The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-04-04


since selling liquor became illegal
in the United States, prohibition
lists and those holding the opposite
view have been more or less con-
tinuously engaged in hurting fig
ures at each other to prove that
crime has increased or decreased,
according to which side has the
floor, since the Inauguration of the
so-called dry era.
1t may be that the figures mean
little, if anything, so far as liquor
is concerned. 1t is the general be-
lief that until the sale of liquor is
really stopped, if this can be done,
figures for offenses like drunken
ness and disorderly conduct due to
liquor are not much of an indica-
ton of better or worse conduct OF
the public under the restrictions OF
the Volstead law.
Those who have made a study of
criminology know that there are
many factors which enter into the
cause of court convictions. For in
stance, every veteran policeman
knows that still, hot nights mean
an increase in fights and minor dis
orders. This is explained simply
by the fact that in congested sec
lions of cities people are driven
out of doors to seek some relief
from the heat. Such a night will
drive some men-and women, too,
for that matter-into a state OF
mind comparable to a class room
full of hysterical girls. But in
stead of taking out this feeling in
nervous laughter eliminating in a
food of tears, general Feasibility,
leading to quarrels and fights, is
the result.
These are minor offenses-misde-
meanors. A general and great in
crease in crime cannot be put down
to such simple causes. And, what
ever the cause, there has been a
big increase in the more serious
offenses. dating from about the end
Of actual hostilities abroad.
Complete records for the whole
country, showing offenses for which
convictions have been secured,
would require a great deal of time
and far more space than is avail
able. Any effort to trace down the
causes of such great number of
convictions of real crimes is vir-
tually an impossibility. Doubtless
unemployment has something to do
with it. The national ''let down"
from the stimulus and excitement
of the war, particularly among
younger men, may be a cOntribut-
ing factor. Whatever the causes
are, it is fact that the federal
prisons throughout the country are
practically full to capacity.
Hard to Find Jail Room.
Thus the federal government is
faced with housing problem for
offenders against federal statutes.
of crime continues at the pitch it
has maintained more or less stead
lily for many months. there will be
no place to put the convicted law
breakers.
The situation has been brought
to the attention of Attorney Gen
eral Daugherty, and by him taken
up with President Harding him
self. These two, on their recent
Florida trip, gave this subject ser
ious thought and have about agreed
on a plan for the attempted reha-
Utilization of some of the offenders,
which will have the additional eff
feet of relieving the congestion in
federal prisons to some extent.
1t may be that by the time this
article is published announcement
will have been made from the White
house or the department of justice
of the inauguration of this plan
Tho idea is 10 secure one of the
former army camps and convert it
into a government reservation for
the mental and moral reconstruc-
ton of federal offenders who are
not hardened or habitual criminals.
Agreement between the president
and his attorney general has reach
ed the point, it is understood, where
the plan is bound to go through
unless some obstacle now unfoFe-