The Irish standard., 1919-06-07
DEBAucH1NG OUR YOUTH.

One aspect OF the scandal in high finance that has
been engaging the attention OF the Hennepin Coun-
ty criminal court during the past few months de-
serves somewhat more consideration and comment
than it has received at the hands of both press and
public. The wrecking of fourteen banks through
the financial aeroplanng of ruthless and unscrupu
lous Wallingford was, of course, the central item
which has rveted the eyes of officaldom we'll as
the public generally. Little heed has been given to
an aspect of the affair which may continue to make
for mischief in the community for many years to
come. We refer to the wholesale and cold-blooded
debauching of the characters of several dozens OF
youths of both sexes involved in the transactions
leading to the financial blow-up
These young people were asked to sign notes
either in blank for prodigious of money far
beyond their present prospective capacity to pay
and assured that such signing did not involve
makers were innocent girls employed in the offices
of the company whose head, the principal in the
criminal transactions, directly indirectly request
! ed their signatures. The notes were signed under
at least the normal duress OF possibility OF losing
their positions of employment with the company
Some of them were prudent enough to demur to the
procedure until they had obtained assurance in writ
ing OF their non-liability. Most of the worthless
paper, however, was made by boys in their minority
who did so at the instance of boy in the employ
ment of the company under instructions from the
boss. These notes were signed in blank and were
afterwards filled in to pass for commercial paper
running to fabulous amounts. Between pool games
several of these needless and Grass youngsters en-
tered into obligations of thousands of dollars sim
ply to stand in as good fellows with their cfum
who playing the role Of accessory to the game
of the boss.
Some of these dummies called to the witness
stand in the course of the trial and many of them
were bitterly repentant of. their blunder. They did
not, Of course foresee the calantous results to
which their blind signatures had made them con-
ltributors-the wreckage of the fourteen banks and
the concomitant losses to their depositors. They
knew little nothing of the technical difference
between accommodates" and any other financial
paper The best that can be said for them is that,
apparently few Of them received any direct indi
rect profit from their plunge into the field of finance.
/ Would it not be wholesome lesson to these boys
and girls if every of them hailed before the
court to receive at least sound moral spanking at
the hands of the judges? They should be solemnly
admonisfed against repetition OF such needless
stupidity, and have pointed out to them how mar
row is their escape from criminal liability in the
affair. Such an admoniton would be of benefit not
only to those involved in the present instance but
also to all the youth of the city and to the whole
community. What is spoken may be recalled, but
what is written has infinite possibilities of dreu
results.
: In this instance the guilty parties have not only
wrecked banks, but incidentally they have wickedly
attempted to debauch the characters of many inno
! cent and unsophisticated boys and grls-an aspect
of the crime that is hardly less culpable than its
maj or feature.