The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-09-05
Family Uprisings Send Boys to
Reform School.
State Penal Report Shows
Startling Conditions.
LIQUOR AND TOBACCO CURSE
Majority of Criminals Use
Them to Excess.
City Sends Many to Topeka
Institution.

The relation between the boy and
the home, the boy and nquor ana the
boy and tobacco and the states re
sponsibility in caring for the boy a1ter
his experiences with these modern ap-
pliances, is made evident today py
report covering the penal INSTITUTIONS
of Kansas by ]. w. Howe, secretary
of the board of control. IL senator
Howe's figures are indicative OF con-
ditions among the juvenile criminals,
LIQUOR, tobacco and unhappy MONIES
have no little influence on the chill
dren of the state.
In the first place Secretary Howe
shows that 362 of the $40 criminals
received at the penitent1ary each year
are addicted to the excessive use OF
Intoxicating liquor. In the next low
er institution of age importance, the
reformatory at Hutchinson, he finds
that the percentage is only signify
below the penitentiary figures Then
he includes the boys industrial schooi
in Topeka, where tots between the
ages of IL and 16 are sent, and ne
detects 22 out of 225 that use tquor
to excess-or who have used the
friendship of John Barleycorn.
Country VS.. City.
Once more the country wins VIC
tory over the city. 1t is found that
19s of the boys sent to the industrial
school at Topeka are picked up on the
city streets and only ~ come froT N
bright lights, neglected curfew laws
bad company, night gangs, dissipating
fathers and opportunities or CRIME
creep through the dramatic figures
that come from the states institutions.
In connection with the enormous
percentage of city chaps over the in
nocent country boy, is tale OF un.
happy homes. The Howe report
shows that in 1S9 of the 225 cases in
Topeka the homes were not fit for
the YOUNGSTERS. The boys either were
poorly fed, neglected or with unde-
sirable parents. In SO OF these cases
ii was found that the parents were
either separated or divorced and the
bows were allowed to run at large
without parent love OF attention.
the Us inmates in the states Topeka
school, IT'S are there because OF theits.
Thieves among boys ranging from the
Tobacco also claimed its increasing vic
tins. More than 100 boys at the TopeKa
are users of tobacco. In summing up the
causes, Secretary Howe finds these racts'
Number of inmates, 25-
Used intoxicating liquor to excess, z
Used tobacco. 108.
Sent from the cities, 1sa:
Sent from the country, q.
Fathers used liquor, IS.
Sent from poor homes, 49,
Parents separated, 90.
Figures at Penitentiary.
The penftentiary figures show a depior-
able condition among the prisoners "neH
has been found that 247 of the prisoners
1S and n and that III left the parental
roof between the ages of s and 16.
The penitentiary records show also tnat
sss prisoners used liquor to excess; ,, Men
who were without occupations numDere9
2i3, showing the relationship of crime i and
were Unable to read or write A majority
of the inmates are between the ages OF =
and 30 More than IS per cent never went
a,,ove the fourth grade in school
what we need in Kansas Ism more re
33uuyeniie officers." said Senator Howe in
sspeaking of the report. There were So.
IN bovs before the juvenile courts last
until after they have committed crime.
We should get to the boys before they
NO fallen.