The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1929-05-21
LLER STATISTICS ON CRIME URGED AS MOST PRESSING NEED
Education and Opportunity Only Remedy
For Crime, w. R. Hearst Tells Commission


because Of EDUCATION and OPPORTUNITY.
The environment which has improved conditions IN
these two great countries TO the point to which they have
been improved can more nearly perfect conditions through
more nearly perfect environment
The educaton and opportunity which have created the
greatest people In the world make these people greater
The education and opportunity which transmitted
tain undesirable elements into estmabls citizens trans
mute other undesirable elements into esnabe citizens
The great solution and as far as can see the only
sure solution Of the crime situation of which we complain
is EDUCATION and OPPORTUNITY,
Education and opportunity have caused progress and
prosperity and have created mental and moral enghtsn
ment among people; and II we want MORE progress
and MORE enlightenment and MoRE morality and less
crmnallty we must have more EDUCATION and more
OPPORTUNITY,
Very few criminals are criminals from choice.
Most Of them are criminals through force OF circum
There, but for the grace Of God 60 l." said John
Bunyan as he man being dragged TO the galows.
Have you who assembled here today TO investigate
the Of crime gone through the crowded sun
Of great city and wondered how good, how noble how
honest how pure how fine how decorous or even how
decent you would have been you had been raised in
that environment?
hope you would have survived the environment and
risen triumphant above it, but do not believe would
have do not believe could have.
Evil environment CREATES criminals.
Evil education CONFIRMS criminals
Lack Of honest opportunity makes criminal opportunity
the only course.
Perhaps you will say that in these days Of prosperity
there !. honest opportunity for everybody ,.,a .r
Of those noble and courageous individuals whom we
praise most and possibly sincerely admire most had to
pawn his medals to keep alive
3d. opportunity was lacking for this good man and
noble character perhaps 1t does not after all rush head
long every youth raised under the dscreditabe and
dsconraging environment Of the slums,
And there sufficient education and suff
cent opportunity for youth raised in that environment
what is he with his limited knowledge and his slender
chances, going to do in the world?
The vgor he has, the spirit he has the more
determination he has not to be beaten under BY the hard
Of his fate the likelihood there is that he will
become daring and dangerous criminal.
The qualities Of courage and resourcefuness which make
successful criminal might properly directed and devel
oped make successful honest man.
We have vigorous courageous independent, energetic
ambitious Of here in America We have virie
youth determined to get along way honestly or dis
honestly according to their education and opportunity
Il is the duty and indeed the advantage of reputable
American citizens who have the power and the numbers
TO contro circumstances to- that this ve youth has
he RIGHT education and the RIGHT opportunity to make
GOOD CITIZENS out Of them and not CRIMINALS
Environment and heredity control character
In fact environment will do more it will not only control
character; IT WILL CONTROL HEREDITY
has done in individuals it has done it in nations
in the past
It will do it today E~s
WE can control environment
80 the solution of the whole criminal problem is in OUR
HANDS
Education and opportunity will ELIMINATE criminality
is for the people Of the United States provide ade
quate education and opportunity and create honest and
able American citizens where criminals now grow.
WILLIAM RANDOLPH HEARST