Arizona republican., 1922-02-04
We Speak with tissitation

Phoenix is not alone and its position is perhaps
not uncommon among towns Of similar size, in the
matter OF very unleasant condition Of looseness of
conduct and immortality of adolescence, and we may
add also OF those who passed the age adoles-
Complaint has reached this office Of the dis
graceful enacted along the country roads and
in places at night. These surface indications
are bad enough but we may reasonably suppose what
goes on below the surface is infinitely worse.
We have received letters from respectable and
wen citizens describing which have come
under their notice. These letters are generally of
character that does not permit their reproduction in
print. We have heard also Of consequent increase
OF criminal practice instance least fatality
resulting We have heard that these practitioners
professionals but unskied persons allured by
opportunities which youthful immortality and ignor-
ance have placed before them. How many more such
instances only be conjectured. These were only
casual discoveries.
The authorities believe. are doing what they
can to abate the evil. large number Of young girl
delinquents have within short time been committed
to the industrial school and such steps as can be
taken have been taken to arrest the downward pro-
gress girls before they reach the stage Of delin-
quency. The probation officers being given the
cooperation Of proprietors Of places Of amusement
Guiding young girls after But after
ALL that does not take them off the streets They
also chased off the lighted down streets but
less the officers take to their homes as they do
sometimes they take refuge in the darker and more
dangerous streets.
This deporable condition is due in large part to
the lack of home training and discipline, that care
which it would seem normal parents would have for
the welfare their children 1t is incomprehensibe
that they would callousy let them run down road
that leads to something worse than death Against
this callousness the vigilance of the authorities
not do much
We suppose that in many cases perhaps most
cases the parents not callous but have par
ents faith in their children; that they
ceive of their wrong doing. They do not take into
account the fire of irresponsible youth.
AS we have said Phoenix is not alone This is
subject not often upon by the In
the larger cities this evil is regarded less
a matter Of course. In the smaller towns where
everybody knows everybody else there is not so
much opportunity for the evil.
wichita Kansas is just now going through much
the same thing and is making noise about It, Par
ents are warned to with the authorities in
suppressing immortality. The country roads are pa
tolod at night by deputy sherffs and everything is
being that be done by law and regulation to
abate conditions
Statistics which have been recently collected
show a most alarming trend. Four fifths Of the
minors picked up in the streets OF cities ana
towns are girls. The average age of women OF the
streets who fall into the hands Of the police ana
other officers according TO the figures of a few
years ago was IS years The average age last year
Is years
The cauScs OF nrcSent conditions ConJectufal
and numerous the automobile Jazz and liquor, all