" He sums up
he striking difference between the
entiment toward the law AMI law NJ
lcers in London and New York as fol
ows:
I'm London the Policeman. the repre-
entative Of the law. often controls
he biggest and angriest crowd by
ifting his hand. In cases where the
'ew York policeman has to lift his
lub Nay. here the giddy chauffeur.
or single example out OF many,
'aily snaps his fingers at the uplifted
Tub and has to be run down on a
motorcycle. Even then. when caught.
70 is apt to tell the presumptous pc-
ceman his means to have him broken
or his pains Such a threat in London
you'd railroad him to n long term In
ALL The mere failure to stop the
1oment a policeman lifts his hand. Is
generally in England unthinkable; tn.
Is staggered to conceive
he punishment that might befall the
nsensate and follhardy person who
hould venture on such unprecedented
awlessness some cause has pro.
uced this difference II is probable
hat early training In a school that
ould in nowise be escaped by tn,
boy hai something to 10 with
l."
A well-known military man speak
ng before body OF students OF }
Military college. gave his opinion a.
D the present conditions in this coun
~ on this subject. as follows: with
8 the teaching Of reverence for and
bedience to law in educational insti.
ltions has gone with other ideas ~
and with It reverence for |
NV and law enforcement in the State
With the introduction Of license into |
ducation has come the invocation OF |
lob law In the State. until the over
OF municipal law by mob
iolence has become merely an Incl.
ent in our national lrfe scarcely caus-
,g remark unless It be in our own
The facts seem to be plainly against
8 on the evidence which has been In
'oduced when comparison Is made
etween this country and Great Brit
In; and this Is said to be true In re-
beet to the other nations OF the Old
'orld Of the same standard OF civiliz.
lion as Great Britain.
Thoughtful students In ami out Of
lie profession have been studying tho
hestions involved to determine IL
ossible. the causes which have led to
lie con iitions which are conceded
exist. The vast influx OF foreigners
"a been assigned as an explanation for
great share OF the crimes committed,
IT 1t is agreed that this only In part
Iplains the situation, for London has
any foreigners. yet In spite Of their pres
ice maintains Its order and its low per-
ntage OF crime
The loosening Of the restraint and sane
ons of religion among some classes Of
'ople Is believed by many to be a potent
ctor In the increase Of crime. But