The labor world., 1913-03-15


And the intensely alive and highly organized the
boy, the more imperative is the satisfaction of that
craving =:
Excitement. fun, free play of activty-that is what
the boy wants; and if he can't find them schoo
and the home, he will get his excitement in the cheap
uncensored picture show; he will get his fun in mali
ciousy destroying property; and he will get his free
play OF activity in running from the police.
Not so very much more than century ago it was
the cheerfully effective practice of the English courts
to sentence children to death for stealing. il
recorded where a child of ordered to be hune
for stealing cents worth of paint. 1t is far CRY
from such abysmal barbarism to the present methods
of dealing with the youthful offender. We have
learned that duty is to reform, not to punish But
great as is that step, it is greater than the
which lies Immediately before Not to punish moi
to reform, but to preventhat is the duty of society
to the youthful offender. The necessity of punishment
and reform is proof that have failed to perform
our primary duty. Every society has only the Grim
inals it deserves greatest criminoogist.
And how to prevent the making of Grim
inals? Hundreds of less spasmodic uncoordin
ateo efforts are being made to reach the class from
which criminals are recruited, but the simplest
the most obvious, the economical most effec
tive agency has been all but entirely neglected. Thai
agency is the use OF the school plant for other
that the ordinary curriculum of education.
Here in Duluth have hundreds of thousands OF
dollars worth of magnificent buildings that until re-
Gently used only six seven hours of the day
hve days in the week. The work of making citizens
should in those buildings IL or IA hours of the
day and seven days in the week. Here is the one
public that is familiar every man. woman and
child In the city, and these the natural centers
which they would gravtate for and recrea
tion, if they only had chance.
We have already made beginning by establishine
a few night schools and few neighborhood centers
but only small beginning. Some day we shall look
back on the times when schools were closed more
than half the time, and realize that such condition
was as wanton an economic waste if manufacturer
should shut down his plant at noon each day.
ONE LOOMING ISSUE TO BE SETTLED
The railroads "are resigned" to have their proper
ties physically valued
But
"The railroad URGENTLY REQUEST that thu
valuation be CAREFULLY MADE and that the law bt
framed for the protection Of ALL concerned"
So runs the word from Washington
Which, being interpreted, means that the railroads
are hopeful of getting the valuation made by FRIEND
LY hands and CAREFULLY done that the wine
and water won't show
That, men and brethren forecasts nifty little is
sue during the coming years.
For don't forget that in each $3.50 of annual trans
portation tax levied by the railroads on the
tha
500 represents surax added to the cost of living fo
the enrichment of who did not give full or fat,
equivalent
1t represents capitalized pull capitalized privilege
rather than money energy directly invested
1t represents pretty pieces of paper held by bank
are collateral speculative loans as we'll as secnri
ties in the hands of innocent widows and orphans
1t is pillar in the temple of our "prosperitv'
which must not be shaken by any blind Samson lest
the structure topple and all be buried in it's ruins
Yet
There are many millions of widows and orphans
who may at any time become orphans who are Twins
on the ragged edge of want, without penny against
rainy day. and aren't they also entitled to consdera
ton?
10 continue to tax them the inflated holdings q,
the privileged few is to proong into endless time th<
injustice under which they now suffer-
physical valuation that should put seal Of sanc
ton upon the accumulated page Of the careless mast
would suit to nicely the comfortable gentlemen in
whose pockets the bulk of it buges
But would 1t be end of agitation or = so,ven,
of unrest?
We guess this issue, also will have to be sett1ed
right.
The man who expects and anticipates impossbi1itie,
IN the growth OF the trades union movement is
to disappointment. Expectations based on IMAGINATION
outside of the realm of fact surrounding condt
tiOns cannot be realized The historic nroeross ~