Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-06-03
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH US
"HE NEW YORK TIMES has the fol
lowing in it's issue Of May 20:
JUVENILE DELINQUENCY
INCREASES IN GEORGIA
Alarming Number of Boys Between II and
IS Years Are Serving, Terms
Especial to the New York Times. }


eATLANTA, May 15.-The danger of juve-
nile delinquency has been brought forcibly
to the attention of this state by the annual
report of the Prison Commission, which
shows that an alarming number, of youths
of tender age are serving terms, despite the
jleniency of Judges whenever such course
has been possible.
Increasing crimnality among Georgia juve-
niles has become evident with the general
use of the automobile, officers finding that
the larger number of those responsible for
motor car thefts are not out of their teens.
Judges have tried to save the boys by placing
them on probation, but this has only de-
ferred prison terms. A few weeks later the
youths prohibition engage in thefts.
Authentic reports recently issued show
that Atlanta alone had more automobile
thefts than any southern State other than
Georgia.
Prison reports show that prisoners now
on the State prison farm and on county
road gangs include one boy of IL years, two
of IL, five of 13, thirteen of IA, and thir-
teen of Is. Practically half of the entire
list of more than 800 were in their TWEEN
ties
Of the total number Of all prisoners,
1,709 were married and Lass were single.
There were nearly 1900 farm laborers, five
preachers, sixty-nine cooks, ten BARRIERS, ten
bankers and one lawyer. Murder lead the
list of crime with 918. Burglaries numbered
661, and cases of manslaughter 1853. Sixty
seven prisoners were held on liquor charges.
Perhaps our Georgia newspapers have en-
deayored to conceal this alarming report,
but that was palpable mistake in my
opinion-which may not be worth very
much But if these facts are true and if
the report made by the Prison Commission
comedies with this statement in the Times,
we have reached a place where mass meet
ing should. be called to alter and amend
such conditions
This could not be condoned if such things
should be reported in Haiti or the steppes
of Russia. After the Civil War of the
sixties, when everything affected by the
aftermath of war, the Pententiary system in
Georgia had to deal with $50 conYicts, most
ly blacks. And the former slaves were not
allowed to be alphabetically without edu-
cation. In this good year, 1924 we are
spending nineteen millions of tax money on
general public education. Read the Times
statement over again, and then speak up and
tell our readers what's the matter with us
as sovereign State?
Murder leads in the list of crimes Bur
glaries are chroncled every day in the lead
ing newspapers. Young white boys rabid
desperadoes. Think of the ages of these
young criminals, and ask yourselves where
this thing is going to end, and what is there
in sight to stop it and its effect on our
future.
The land is dotted thickly with churches
as we'll school houses. What is it, that
has thus cankered the body polite" 1t
used to be that nine-tenths of Georgia Grim
inals were engroes. The young whites are
catalogued now.
Amazing it appears, the white youths
are leading the pace in spite of colleges, uni
versties and farm educational institutions.
Taxation was never so heavy, and every dol
lar the State collects with tax gatherers, is
divided fifty-fifty to carry on common
schools to educate youth.
If the youths drifting to pententary,
what will the next generation be doing with
the crime question?
These youthful criminals are not ign rant.
They are the products of the prevailing pub
lie school system The churches are so busy
collecting more money, pulling down plain