The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-03-27

on socinl problems they affect the
community, written by u student of the
problems.
Prevention, says modern social serv-
ice. is better and cheaper than cure.
1t is better to build a fence at the top
OF a cliff to keep people from falling
over than to have an ambulance wait
ing at the foot to take victims to
hospital. In the face of the fact that
Wayne county (Which practically
means the city of Richmond) has
three times its quota of boys and girls
In the state reform schools it would
seem that serious thought should be
given to the possibility of prevention.
Some one may say: Very well, let
us discourage crime and delinquency
by increasing the efficiency of our
Juvenile court. Let us organize d
corps of consecrated men and women
who will serve as volunteer probation
officers and see if we cannot head off
this procession of delinquents." Such
sentiment is commendable but 1t
does not go back far enough. The
place to begin to stop this procession
is not in the juvenile court, but in the
home. The home is the source of the
stream of crime. No juvenile court
can be expected to dam this stream eff
fectually, no volunteer probation sys-
tenn Will ever succeed as a dixie or
leyee in keeping the increasing vol
ume of crime within the bounds of
each community so as to prevent the
state institutions from being flooded.
World Shaken.
It Is a cold fact that juvenile crime
increased 80 percent between 1917
and 1922. OF course, that period was
distinguished by the shattering of age
long conventions and standards. Hys-
terra, greed, suspicion, fear supplant-
ed poise, generosity, faith and cour-
age. The world was shaken by primi-
tive passions and the youth of the ma
tions behold violence and power del
fled. When whole races reverted it
is not surprising that their youth re-
verted with them and the youth of
America was not excepted.
There is no substitute for the home.
There is no society or agency which
can discharge its functions and duties.
There are societies and agencies
which can and do supplement the
functions of the home. Chief among
these is the church. Why did not and
why does not the church do something
to prevent delinquency? 1t must be
remembered that the church is vol
untary society and cannot coerce per.
sons into its membership or compel
them to accept its teachings and
discipline.
The church can do little or nothing
for those who will not place them
selves under its influence. In a city
like New York, with over 100000
school children, only one-third receive
religious instruction. In a city like
Memphis only one-half of its school
children receive religious training.
survey recently made of our southern
states shows that only 20 per cent Of
all the children of the south go to
church or Sunday school. At Least
100000 children in the state of Indiana
Go not receive religious instruction
No Religious Training
QUESTIONABLE submitted to the
leading juvenile court judges of this
country revealed the fact that prac
tically every child brought into court
had never had any religious training
at home or elsewhere. Every one Of
these judges recommend that religious
training should be made a require
ment in the life of every child in the
country.
This recommendation did not come
from prejudiced or dried-up parsons
but from men who have grown weary
in trying TO deal out justice to the
innocent victims Of modern civiliza
ton.
Some genius has estimated tha
there are at least 500 900 federal anC
$40 4 l.
ed TO have even a smattering of them
But, any child can learn the Ten Com
mandments and it is the infraction o
these simple, fundamental laws tina
is bringing the childhood of our lane
TO sorrow and moral destruction.
Funds Are Scanty.
Incorrigibility is failure to homo
fathers and mothers. stealing, lying
fornication-th whole dreary categor,
are taboo by the laws of heaven anC
earth. Why does not the church ge
after the unchurched and give then
some constructive programme of life
II is doing so as fast as it can, but i
is forced to work with faulty methods
and is forced TO labor with scant,
funds and few leaders.
In so large cities in this country
religious training is given in schoo
time, ranging from one to five hours /;
week. The results justly the system
Richmond has a high standard o
music among its children, it is no
every city of our size that can senC
a high school orchestra to stand vi
under the criticism of experts. Sucl
an exploit has cost us money AM
time. can we expect high standar,
Of youthful morality without expense
That the state has ideals is show
by the laws on its statute books