Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1921-06-08

some Of the fathers, and they don't
know what to do. They say: our boys
are getting SO independent, they want
to go wherever they please and where
they please and when they please, and
as one father expressed it, IF I#want
my boys at home have got to let them
have practically their own way, if try
to dictate to them they practically tell
me to go to hell.. That is often the
feeling and it is sad state of affairs
when that exists. What is the result?
The result is we have more young men
coming before the Court charged with
serious crimes today than ever before.
have never had so many come before
me as during the last two years. had
letter last week stating that we now
have 527 young men in our State Re
men ought to be at large doing good
work in the shops, factory and on the
farm. We need their services, and yet
We have to have them in prison. Well,
the result will be that there will be less
paroles granted, the sentences will have
to be more severe we can't let this
thing go on and on; there will be less
paroles and less pardons. We have got
to check this crime wave; it has to be
done to protect society. Here you are,
most of you Lutherans. l think all Of
you have SO stated, but you seem to
have turned your back on the church
and half of you are confirmed. Now, if
you don't feel as though your were go
ing to submit to some self denial there
is no use to try it but l want to place
reliable probation officer, appoint one
that / can have confidence in, reason
able, fair minded man, as probation
officer, for you, and there is one thing
want to put in the order and that is
that you have got to stay away from
pool halls: that is one thing l shall
put in the order, and in regard to- all
public dances, you will have to forego
them. will probably leave that to the
discretion of the probation officer, and
you have got to leave booze alone.
Young men nowadays are getting SO
they joke about violating the law, laugh
about it. Now if we let that thing so
on what is to become of our civiliza ton?
We will go back to barbarism society
will not be safe. Our young men are
running a fast gait; it is just like run
ming an automobile without brakes.
You can't run an automobile without
brakes unless you get ditched sooner or
later. The only brake you can have in
the course of life is the moral law, and
if you discard that it is just like run
ming an automobile without brakes, you
are going to be ditched sooner or later;
and if you discard that YOU will keep
on until you land in the penitentiary.
The trouble nowadays is, it is hard to
get young men to realize the serious
ness of crime. You ought to see some
OF the letters l am getting from boys
now that are down there. They didn't
pay attention beforehand. l had one
young man that stood before me just
like you stand before me now that was
two years ago. l placed him on proba-
ton; oh, yes, ehe was going to make
good the probation officer reported that
he couldn't do anything with him. so
appointed another one and he reported
the same thing. Well, had to send the
young man to st. Cloud and he is now
in the State Reformatory He is now
meek and penitent he writes to me and
! pleads for his liberty, and says you
can impose anything upon me if can
only get out OF here; but now he will
have to take his medicine" -