Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-28

DOSeu TO commit cTtlleS vi
every sort to obtain a few
grams of narcotic, the
tools of murderouS crime rings. and
touching shoulders every day with mil
lions Of unSuSpecting persons, are the
oVerShadowng cause of crime in the
nited States.
Frederick A. Wallis. commissioner
of correction, expressed this view to
me as l engaged him in conversation
inst as he was emerging from the
gloomy Tombs, where he had been in
Nestigating some of those recently i'm
priSoned for offenses and who were
known drug addictS.
For n long while people have been
bordering on the appalling crime rec
ord of the United States. Plenty of
cures have been suggested all the way
from more ropes and electric chairs to
the tenderest psychoanalysis of the
offender and the most humane and
comfortable incarceration. had heard
that Mr.. Wallis had an opinion as to
the cause of crime.
Drugs Chief Cause.
Drugs are the main factor in
crime" he said in answer to my queS-
lion. Nearly 60 per cent of the in
mates in all of our penal and cor
rcctional institutions are users or
sellers OF drugs. The most murderous
OF all criminals is the drug fiend. To
obtain a few grains of his craved-for
opiatc he would leap into the mouth of
belching cannon or commit the
foulest murder in the broadest day
light. On him crime rings rely for the
commission OF their plans.
When we consider that the United
States uses more of deadly opiateS
than any of the leading nations of Eu-
n
there are more murders in a single
american city than in all of western
Europe. Our drug maniacs are our
most confirmed and dangerous Grim
inals.'
Appalling Numbers.
Mr.. Wallis has been interested in
the study of humanity for many
ears. He was chairman of one of the
most important State welfare commit
tees of Kentucky. AS deputy police
commissioner of New York, as United
States commissioner of immigration
and commissioner of correction of New
York he has had wide experience
with men and crime.
What kind of drugs are the worst, |
asked?
4. The two most deadly drugs used
by criminals arc morphine and heroin.
The latter is made of morphine, but
Il is four times as powerful. 1t makes
murders over night, and its addicts
commit the crimes that are of a hor-
ribe and revolving nature.
@. How many drug addictS do we
have in the United States?
A. A recent survey by the Treas
ury Department reports 100000 in
the United States. Some estimates go
as high as 1000 600. New York City
alone. it has been ConServatively eSti-
mated, has more than 100000.
Q. You speak of the United States
heing the largest user of opiates. Can
YOU tell me more about that?
a. The amount of opium used by
he leading nations of the world. ac
cording to the latest statistics, is as
follows: The annual per capita con-
sumption in Italy Is one grain; in Ger
many, two grains: in England, three
grains: in France. four grains; and
in United States, which does not grow
one commercial poppy or coca leaf,
the enormous amount Of eight grains
per annum. The figures for the
United States are based upon official
import figures, and do not take into
onSideratiOn the extremely large
amount of narcotic drugs Struggled
in. Thus the United States uses
twice the amount consumed officially
by France, three times that used by
England, four times that used by Ger
many and eight times the amount
used by Italy.
Use OH the Increase.
furthermore. our consumption Of
opium is steadily on the increase, and
this in spite of the Harrison narcotic
act of 1914, which is conceded to be
the most restrictive and punitive drug
measure ever passed by any nation.
The United States district attorney
for southern California has made the
- statement that 60 per cent of the
time of the two Federal grand juries
in San Francisco and Los Angeles is
taken up with the cases Of viola ton Of
the Harrison narcotic act. A welfare
publication in California in the inter
rst Of abolishinS the drug evil states:
This so called dope evil is spreading
so rapidly, even among our children
that high school students and even
pupils in the elementary grades are
falling prey TO it through the agency
of the Illicit peddler." a recent re-
port of the Federal grand jury at Ell
Paso. Tex. states: 1T has come to
our observation that boys between
he ages of u and IL years are being
taught the use of narcotic drugs.
These boys once in the grip of this
vit,n sell the clothes their parents pro
vide for them, steal and indulge in