The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-04-07
WASHINGTON, D. c.. April T.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April u
Ever since selling liquor became ille-
gal in the United States, prohibition
lists and those holding the opposite
view have been more or less continu-
ously engaged in hurting figures at
each other to prove that crime has in
creased 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 lit
tie, if anything, SO far as liquor is
concerned. 1t is the general belief
that until the sale of liquor really is
stopped, if this can be done, figures
for offenses like drunkenness and dis
orderly conduct due to liquor are not
much of an Indication 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 instance, every
veteran policeman knows that still,
hot nights mean an increase in fights
and minor disorders. This is explain
ed simply by the fact that in con-
| gested sections of cities people are
| uTlV6H OUT VI uOOIS W seen SOlilC IC-
| lief from the heat Such a night will
| drive some men-and women, too, for
| that matter-into state of mind COM
parable 70 a class room full of hys-
! terical giils. But instead of taking out
/ this feeling in nervous laughter cul-
minating in a flood of tears, general
| Feasibility, leading to quarrels and
| fights, is the result.
1 off wis a
meanors A general and great in
crease in crime cannot be put down to
such simple causes And, whatever
the cause, there has been big in
crease 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 available. Any
effort to trace down the causes of such
a great number of convictions for rea
rcrimes is virtually an impossibility
Doubtless unemployment has some
thing to do with it. The national "let
down" from the stimulus and excite
ment of the war, particularly among
factor Whatever the causes are, il
is a 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 of
tenders against federal statutes. 1
, has been found that if the wave Of
nriy 90 @1l Z.
, maintained more or less steadily fol
many months, there will be no place
to put the convicted law breakers
The situation has been brought tt
) the attention of Attorney Genera
/ Daugnerty, and by him taken up will
President Harding himself Thes,
two, on their recent Florida trip, CAV,
this subject serious thought and hav,
about agreed on a plan for the at
, tempted rehabilitation of some of tn
t offenders, which will have the aGdi
, tional effect of relieving the conges
: ton in federal prisons to some extent
: 1t may be that by the time thi
j article is published announcement viii
e have been made from the Whit
0 House or the department of justice o
the Inauguration of this plan TIL
lQed Is 10 secure one OF the fOrme
army camps and convert it into gov
eminent reservation for the menta
c and moral reconstruction of fedora
e offenders who are not hardened 10
e habitual criminals.
/ Agreement between the presiden
and his attorney general has reache
the point, it is understood, where tn
: plan is bound to go through unles
some obstacle now unforeseen shoul
arise 1t is understood that the sit