The Omaha morning bee., 1924-04-28

GIVING THE poys THEIR CHANCE.


Il never had a chance when vas boy" That
ha. heen the pca and the excuse Of 10 per cent OF
the adult male criminals brought before the bar OF
iuatiee during the last quarter of century, or
more OF those apprehcnded by the law, 20 per
cent are boys and young men under 20 years oil age
The fact that such a large proportion OF criminals
are boys Is a direct challenge to the nation II Is
n direct notice that reapng the harvest oil
indifference and neglect. 1t Is a prophecy OF ma
tional disaster unless the remedy is found and
applied
social worker of former generation made
n remark to the effect that the best way to insure
A strong and vre future generation was to be ex.
tremely careful in the selection of grandparents.
Theodore Roosevelt stated the same principle IN
another way when he said: IF you want to do
anything permanent with the average man, you must
begin before he Is man..
There has never been undertaken in America
A greater or n more needed work than the campaign
now under way and known as Boys Week" 1t
has for it's great aim and object the development
Of the bows Of America along right lines; to mold
them into good citizens, and to make 1t as nearly
impossible as human effort will permit for any young
man. or old man. either, to truthfuly say before the
bar Of Justice, ~ didn't have chance when was
boy
Committees from various organizations always
10000 900 boys over 6 and under 81, 100000
are outside the influence of any Of these organiza
t;ons Every year 100000 boys arrive at legal
ACE and become voters. What influence will this
annual influx Of and unframed voters have upon
the future Of the republic? What Is being done to
improve the mental and physical being OF these boys,
fitting them for constructive citizenship and for
higher place in the industrial and business activities
Of the nation?
The Boys Week organization is setting the pace
In this work Of betterment. They realize that the
bov, of today are TO be the men Of tomorrow and
upon the men OF tomorrow depends the future OF
human liberty and we'll being. They are seeking to
interpret the boys In better things to nculcate high
or ideals to train their minds and their hands to
constructive work for America and the world. In
this tremendously vital work those Mt the head OF
the Boys Week movement entitled to the earnest
and uncnding cooperation of parents and teachers,
churches and societies, business and profession
Al men-every man and woman who hopes for bet
ter things as the future days unfold
Training in practical application Of the princi-
oles upon which the republic was founded; arousing
intelligent interest in American ideals; teaching les
sons Of industry and thrift; arousng higher ambi-
tions than the qualification Of self; teaching
by lesson and example what II Is to be real men
hose are the things sought in the observance OF
Boys' Week
II Is n hopeful sign when the busiest business
nen Of America gladly and voluntarily lay aside
heir own problems to give their attention to the
greatest problem that eonfronts the country
Inc problem Of boyhood that Is soon to be the prob
em Of manhood.
Not until the boys Of today properly trained
in Industry, not until they imbued with Amer
can idcas, not until they taught TO respect law
oecause law enforcement means safety and sefre-
spcct can we hope TO escape from the ever growing
burden Of police and court machinery.
And above ALL and greater than all, Is the ne
ccssity Of home training, Of the teaching Of that
fear Of the Lord that is the beginning Of wisdom,
Of living by the Golden Rule and that command
mcnt given by the Great Teacher THAT yc love one
another"
"Boys Week" begins today. II should be fol-
lowed In spirit through the other five days Of the
week, and through every week Of all the years that
the future holds In store for the United States Of
America.