The Detroit times., 1915-01-14
MOVIES GIVEN
BLAME FOR MUCH
DELINQUENCY
Responsible for Juvenile Thefts
and Runaways, According to
Y. M. c. A. Survey
CRIME AMONG CHILDREN
is NOT ON INCREASE
East and West Sides Produce
About Equal Numbers of
Offenders

Juvenile delinquency in Detroit is
not on the Increase, IN proportion TO
the increase OF population, according
10 the report of a commission on both
adult and juvenile delinquency com
posed OF secretaries OF the Detroit Y.
NJ. G. A. The report was made We'd
nesday before the regular January
star conference of 81 secretaries, and
was the fourth OF series OF studies
into the different social civic and re-
ligious phases of the city
Delinquency among juveniles was
found TO be In about the same proper
tion on both east and west sides of
Detroit, the only real difference being
in the nationalities of those appre-
hended. Larceny, truancy, auto steal.
ing and neglect were given by Chair
man l.. #. Reichard, employed boys
secretary, as the principal causes OF
delinquency among the young.
Larceny is common among certain
races Of foreign blood. much OF Il due
to the desire Of boys and gfrls 20 have
the pleasures OF life. The motion pic
ture show is said to contribute largely
TO this form of delinquency, for the
children want to see the movies, and
ii is the only way many OF them have
of getting the money.
After seeing some OF the homes IN
which Detroit children are compelled
to live," said -Reichard,- lone does
not wonder that Juvenile misdemean-
ors exist or that the kiddies run away
from home. A little study shows con-
clusively' that the railroad contributes
its share TO the delinquency of chill.
dren. Lots OF them cannot withstand
the lure OF the moving freight train
or the box cars on the siding. They
offer either a chance to run away or
chance to pick coal or loot freight.
There Is one locality in Detroit
where stealing coal is considered the
thing to do; IL is not considered Grim
inal at all.
"The motion picture no doubt con-
tributes largely to the number of run
aways from home, for in many ofsthe
film dramas the children get their
first ideas OF adventure for this sort of
thing, as well as their first method OF
escape.
children OF foreign parents show
decided disregard for law and school
and home restraint, of course They
often break entirely away from their
parents. The love OF good clothes
and a good time also add TO delin-
quency. The gang also furnishes It's
quota OF responsibility.
''Intemperance in Detroit. as well
as in other cities, contributes largely
20 delinquency and dependency"
Figures from the Detention home
show that | 300 boys and girls have
been cared for there during 1914. at
cost of $500. Crowded quarters
are at present provided for rs boys
and lS girls. The only exercise they
receive is that obtained three times
a week in the gymnasiums of the Y.
NJ. C. A. and Y. w c. A II was
shown by Secretary Stedman that one
third OF the 500 boys in the Lansing
reformatory were sent from Detroit
and that 80 per cent of the number
are OF Polish descent.
A. w. Lumley declared that accord.
ing TO Detroit's population 'at least
36 900 people must have help 10 live
above the poverty line and $4,000 peo-
pie in this city live below the poverty
line"
Lack OF employment produces
crime" said he. Half OF the $50 men
OH DTODdilOu lIbiAA Ai' AhAA - - 'A'
no Jobs. Three-quarters OF the men
under probation are Poles Forty per
cent OF the men In the House OF Cor.
rection are OF foreign birth or de-
scent"
Secretary II r Wegener made a
study OF the penal system OF the state
county and city and showed the newer
ideas which prevail toward punish
ment and crime Ills report showed
the success OF the Jean Vatican Help
er's fund I'm aiding $50 eX-convicts go
fhe extent OF S7.5f2 since the fund
was established Only $3.50 OF this
sum remains TO be paid back TO the
fund. though s4l6 was loaned to men
who later broke their paroles.
william H venn. in charge of this
fund. said;
The boys play fair. | trv TO have
a lob for them as soon as they reach
town and ] lend them enough TO tide
them over till their first or second
pay
Fountain Pen HepaIrina. All makes.
touubltn. Majestic bIdu. 1ohhy.--AdN