Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-14
RY WILLIAM {. REDFIELD.

The latest and most amazing de-
ye!opment of the crime situation
comes with the petition of citizens OF
Chicago submitted to the Senate seek
ing the aid of Congress in preventing
and Furnishing crime in that city. rms
abiect appeal to Washington for help
in A matter that should be settled by
the local community has its emhar-
ia ssing and dangerous side. 1t Is hu-
initiating 90 reflect on the impression
that will be made abroad by the re-
port that an American city confesses
it's inability to deal with crime. 1t
is alarming as one considers the erect
upon criminals themselves and Chi
cago need not be surprised II 1t Is
oyertaken by a crime waye. Looking
at the question in the large. however,
the appeal from Chicago may have
salutary effects. Ludicrous ana I'M
wise as the action is in itself. II throws
revealing light on a problem that con-
Germs US ALL for it indicates that the
growth of crime may be charged to
lax public opinion as well as to the
inadequacy Of laws and courts.
There was time when Americans
were quick to see that laws were en-
forced and that courts functioned. We
did not stand idly by wringing our
hands while criminals ran at large in
the community OF late years, when
many men speculate concerning
causes of crime, and punishment has
fallen into a bog Of delay and uncer-
tainty, our social life is characterized
by an appalling increase OF violence
and felony with which we seem help
less to deal.
Granting that life within recent
years has been complicated by changes
in social conditions and the after
effects Of war, the crime problem can
not be wholly accounted for on that
score. In no European country is life
| held so cheap as in the United States.
Murders go unpublished in our cities.
which would scandaliZe London or con-
tinental centers. Chicago in five years
ending with 1924 had 500 homicides;
. for like period ending with 1925 she
had 572. Philadelphia in the last five
years had a gain Of 43 felonies. New
York statistics seem to indicate a de-
| crease, but one so slight as to be
negligible.
More revealing are the statistics
which tell the amazing story that in
the last five years there is one execu-
+, ton for every 40 murders. In Cleve-
land during 1922 there were 1913 fell
onies involving murder and man
| u
| 262 such crimes. In 1924 felonies in
creased over the preceding year % per
cent and furthermore SO per cent of
| the persons arrested in 1926 were re-
| leased without conviction or punish.
| ment. Statistics all tell the same
| story, namely, that crime is increasing
and that our legal machinery has
broken down under the strain.
| Our present criminal record is an
, affront to civilization and makes us
the talk of nations. The life and prop
erty Of the average American citizen
are not safe in our great communities
with the increase OF criminals and OF
the immunities which they enjoy. This
is no question Of justice for the Grim
inal He is comparatively safe. In
asmuch as only one man Is executed
for every 40 murders the question OF
capital punishment is a negligible one
| 1t is the average man In the com
munity who IS most in danger.
| Where. then, shall we look for a
| remedy? Certainly not to Washing
| ton. Congress has more than enough
| to do to deal adequately with the ques
lions that are clearly Federal. If we
would protect ourselves from the Grim
inal. if We would have that liberty ri