The New York herald., 1922-07-09


might be handled differently from
the vicious and the merely unfor-
tunate. The best scientific opinion
supports the view that the remedy
lies in segregation. perhaps with
permanent detention of the appar-
entity incurably criminal, but with
every effort toward reclamation of
those who are not congenitally anti
social
1t is no aspersion upon Mr.. and
Mrs. Webb to say that the third
contributor to this volume, a sociol-
ogist who happens also to be
dramatist, is to be credited with the
most readable and stimulating part
of it. For the historic study, thor
ough in scope and lucid and cflarm-
ing in style though it is. is preenas-
nently dispassionate scientific de-
scription of a social phenomenon
such scholarly piece of work as
dozen others Of monumental propor-
tions that the industrious Webbs
have contributed to social science.
while Mr.. Shaw's seventy page pref
ace is a philosophic commentary
written by first rate artist.
There is nothing humorous in II,
nothing especially witty, none of the
quality that some have come to look
4
upon as distinctively Shavian. Here
speaks the student of political SCI
ence, the evangelist, the moralist.
the Shaw of the Fabian Society and
the cart and the trumpet, the fervid
prophet who spoke in Hyde Park.
not the Shaw that the superficial
have seen in the comedies that bear
his name. Shaw deeply in earnest.
frankly presenting a message on
public affairs, addressing only those
seriously concerned with the social
future, impatient of others. is one
of the most Interesting and com
pelling of contemporary writers. An
artist who is also sociologist is rare
enough.
Mr.. Shaw believes that retributive
punishment and reformation canuef
go together They are fundamentally
inconsistent To punish man Won
must injure him, TO reform him you
must improve him. And men are NOT
improved by injuries. He does not
ignore the existence of "ungoverna-
bic savages" and suggests that they
might either be painlessly executed
or permanently restrained without
brutality or vengeance. He doubts
whether society will be willing to go
SO far, but argues that it must con-
slider whether the irredeemable GRIM
inal is worth supporting publicly, es-
pecially since nowadays he is re-
leased periodically TO go on with his
predatory exploits.
A pertinent case recently occurred
in this State A man sentenced to
the electric chair was examined as
to his sanity. If he were proved sane
land therefore possibly capable of
becoming a useful citizen) he was to
he executed; If insane tand presum-
ably of no social value). he was to
be supported for life in a State insti-
tuition. Tie curious logic of this must
strike any one who pauses to think
of IL from the point of view of public
economy.
Mr.. Shaw would remove from So
ciety altogether the "intoferably mis-
chievous" ones. either by death or
permanent incarceration. Those lack
ing selfcontrol and otherwise sound
he would submit TO discipline calcu-
lated to make them into healthy.
normal people. The minor offenders
he would have treated as civil de-
PENDANTS and made to pay for their
depredations without Imprisonment.
One of his most telling points is the
contention that severity of punish
ment in itself is no deterrent, but
that certainty of conviction would
be. 1t is somewhat natural for police
men, like Mr.. Enright, to lay the
blame for the failure of crime pre-
vention upon the prisons and to
imagine that harsher methods such
as denial of all recreation, are the
desideratum. For the greatest flaw
T..