Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-02
CHEAP LIQUOR SEEN
ASPER|L TO YOUTH
]. e. West Believes Bootleg
Product Is Increasing
Drink Habit.

Prohibition may have increased the
relation between drinking and the
aSzausemerts Of young people, 1t Is
pointed out In a report by j. E. West,
chairman of the Committee on Youth
Outside the Home and School, to the
white House Conference on Child
Health and Protection.
Efforts have been made" the re-
mort says, ito separate these CONNER
cial amusements from drinking and
gambling, but 1t may be said with GER
tainty In the light of the present study
that these efforts have been unsuc.
cessful to date. Prohibition has not
sessered the connection between drink
ing and amusements. If anything, the
problem has been worse under prohl-
bition because of the cheap liquor which
Is bootlegged in those places and the
spread of drinking among young people
Is o smart defiance Of law
Special Influences Cited.
Vast commercial and social attrac-
tiors WELD powerful influences upon
American youth during the 40 per cent
OF the time spent outside OF home and
school, il Is pointed out in the report.
.The motion pictures alone attract a
weekly patronage of nearly 40,000,O00
persons under the age of l6 years, the
report states. This great business en-
terprise has established, according to
information made available at the
White House conference, 22,6OO exhib-
ittng theaters throughout the Coz country
Mt an investment of $2,000,000, 900. 1t
Is pointed out that in establishing this
source of recreation for IL 100000 spec
tators at @ single sitting this industry
IA producing 10000, 900 feet Of mega
tive film annually and 1000 ,000, 600 feet
Of positive film, representing S5 per cent
Of the world production.
mlakt fAAfr NJ
ily and the activities outside the fam
Nv viii eliminate apparent conflicts or
Antagonisms, 1t is explained. Their
aims should be interrelated and their
Influences Complementary and supple
mentary.
FURTHER information made public by
the conference follows:
Commercial amusementS other than
motion pictures attract more than
1000, 900 persons daily, who annually
spend over $500, 600 900. Coney Island
IA New York City alone entertatns over
10000, 900 annually. The internal rev.
enue amusement tax efor New YORK
City discloses an annual expenditure
there for commercial amusements in ex-
cess Of 10000 900.
OF all commercial anusements, the
committee finds no form provoking so
much critical attsntion as the motion
pietures.- The visual appeal Is power
ftil. Since one third Of the audience
represents youth under Is years OF age.
censorships have been tried by various
cisaes and States to bring about more
elevated types Of pictures. The Ma
tional Board of Review has been pro-
Slfctive of a constructive cooperation
seeking to mobilize for betterment.
A problem to be worked out In rela-
ton to the motion picture form OF
amusement as q beneficial influence
uuon the children Of the Nation lies in
the reconciliation Of pfoflt seeking with
al art which would seek beauty.
The radio represents another agency
bringing to the people of the country
activities from outside the home. The
i3,4Te 800 sets probably command an
audience Of 10000, 600 listeners.
OF the 5000. 900 Americans who In
dltlge In camping, 5000, 900 represent the
youth Of the land. Various boys or
gariiaations attract 100000 members:
girls, organisations, 81, SOC, 900. To these
are added neighborhood agencies hold
inn the interests of 1,400, 900 young peo-
PIE Daily 1850 600 young people enjoy
Me rscrestional facilities Of Fairgrounds
Throughout the country.
fun time and 2.o00. 900 employed part
time by American industries.
WORK Of Churches Commended.
AH1O0E GOeSe ana OLQcT agencies At-
tracing the youth because Of one or an
other reason are found influences both
good and bad. The churches of the Ma
ton In their dealing with $4,000, 900 per-
sons Sift down to youth moral inculca-
tions and spiritual values. Within each
denomination are numerous agencies
and organizations continuing for the
achievement Of worth while ideals.
In its general conclusions with refer
ence to the multiple outside activities
which engage the time, attention and
interest Of young people apart from
their interests In the home and the
school the committee is Of the opinion
that there is no need for antagonism
between the groups outside the home
and those within the home. In fact, 1t
Is pointed out as social obligation to
arrest and eliminate the sources of
antagoniSm. The family and the social
groups outside are Complementary.
Each supplements the other.
The committee calls for q wider sup
port Of the basic institutions Of home
and church and school and social agen-
cies in which youth actively partici-
pates. More attention should be given
TO the individual under circumstances
OF his relationship with these various
group activities.
Organized society. it is pointed out,
requires that each individual be physi-
cs1ly at, mentally equipped, vocation
ally prepared and spiritually ready to
bear his share as participating citizen.