The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1919-07-03
War Gave a Big
Stimulus to Crime

The late war with Germany largely
unsettled The affairs OF mankind and
gave a big stimulus to crime in al
parts OF the world. but TO a less ex-
tent in this country than in the ma
tions of Europe that were more di-
rectly affected by it. The United
States, however. has not escaped a
material increase in its criminal pro-
duction as a result of the great con-
hict. as the records Of the court will
show. In all parts of the land there
has been more violations of law dur
ing the last five years than in any pre-
sious period of the same length in the
history OF the government. This is
true of every state, city and commu-
nifty in the Union, and is direct con-
sequence of changing the national life
from its accustomed pursuits into mil
itary channels. Such an increase in
crime asserted itself after the Revo-
lutionary War; the War of 1912; the
Mexican War of 1S47 and the Civil
War of 1s60-65. 1t will be the case
as long as wars last and men are
drawn from the ranks of peace and
are. required 10 should the rifle. fight
the battle with artillery and cavalry,
or take part in the carnage with the
navies of the air and the sea.
The wave of crime has manifested
itself both in the civil ana military
population, which was not unexpected
in view of the fact that the very
foundations of society have been
shaken by the war and the hardships
it entailed. A large number of young
men who were called into the army
when the United States entered the
war as a belligerent have returned to
civil life with new ideas and aspira-
tions, some of them with a desire 20
make living in tn eeasiest possible
manner without much consideration
whether the means they employed to
accomplish il were honest or not. AL
together too many OF these young men
are getting into trouble because of the
mistaken conviction that the world
owes them a living without honest
/ toll
None of our Fremont county SOL.
der boys. we are glad to say. have
come into conflict with the law because
OF these false theories and ideas of
life. Colorado boys have, as a rule.
been immune to such doctrines and
nave Somc uOiut lIOlu the war Win a
splendid patriotism and a proud con-
sciousness of their duty to society, a
determination TO maintain its integ-
rity and desire to lift it to higher
standards by example of worthy cit
izenship.
Without discussing the psychology
that had brought them there Judge
Cooper of the district court stated the
other day that the list of inmates al
the state reformatory at Buena Vista
was being rapidly accreted by young
men who have recently returned from
the military service OF their country
from honorable overseas duty. or in
the army camps and cantonments or
this side of the Atlantic A good
many of these young men. said Judge
Cooper. are from other states who
were arrested and convicted in Coo
rado while attempting to work some
confidence game or swindle ON its cit.
liens. The warden at the Buena
Vista reformatory. declared Judge
Cooper. had a whole room full of army
uniforms taken from young men who
had been required by the courts to ex.
change their military khaki for prison
stripes