The Washington herald., 1914-11-09
STUDIES
SOCIAL BACILLI
DR.. Arthur Macdonald Ex-
pounds Theories Of Grim
NAL Anthropolog.
WARGREATEST oFcRIMES
Says Moral Detectives Require as
thorough a Study as Germs of
Physical Diseases.
WAR GREATEST OF GRIMES

The International crime OF var Is the
greatest Of all crimes" This ID the nrss
principle Of the new science-criminaI an
thropology. One Of the objects Of criml-
nal anthropology is 10 lessen and pre-
vent such crime All evil is crime a. :
cording TO the new science and can De
corrected by scientific Investigations. Tn.
basic principal Of criminal anthropology
Is that Just as the physician studies his
patient 30 should the criminal be
studied" and that all criminals, pau
pers. 'hlattoids, and other detectives are
social bacIIli" which require as thor
ough study as the bacIlli Of physical
diseases.
DR.. Arthur Macdonald. wen known
as criminologist. IL the chief exponent
OF the new line of research. His def
milton OF criminal anthropology Is thar
It consists In the study OF man. men,
tally, morally, and physically. depending
synthetically on the results OF many
other sciences"
study Criminal Side.
The study Of mans criminal side a.
advocated in the new line Of research"
said DR.. Macdonald when asked for
an explanation of the principles and
theories Of the new science, ''is bota
scientific and humanitarian. affording
more opportunity for mental acumen and
moral purpose than any other branca
OF inquiry.
The intensive and minute investiga-
ton Of a single criminal illustrates Just
how and by what steps both environment
and inward nature lead to criminal acts.
By a thorough study of each criminal
We hope to place the science on such q
practical basis that rational steps
toward the prevention Of crime can be
taken. War is the greatest crime, be-
cause 1t looms largest when considered
from the point Of view that degree of
criminality is measured according to det-
riment to the community. Assassina-
by robbing 1t OF some Of its most usefuI
members calls for a very careful study
Of the mattoids and cranks who attempt
the lives OF prominent men.
"One purpose OF criminal anthropology
Is to protect through knowledge gained
by scientific study the weak, especially
the young at an early age before they
have become tainted and fallen. Every
child has right to a proper bringing
up and the time has come when we
should study a child with as much ex-
actness as we investigate the chemical
element in q stone or measure the noun
tains on the moon.
No one should be held responsible for
the first fifteen years Of his or her life.
nor Is any one accountable for the ten
dencies inherited from his or her an
cestors. As the die is usually cast before
adult life. responsibility Is most dificult
to determine. Therefore I'm judging
human beings we should emphasize their
excellencles rather than their defects.
To know all Is to forgive ALL yet every
person dangerous to property or life,
whether insane, criminal. or defective,
should be confined although not neces- |
sarily punished.
Question Of Liberty.
But society has no right to permit |
prisoners to be released who probably |
will return to crime. Where Il is a |
question between justice to the individual |
and TO the community. the community |
should be given the benefit OF the doubt |
The prison, which should be q reform |
atory where there 10 q minimum temp |
tation to do wrong and q maximum |
to do right, should also |
be q school conducted along distinctly /
lines. It should serve as q |
laboratory where the Grim
inals can be studied for the bsnefit OF
the community as q whole.
Increase Of Intellectual development IL |
not necessarily connected with increase
Of morality. The longer We live the more |
we appreciate the average honest man \
compared with the talented dishonest /
man."