New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-07-20
g. WORfANS VARIED INTERESTS 4
Two Hundred Thousand Detectives
The Randall Island Problem One Hundred Times Larger
Throughout the State, Is Costhest Public Disgrace.

among us continually threatens our
usefulness and happiness. We have
learned to recognize the menace of the
insane at large in the community, but
we do not yet recognize the danger of
the feeble minded.
Decisions.
"The insane have delusions, we say
they hear voices telling them to COM
nit crimes. SO do the feeble-minded
hear voices, the voices of the vicious,
whose tools they readily become. Not
less than 25 per cent, probably, of the
inmates of our prisons and peniten-
tiaries have become criminals because
their mental inferiority made them
easy tools.
"By adequate care of the feeble
minded society might be saved from
25 per cent Of all the murders, burglar
les and assaults of which it is the VIC
tim every year.
Grades of Detectives.
"Of the four classes of detectives,
the low grade, or idiots; the middle
grade. or imbeciles, and all delinquent
detectives should undoubtedly be seq
regated There are perhaps twenty
thousand idiots and imbeciles and ten
thousand delinquent detectives.
At least a million dollars should be
appropriated by the Legislature for the
development Of existing institutions
and the establishment OF additional
farm colonies. Neglect of the feeble
minded is a frightful extravaganza,
breeding, as it does, crime and increase
Of dependence.
"The work must be done. The next
lie -islature should provide for the
completion of Letchworth Village even
though highroads and canals have to
wait.
THE welfare OF the race demands
the segregation of idiots and imbeciles
at least. To what extent sterilization
may be used effectively is an open
question. Obviously not all of the
high grade detectives, or morons, can
be segregated, not, at least, for a long
time. Sterilization and careful super
vision might enable them to live in
society without danger to themselves
or to the race.
Variety of Causes.
"Heredity, however, is not the only
cause of feeble neutrality-suspicious.
alcoholism, malnutrition, exhaustion
from overwork are among others. These
causes must be combated by social
legislation-by better housing laws,
that will prevent the land Spectator
from building slum areas and provide
for the poorest worker the advantages
of a sanitary home in healthful sur
roundings; more justly compensated
labor with reasonable hours OF employ
ment and opportunities for rest and
rational recreation; a system OF indus
trial insurance which will provide for
in dependent support in sickness and
old age and in wdowhood; such pro-
gressive AID uplifting influences as the
teaching Of health laws generally and
particularly with relation to sex by
giene and eugenics, thereby educating
for better parenthood; improved mar
riace laws and their careful enforce
ment: the inculcation of the virtues Of
temperance, morality and thrift, to-
gether with the proper supervision Of
the young and their careful training
for scholastic or industrial efficiency.
All of these things which are essential
for the normal man and woman will
surely be helpful in controlling and
eventually graduating those forms Of
mental defect which are caused by bad
conditions of life"