The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-10-18
INCREASE IN CHILD
CRIMES is ALARMING
JUVENILE COURTS EVERY
WHERE ARE CROWDED
WITH OFFENDERS.
UNCLE SAM STUDIES PROBLEM
Attorney General in Letter to Presi-
dent Harding Suggests Establish
ment of Federal Camps for Training
OF Boy Lawbreakers.

vi boy AdWDTcdhCIS.
WASHINGTON, D. c. Child
crime is now engaging the attention
of officials of the department of labor
and other agencies of the government
as well as the interest of sociologists,
welfare workers and civic organiza-
tons throughout the United States.
Juvenile courts in all big cities are
crowded with offenders. In several
cities additional judges have been as
signed to Juvenile courts to clean up
the dockets.
Reformatores, detention homes and
houses of refuge to which police send
BOYS and girls of tender age to await
court action are crowded in all sections
of the country.
Daugherty Writes Harding.
ATTORNEY General Daugherty has
given the problem much consideration.
In a memorandum to President Hard
ing Mr.. Daugherty suggested the es-
Establishment Of federal camps for ssthe
training of boy offenders. The citizen
ship branches Of the interior and labor
departments are also studying the
problem with view to making recon-
mendations for reform and training OF
Youthful lawbreakers. On the possibill-
ty of diminishing child crime through
out the country depends in great meas
ure the nations future standard OF citi-
zenship, officials say.
ATTORNEY General Daugherty recon-
mended to the president that the gov
eminent convert into reformatory
training camps for boy lawbreakers
some of the army environments. lie
planned to train there the youthful OF
tenders in craftsmanship OF various
kinds and the value of clean and up
right living. This combined course OF
training in work and ethics would
make good citizens of many boys who
come into collision with the pol1ce,
Mr.. Daugherty believes. Under the
present system of sending them to pen
itentiaries and so-called reformatorles
little real reform is accomplished ac-
cording to the attorney general VINO
believes that many youths finish serv-
ing their sentences with bitter hatred
of society which transforms them into
habitudl criminals.
Due to World War.
The increase of crime by children
now sweeping the entire country has
its counterpart in England, Germany,
France and many other countries, re-
ports show. 1t is believed to be a dl-
rect result of the war when hundreds
of young boys and girls were lett prac-
tically without parental guidance OF
the right kind With fathers and older
brothers away at war mothers in many
cases could not restrain impulses OF
their sons and daughters with the re-
silt that the children sought evil COM
panions and were led into criminal
habits.
The number OF girls now being pick
ed up at night by police OF the big
cities is astonishing, officials and wei
fare workers say Police are finding it
necessary to provide details at dance
halls. restaurants and other places
where officers never appeared IN pre-
war days. Drivers of public convey
ances must be watched by police OF
most big cities, officials find, because
boys and young girls are led by them
into districts where they are in dan
ger.