South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1922-01-11
JUDGE LINDSEY In
STIRRING PLEA FOR
DELINQUENT YOUTH
Declares Evil Must Be Com
batted by Learning Causes"
in Eloquent Address.

=
in Eloquent Address.
If We are to successfully combat
evil. not only in children. but evil OF
all kinds, we must first investigate
and correct the causes Of evil" This
was the keynote Of the address de-
livered by Judge Ben Lindsey. Of the
Denver Colo. Juvenile court, last
night before an audience that filled
the high school auditorium. The
address was given under the auspic-
es Of the South Bend Boy Scouts.
Fred Bryan. prominent in the Boy
Scout movement and president OF
the Michigan and Indiana Electrtc
Co, presided.
In the course OF his talk why
Kids Lie" Judge Lindsey narrated
many interesting experiences that
have come 10 him in his % years as
a Juvenile court judge. He traced
the cases of several boys who have
appeared before him, how he hand
led them, and the causes for their
delinquency. He said:
THE beginning Of bad things is
in lies and deception. Find the
causes for lies and deception and
you have solved the problem. Unless
those IN authority, however, live up
10 their spOnsibiHty in the fight
against evil. in knowing how TO
point the way 10 Heaven, we cannot
Ill no 70
justify criminals an6 lies I am here
10 condemn bad things and the
causes for bad things I have a
great deal Of sympathy for the sin
ner, not the sin"
More Consideration.
The speaker then went on 70 ex-
plain the difference between the old
time policeman, who could see no
thing bat bad IN the boy, and the
modern officer who is becoming
more and more a social factor in the
community is understanding and
considerable Of the child. He then
gave as an example a child who was
brought before him on charges
ranging from lies to larceny. After
a talk with this delinquent, he found
that the child would not divulge the
names of his associates because he
was afraid Of the other mem bers Of
the gang and fearful Of being term
ed a "snitcher." II speaking Of this
particular case, Judge Lindsey said:
THE law in their world is TO them,
quite as important as our law and
they refuse 10 allow their law to
give way TO ours An understanding
between the two laws is what is
needed. The policemen who had
this child did not understand that
he was dealing not with lies, but
with one Of the noblest of human
quahties-loyalty though misdirec-
ted
Get the causes of evil! We must
be like the doctor who, having a
patient afflicted with typhoid. leaves
that patient to go into the swamps
and marshes to study the causes Of
that disease. As surely as there is a
cause for fever there is a cause for
evil and that is what led me into the
bad swamplands of politics and bad
homes. Without such organizations
as the Boy Scouts. however, this
movement would be helpless. We
must put interest in the childs life
and work, for he Will work just as
hard as he plays II interested IN
what he is doing Football and base
ball are great games. am not one
OF those who deride colleges for
paying so much attention to ath-
letics. Such sports lead to other
noble activities.
Parents Often TO Blame.
I'm many instances the cause o.
evil is in the parents. The father
who strikes the child, loses patience
and leaves everything TO school. I
pity you, fathers, mothers and
teachers, # when in dealing with
youths you forget the days Of your
own childhood.
THE juvenile court appeals to tho
interest of the child. I had not
been a Judge long before I conceived
the idea that the thing in many
cases, was not a jail but direction
through the home, church and
school, where the child belongs. We
are only fOolng ourselves If we
think we are going to decrease the
wave Of criminanty among youths
by resorting merely TO methods Of
violence. 1 have come 70 plead for
something besides the violence Of
very severe penalties.
when the life Of the boy bandit
is investigated il is usually discov-
cred that the formative period of
his life was neglected. In one
school in Denver, 30 percent Of the
children are fatherless. oh. 7 wish
to make a plea for the Boy Scouts.
Let us make America safe for the
child. I have sat in all the courts
and have learned that we are deal
ing, not with persons, but With
things; more with what is done
than who did 1t.
II believe in being kind but firm.
If a man is brutal he Is hated and
Il he is soft and easy, he'll not be
respected. Down in every human
soul, no matter how covered and
vile. there IS the image OF God, II
only a way can be found 10 bring Il
out When a young man Is sent
enced TO Jail Il means the end OF
the youth but only the beginning Of
the problem / have sent over
seven hundred youths 20 jail alone
and unattended; simply on their
word OF honor. Out Of this seven
hundred, only six ran away and
four OF these came back within %
hours and apologized, then went
back the second time. trusted and
alone"
Judge Lindsey then told OF meet
sDr two ~ his bOvsy' on the hattie