The New York herald., 1922-03-05
.INDICTS PARENTS
FOR MORAL SLUMP
Children's Degeneracy Due
to Them, Says Bishop Will
Jams of Michigan.
DIG AT THE DRY LAW
Fifth Commandment and
State Control of Amuse-
ments as Cures.
DIG AT THE DRY LAW

Special Dispatch TO THE New YonK HERALD.
DETROIT. March 4.-"The loss of dis
cipline, affection and respect in the
American home is greatly responsible
for the low standard of morals of our
present generation of young men
and women to-day" declared Bishop
Charles David Williams of the Epis-
copal diocese of Michigan.
The fifth Commandment, Honor
thy father and thy mother, &c. must
be brought back into the home quick
~" continued the prelate. This lack
OF respect on the part OF the children
to-day toward their parents is con-
tributing largely to the lawlessness
that has the country in its grip"
Bishop Williams explained that he
had made a careful analysis of home
conditions in Detroit, his home, both
from personal observation and reports
from his aids, and that in practically
every case where girls had fallen from
grace or the boys had run afoul of
the law. the parents themselves were
responsible.
'The lowering of the standard of our
children's morals which has reached an
alarming stage is due to the parents,
the Bishop asserts. What have they
done to make the home attractive
What happens when the home is not at
tractive to the child. They go else
where. and where? To the cheap fruit
and ice cream parlor where there is
nearly always a piano player in the
rear grinding out jazz. The boys will
patronize some hell-hoe of a pool room
and engage in a game of Kelly where
they are taught their first lesson in
gambling.
Schools of vampinG.
The next step is the dancing hall
that runs nearly all night. Some OF
these places are camoufiaged as society
dansants. 1t is in these incubators of
vice and crime that the flapper gets her
inspiration to roll down her stockings.
abbreviate her skirts. until she looks
liks Columbine in one of the old panto-
mines, to forget her stays to smoke
cigarettes and to vamp with the rest OF
her baby vamp companions.
Mind, I am not criticizing the dress
Of the modern young young woman.
That Is a woman's duty. not preach
er'S. but / would like to see the girls
OF to-day compare with girls Of yester-
day who wore balloon sleeves and
danced the two-step to Sousa marches.
The 1922 model is far below her sister
of 1900 when she Is measured by the
standard of morals.
when you discuss these matters with
rant, iYtaFa arfQ n
answer that II is merely the same post
war cycle that has followed other wars
that is responsible for the lowering Of
our morals of to-day. That law viola
ton Is stylish to-day. That ii was
before. following the civil war. When
fathers talk In this strain II looks hope
less to attempt to change the habits Of
the present generation of our youth"
The Bishop was asked for his formula
to make the home attractive.
Bring back the rule of love In the
home first" he replied. Fathers SHOULD
be the sons best chums and daughters
likewise with their mothers To-day tn,
average child shuns his parents because
they are old fashioned, as they put it.
Not old fashioned. I say. but decent.
The father must get back to his place
at the head of the home. His word
must be law. The children take 10 the
street because there is a lack Of home
comforts. Home must be made more
than a shelter and a feeding trough, ii
must be made attractive-plenty Of mu-
sic. good books and magazines 10 read.
I'VE must bring back the old fashioned
affection between the parents and chill
dren. What has become of the old
fashioned friendship that existed be-
tween the children and their parents OF
a decade ago? IT is criminal. this lack
of companionship between mothers. ia
Tiers and their children. And I'm tho
majority of cases the parents are TO
blame for the waywardness of their
children.
what does the average American
father and mother do TO make the home
attractive these days. The father IS too
busy with his business or golf. or the
mother is too busy with her many civic
and club activities TO bring up their
children. The modern mother of to-day
Is head over heels engaged in politics
and suffrage. A large portion Of moth-
ers are going out into the professions
and businesses while the children are
left practically alone TO work out their
own amusement.
1--WE are swinging away from the