The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-06-27
OF The
JUVENILE COURT
NOTED WORKER MAKES PLEA FOR
RURAL COURT - STATES THAT
NINETY PER CENT OF CRIMINALS
ARE "HOME MADE" REST
FEEBLE MINDED.

Stating that the next field Of tho
Juvenile court would be in the rural
community and making a plea for
courts of that nature, Kate Flnkle, the
we'll known juvenile court worker Of
Minneapolis, addressed a large meeting
of the Women's Auxiliary of the Boost
ers convention at the Lyceum theatre
in Moorhead yesterday.
Miss Finkle is a former Moorhead
girl, who has become a we'll known
authority in her chosen line of social
service. Miss Finkle was one of the
pioneers in juvenile court work in Min
neapolis and now has nineteen assist
ants. Her work brings her into touch
mainly with children from the ages Of
seven to seventeen who nave shown a
criminal tendency. AS a result of the
rem are saved from a life of crime and
enabled to become the good citizens
they really want to be.
Il desire to show you the scientific
mot it's sentimental aspect. Our work
is to study child problems. Every
child with which we have to deal pre-
sents a problem that must be solved.
Children are not born criminals, they
are made, home made. In many cases
we FIND 1t Is the environment of the
home that Is making the criminal,
when we correct that, we have a citi-
zen in the making.
One case will illustrate. A young
boy came before me one morning, just
a little chap, but seven years old. When
l asked him If he smoked or chewed he
replied in the affirmative, he did both.
I asked his father who was standing
near If he was aware of his sons hab-
its n he answered, well, Miss, I adj
vised again it and agin' but it don't do
no good"
Many homes are making criminals
because of lack of system. We find
homes without proper facilities to
wash clothes, or cook food. but with a
piano being paid for on the installment
plan. which no n can play. But all
of our cases do not come from the
homes of the poor, we have cases from
the homes of the better classes. One
young man that came before us for
stealing was the son Of a prominent
| railroad official. He gave as his rea-
son for stealing the fact that he only
received five dollars a week for spend
ing money where other boys were get
ting twenty. A year in the shops, with
ing the boy so tired he could not go
out at night, saved him and he Is now
one of the best engineering students
at the university.
country today continued Miss Finkle
is the problem of feeble mindedRess
Many of our criminals are really feeble
minded, our worst criminals are found
to be so, men twenty or thirty years
old with the mentality of a child OF
ten or twelve are numerous in oul
criminal records. We should have
medical inspection, many of the cases
of backward children are due to ad'
noids which may easily be removed.
"Th basis of criminal treatment i!
changing concluded Miss Finkle. "Tht
adult courts are adopting juvenile me
thods. The juvenile court ought to b.
a state institution, found in the rura
communities as we'll as In the city. I
has a need everywhere. l hope vol
will help US secure this needed reform
in Minnesota"
Al the conclusion of Miss Finkle'l
address a reception was held for he
on the stage Of the theatre and man.
took the opportunity of meeting her
Miss Finkle has a charming personal
ity, and h speaks as if she was tell
ing a story and her audience was hell
intently throughout her most interest
ing address. Miss Finkle Is one of tn
suffrage leaders of Minnesota and
very much Interested in the campaig'
in North Dakota. you know. hoV
suffrage spreads to neighborinl
states" said Miss Finkle. IF Nortl
Dakota is successful it will meal
much to us here in Minnesota. w
are looking to your state to help US
Miss Finkle was introduced by Mrs
e. E. Sharp, chairman of the meeting
Preceding her address Mrs. Askegaar
rendered several delightful selection
assisted by Lillian c.. Wright and H. M
Rudd. Alice r. O'COnnel Of Minneapo
lis read Kate Jordan's Two Houses, l.
a m that quite delighted the aud
fence.