The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1916-01-14
LOOK UP. NOT EOWN

No more startling document has been
issued in Maryland in n long time than
was the report Of the Vice Commission
appointed several years ago by Governor
Goldsborough, and public opinion soon
became keenly divided rs to its accuracy
and as to the expediency Of its pubIIca-
ton Few who know the standing OF
the men who made the report were
willing to question the published state
ments, but many of their warm admir-
ers doubted the wisdom of their wide,
spread publication. 1t could only re-
suit in shocking the modesty and deli
cacy which surround many n Maryland
hesrthstone. with no accompanying
benefits
A happy ray of light however recent.
y sprang from the report of the city
Grand Jury Committee just issued,
which shows that the most humiiatlng
features of the former report were past
history long before the report was issued
and do not in any way reflect present
conditions. In fact convincing case
was made out Of Baltimore which has
rapidly improved in moral lines during
recent years and il steadily making
progress forward.
And now comes the report of the
Vice Commission Of New York City
which has been made through its chair
man John ID. Rockefeller, Jr, and by
whose efforts the Commission was
organized three years ago No one will
accuse him Of being over anxious t.
give undue credit to this munlcipa
government, yet, without going into
details. such happy improvement II
found and such laudatory comments
made relative to the police and others
who have done this great work. that
the least we can do IL to JON in rcjOlc
ing with those who see the world NOV
ing on to higher plane and happier
living.
The facts which mislead 40 many in
their conclusions are that when noting
the increase of crime they fail to con
slider two important factors. first, thai
urban life. where temptations are many
more times greater than in the county,
Is rapidly on the increase. Our ratio
# urban residents in 1880 was fourteen
per cent. but in 1900 it was forty per
cent. and today it is largely in the
majority. Second. these critics in draw
,ng their conclusions note the numer-
itor of their fraction but forget the
denomination. For instance If in 1880
We had 600, 900 criminals in IA popula.
ion of ~, 900, 600 and in 1910 we had
800, 900 in II population of 100, 900, 900
the logical conclusion from these figures
Is that while there were more criminals
IN 1910 than there were in 1880, the
ratio of crime is on the decrease.
From all of which let the timid take
heart and the brave take courage. In
40 many forms does mankind now in
open charities like soup houses. and
now in efforts to alleviate pain through
hospitals where they turn frai suffer.
ing bodies into healthy men and women
help to lift countless numbers out OF
the slough Of despond and misery into n
life of healthy hope and self sustaining
living that it does not lie in the mouth
Of any man to speak slightingly of such
noble acts
Eloquent sermons are often preached
deprecating the fact that few men to.
day practice tthing their incomes rs
was the approved way some thousands
Of years ago; but if such will recall
that the ancient 1.-THE covered all public
dues which we now divide among the
church, the state, public charities and
the thousand and one public expendi-
lures made for others. they will find
that the force of this complaint is not
founded on fact.
1t is worthwhile for everyone to re.
member that there is big battle of
life going on, and always will be, and
that each ones highest privilege is to
lend hand towards helping along
towards victory.