The Indianapolis times., 1929-06-06
Crime and Criminals

All thinking citizens viii applaud the an
pouncement Of Governor Leslie that he intends
to turn the reformatories INTO repair shops for
damaged manhood rather than penItentlarleS
for vengeance and punishment
few months intimate contact with the
state institutions have apparently changed the
first thought of the Governor that he must be
"bard boiled" and merciIess toward those
who had been convicted Of ohenses.
He has now come to the better view that
our prisons are intended 10 reclaim and
salvage. not to wreak vengeance.
The prison system. whenever brutality has
dominated the policy has failed The reforma
tories have too often been mere schools Tor
crime. The trail has too often led from the
bows school through the refOrmatory to the
cell at Michigan City or the electric chair.
Prisons whose wardens have been men OF
understanding and sympathy have not been
able to accomplish much in reclaiming men
to society The percentage Of repeaters goes
down as humanity suppIants the paddle, the
solitary and the spot.
It is especially necessary that the reforma-
tories for first offenders be conducted by men
who do not depend on force and brutality to
obtain discipline within the prison.
A youth sent from prison with rebellion
and hatred in his heart will inevitably fight
against the social order which he has come to
hate Laws mean nothing to him. His view
point Of right and wrong is clouded by mem
ories of brutal treatment.
The announcement Of the Governor Of his
policy should cause the trustees OF the institu-
tons which have pursued different attitude
10 ask themselves whether they can really
carry out the Governor 5 policy.
The law now gives unlimited power TO
trustees of penal institutions. Prisoners remain
as long as the trustees demand.
No trustee should be willing to remain on
any prison board who is not in sympathy with
the new policy. Certainly the old plan has
failed The Governor should be given chance
to try humanity and understanding.
At the same time that the Governor was
sounding his new note of progress, Chief
Justice Martin was calling the attention of the
years crop of new lawyers to the fact that
crime is now being protected on a weekly
wage basis.
There are lawyers, he more than suspects,
who have bargains with bootleggers and gang
sters to protect them when they are unwise
enough to be caught, and who charge by the
week or month.
That; he points out, makes the lawyer the
partner in the crime, nasmuch as the lawyer
is hired before it is committed
Whether there be any such lawyers may
not be questioned Whenever any of the Ca
pone gang of Chicago is caught in Indiana, one
of two lawyers very we'll known and very
close to the political gang, appears with bonds
men and advice.
The regularity with which certain firms de
fend every bandit holdup man and gangster
suggests. an understanding of this sort.
These lawyers are not disbarred. They are
envied and honored. When the political boss
has favors to hand out he gives 1t to these de
tenders OF crooks.
The chief Justice may warn but boys smart
enough to pass an examination probably will
understand that the quick way to fortune is to
get in with political gang that has alliances
with the underworld
The manufacture of criminals can be traced
verv distinctly to machine government.
Crooked politics and crime are more than
cousins. They sleep in the same bed. And
crooked politics and crime depend on crooked
lawyers.
few disbarments. starting at the top OF
noliticsl law firms might help to curb crime.
Speaking of Law Enforcement
sneakinr of law enforcement. the house ol repre-