The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1922-06-20

I'VE need to clarity, simplify and
cut down the number OF our laws as
a first step to protecting society
against the criminal" he summed up.
III we are to enforce any OF them we
should repeal those we cannot or ought
not to enforce
Such as the Volstead act" | sug-
gested.
I'VE must either make our enforce
ment of that act conform to the law,
or change the law to conform to our
enforcement" answered DR.. Binder.
Throughout their history the Ameri-
can people have been, on the whole,
law abiding.
ANY careful observer can see the
change that is coming over the ma
tional psychology as a result. There
is frank, widespread tolerance OF
lawbreaking, so far as this particular
law is concerned. When an important
Judge will procure supplies OF liquor
illegallv-as more than one Judge un-
doubtedly is doing-it is a pretty clear
indication OF the attitude OF the gen
eral public toward prohibition. And OF
course the psychological effect OF
breaking one law is bound to react
unfavorably so far as the sacredness
OF other laws is concerned.
Paving Way for Crime Waves.
Unless we make our enforcement
of prohibition conform to the law, or
change the law to conform with pop
ular ideas" repeated DR., Binder, we
are clearing the way now for the crime
waves that will rise in the next gen
Grafton"
Then he called attention to the fact
that, in enforcing our laws, the
breaks" are all in favor of the crlmi-
I'VE have carried too far" he in
sisted, "our legal hypothesis that a
man is innocent until he is proved
guilty.. The result in practice is that
it is almost impossible to prove him
guilty. even when he is SO. His pun
ishment. too, when he receives it. is
postponed so long that the moral val
lie is greatly impaired. Everybody
knows. in dealing with child or pup
DIV, that punishment should take place
while the memory of offense is fresh
in mind, if it is to do any good. In the
case of the criminal the same logic
holds. for there, too, we are dealing
with an inferior mentality.
The habitual criminal, declared
DR.. Binder, is physically, mentally,
below par. That is something
we ought not to forget when we are
dealing with him. That is the reason
why, in my opinion, much 50 called
prison reform is about as useful as
pouring water into sieve.
Criminal Is Moral Idiot.
"Of course not" he answered. 1--WE
must be humane i'll the treatment OF
the criminal, just as we must be hui
name in our treatment of the lunat1c.
But it is not safe to allow either to
roam at large.
Il investigated in 1918 prison col
onv in Belgium, one OF the most ia
nous in the world. | found that the
inmates, all of them sent there Tor
comparatively minor crimes stealing
a chicken or some similar Offense-
had often been returned as many as
5 or Is times. Obviously this type
was not able to take care OF itself, IN
with normal members OF
society.
ITO cope with crime waves we must
put the criminals, when they are
caught and convicted, where they can
not harm themselves or society,
summed up DR.. Binder. After third
conviction l would have criminal
sentenced for life to penal colony,
where he may receive proper care and
where the rest of us are protected
from him. A criminal is simply NOR
al idiot and we should guard him as
carefully as we guard the mental idiot.
But don't forget that we must re-
form the laws" DIR. Binder harked
back to his first contention. cal
though" he added, with dry emphasis,
"how can we reform them SO long as
we continue to send forth and fifth
rate lawyers to Washington and sey-
enth and eighth rate lawyers to Al
bany?"