Evening star., 1925-09-11
NEW STYLE GYPSY
HELD i. s. MENACE
Catholic Charity Head Says
Nomadic Autoists Are
Acute Problem.

"A new gypsy race is being created
out of the heart of America, the COM
mittee on families of the National
Conference on Catholic Charities were
told today by experts in social work.
This was seen in the increasing
number of migratory, unstable fam
lilies drifting from city to city and fire.
quently in need of charitable relief.
Miss Louise Mcclure of the Ma
tional Catholic Service School said
that the cheap automobile was con-
tributing greatly to this new style of
gypsyhood Considerable numbers of
low standard families. she said. have
taken to the roads in their cars and
go from place to place ostensibly in
search of work, but with no intention
OF settling down and with no home
except a hastily erected tent.
Morals Far From Best
The morals of these families, she
said, are of the lowest type possible.
They live, she pointed out, almost
outside the pale of civilization, work
ing when they have to, stealing when
ever they get a chance. and con-
tinually violating the rights OF their
children.
Another alarming present-day trend,
she said. was in the increase of the
rooming house districts In American
cities. Maps showing the prevalence
of moral delinquency in most cities,
Miss Mcguire said. prove that its
greatest strongholds are these room
ing house districts whose occupants
are freed from the restraints of
home.
They are attracting, she pointed
out, many girls who ostensibly come
to the city for jobs, but who could
get better jobs at home. They really,
she said, are actuated by desire for
adventure. In any given city. she
said, there is invariably a strong con-
nection between the rooming house
districts and the percentage of crime.
Describes Charities.
Miss Mary L. Gibbons Of New
York told of the work of the Gath
olic Charities in that city in keeping
together families.
At a meeting Of the committee on
delinquency Joseph NJ. Skeff1ngton Of
Chicago said that there was an alarm
ing increase in juvenile delinquency.
He laid this to the restless spirit of
the times, the compleXity Of modern
life and the fact that respect for au-
thority has broken down without
being replaced By other restraining
influences.
He urged more interest in such or
CARNATIONS as the Catholic Big
Brothers to guide the lives of boys
who are found drifting astray.
Frederick L. Moran of Albany spoke
on the effects of probation on adult
law breakers. The purpose Of the
courts, he said, was not punitive
alone, but to prevent crime. Long
terms of Imprisonment, he pointed
out, are going the way of such punish
ments as f1aying alive. boiling in oil,
throwing into dens OF serpents or
pouring melted lead down offenders
throats. These all proved ineffective
in preventing crime, and the courts
are coming to see that sending a man
to Jail often is just as ineffective. The
probation system, he said, was not
conceived in a desire to Coddle law
breakers. but as one of the best ways
to prevent a repetition of the crime.
Il is not, he said. cure all and must
be applied by judges with sufficient
knowledge Of human nature TO know
when Jail terms will serve better.
Children's Work Reported.
The committee on children listened
to papers by Miss Alice L. Padgett,
Washington; Miss Aileen NJ. Blong, st.
Paul: Miss Margaret Muldoon, Balts-
more, and Miss Florence Mason, Cleve-
land.
AT a meeting OF the committee on
social and civic activities Rev. DR..
Francis ]. Haas. st. Francis, Wis.
urged more scientific tabulations
clearly presented of the minimum
wage at which an American family
can live with comfort. Few employ
ers, he said, want to see their en-
ployes living in misery, but sometimes
set their wage scales too low because
they do not clearly understand just
what it costs TO live.
Miss Marjorie E. Carroll Of Buffalo
spoke on the wage problem from the
standpoint Of the social worker.
At the first general meeting Of the
conference last night Attorney Gen
eral John G.. Sargent said that there
was no true charity in giving that
which meant nothing to the giver. He
said that those perform the greatest
charity who show the helpless how to
help themselves.
Right Rev. Thomas J. Shahan, rec.
tor Of Catholic University, reviewed
the progress of Catholic charity since
1910. when it first was placed on an
organized basis.