Evening star., 1927-11-04
Crime Reduction.

Conference for Reduction of Crime
we're concluded last night after two
allday sessions. Much that was stim-
| ulating to the lay as we'll as to the
professional and expert mind-muCh
| that should be of practical aid in the
| attaining Of the fine goal before the
conference-wasd discussed. The theory
| and methods and achieved results of
those agencies which exist to the end
that Americas status as the worlds
leading producer of various types Of
criminals may be improved upon were
cogently set forth. Ways and meals
OF curtailing fence" activities. pro-
| baton and parole, rehabilitation of
prison inmates, relative criminal'ty
as between this and other generations,
| the need for more adequate crime sta
| tistics-these and others were among
the topics brought before the con-
| ference.
All Of this is well. Discussion of
| the theoretic tends, when that discus.
sion is INDUCED in by sincere men
and women, to the establishment of
the practical. The exchange of view.
| point and experience by this body of
| earnest students of a problem of vital
importance to the Nation cannot but
rebound to the national benefit. No
| belittlement of the merits of the bal.
ance of the conference Is either justi.
fled or heard. Yet, with this clearly
| understood, it may be stated with con-
| fidence and qualification that the
soundest, ablest and most suggestive
pronouncements of the entire session
were voiced by Chief Justice Taft in
his address of yesterday morning.
1t may well have been that events
of recent occurrence lent point and
flame to the advice of the Chief
Justice upon the subject of crime re.
duction. Let us have better juries,
he said, in effect-intelligent juries,
| rather than those from which intel.
ligence is too often excluded by the use
Of challenge by counsel. Let us have
prompter indictments and prompter
trials. Let us have more policemen
and constables. Let us do away with
| new trials save where real injustice
has been done. Let us obviate legal.
istic camoufiage and insincerity. Let
| US place more power In the hands of
our judges that they may guide the
trial and help The jury to an intelli-
gent and fair verdict. Let us never
forget that the greatest known de.
terrent to crime is dread on the part
of the potential criminal of swift and
adequate retribution.
Those are not Judge Taft's exact
words. But, In the limited space of
this comment. they will serve faith.
fully to reproduce the gist of his ad.
vice-advice which should be heard
and needed and acted upon by the
people and their legislators as swiftly
as may be. One sentence from the
Chief Justices remarks should be
quoted in full: 1--WE are all in favor
OF course" he said. "of measures
which will induce criminals to be.
come law-abiding citizens, but we
must never forget that the chief and
first object Of prosecution of crime is
its deterrent effect"
That is the truth which must never
be forgotten. That is the truth which
the National Conference for Reduc.
tion OF Crime and all others must
act upon. That is the truth which
applies to any criminal in the Nation,
actual or potential, whether he be
pickpocket, murderer or multi.mil.
| lionaire crook.