The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-04-16

doph Hearst from EdaOim j. Cooley chief Of the Cathoh
charge of Cardinal Hayes probation demonstration IN thu
Court of General Sessions and is professor of ctnoogl
at FordhGm University, aCrote:
April 8, 1926
DEAR MR. HEARST-Amidst the prevailing hysteria
and myopa surrounding the problem of the proven
ton and treatment of crime and the punishment of
the criminal indeed enheartening to know that
where there exists opinion fundamentally and
scientifically that expressed by you in your ed
torial in the columns the New York American
New York Evening Journal
His Eminence Cardinal Hayes in the establishment
scientific Probation Bureau at the Court Of General Ses-
over year ago. supported by the Catholic Chart
ties Of the Archdiocese of New York. motvated by
desire to plumb as far as possible the
determine why is that the courts concerned with
the adjudication of many involving young often
ders It he realized only after intelligent
rate and painakng survey of the situation that
worthwhile plan of and prevention could be
evolved.
study conducted by the Catholic Charities Proba-
offenders it that thirds
Of them between the ages Of SIXTEEN and TWEEN
TY-FIVE and that in almost every education and
religion had assumed negligible proportions in their lives
Broken and unsavory homes poverty evil neighborhood
conditions bad associates lack of supervised recreation
economic ncompetency and physical mental disabilities,
individually in combinations found in startling
number of cases.
Heredity sometimes had fertized the soil and deln
fixed of habits and isolated It obvious
therefore that the crime situation could be dealt with
effectively only when approached social basis.
As with many Of its other problems, society is
cened until the evil has permitted develop becomes
definite and personal danger Then the beated rush
suppression is but again. society preoccupied with
extermnaton is obvious the fact that the process of
creation is going rapidly As dealing
with the criminal today inclined forget that
have taken few those who
viii be the criminals Of
under If the and dic
regard of the individual and social which produce
him win not help toward solution Advocacy of merely
represve longer sentences treat
ment never viii reach the the offender.
one fact clearly proven by thousands of years of
understanding does not and will deter criminals and
prevent crime.
That crime Ourished in the very shadow of the terrible
public punshments meed ont for divers offenses in past
centuries forgotten and seappoined social engineers
and pseadocriminolOgss setting up camOr for the
The New York State Legislature acting the Baumes
Committee report has recently passed calculated
to double penalties for various crimes always has
and Realistically rather than subjectivey and socially
Experience is taken, apparently aid to future
of crime.
To prevent crime deal with delinquency.
by We must reach toward the problems of grow
ing children We must give stronger support to social
agencies doing preventive work We provide
visiting teachers We must be alert in the school system to
detect the abnormal child and the subnormal child We
must provide wholesome recreaona outlets for youth
and we must have trained probation officers.
When the wisdom of crime study and subsequent
munty treatment Of the evils causing and attendant upon
the Of the criminal is thoroughly understood
will have begun to progress in the right direction When
people at large realize that the future of children lies
the hands of parents educators and the social
of the community, in the treatment Of crime will
have arisen.
Religion and ethics finally will nculcate and develop
the necessary moral stamina for the rejection of empta
tion and will provide the guiding principles for profit
able and respectable ife
Education is needed, and in educating the public by
excellent editorials in the New York American and
the New York Evening Journal, you making note
worthy contribution the solution of crime problem
Yours faithfully,
EDWIN J. COOLEY
William R. Hearst,
No. 1877 Riverside Drive,
New York City.