Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-18
Wickersham Charges Stir
Interest i'm Juvenile Cases

General recognition Of the fact that
the Federal Government is not properly
prepared to handle juvenile cases ap-
pears in comment on the Wickersham
Commissions report Of defects in treat
ment of minors under Jurisdiction OF
the National Government. There Is a
tendency to agree with the conclusions
of the commission that such cases
should be turned over to the States.
Disagreement with the report in a
few Instances is based on the conclus-
ion that there has been some sob
sister" tendency.
THE report shames America" de-
clares the Buffalo Evening News, with
the feeling that the commission de
serves high commentator for taking
up the case of these children-for
bringing to public attention the horrid
conditions under which they are re-
strained" The Worcester Evening
Gazette emphasizes the Importance of
Juvenile delinquency technique" and
holds that "absense Of such technique
under the Federal Government must
be a dark spot unless the delinquents
are released to the States" The Char
lotte Observer is convinced that the
Government should abandon super
vision of child crime" and charges that
'in its treatment Of criminal children.
1t Is itself almost a criminal"
There Is sound reason in the finding
Of the commission that 1t Is desirable
from every point of view that the
Federal Government be empowered to
withdraw from juvenile prosecutions.
where such withdrawal will be in the
public interest" according to the St.
Louis Globe Democrat. and that paper
further advises: LAS responsibility re-
turns to the States. If 1t does return.
it will be we'll for the State to revamp
outworn practices Of housing and
handling delinquents.' The Newark
Evening News maintains that there is
no crime in the calender a boy or girl
can commit that deserves the barbaric
punishment the commission has I'M
earthed."
The more important and undeni-
able fact stressed in the report" in
the judgment of the Cincinnati Times
Star, lis that the Federal Govern
ment wholly lacks the machinery for
dealing with felons of tender years.
Many of the States have developed a
distinctive modern technique for hand
ling juvenile delinquency, but the Ma
tional Government continues ITO treat
erring children like adult felons. Ar
rested by United States marshals, they
sioners, prosecuted by Federal at
torneys. indicted, arraigned and tried
in Federal courts After conviction
they are sent to Federal institutions,
often thousands Of miles from their
homes and families, and thrown
among hardened criminals. The in
evitable product Of such system is
the public enemy Of tomorrow. The
commission recommends that the refor-
nation of child offenders be turned
over TO the States. 1t is far simpler
and wiser reform than attempting to
install a juvenile court system in the
National Government"
Children do not belong in the Fed
eral courts declares the Philadel-
phia Evening Bulletin, while the Salt
Lake Deseret News advises that the
criminal system of the Federal Gov
eminent is not adapted to the treat
ment Of young persons. The st. Paul
Pioneer Press agrees that "in the
majority of cases juvenile offenders
against the Federal laws are of the
typically delinquent class and 1t Is
only technically that these violators
of the law come within Federal juris-
diction"
Expressing doubt as to the correct
ness of accusations against the Federal
Government. the Milwaukee Sentinel
remarks: Any group which dared to
seek the facts about all childrens pris-
ons in the country would, We fear. find
material for the most shameful chap
ter Of twentieth century history" The
Albany Evening News says as TO spe-