Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-17
ABOLITION OF
CRIME SOUGHT
BY CLEANUP

WASHINGTON. Aug. II. pa
war against the slum sections Oh
American cities-aimed at thei-
abolition as breeding spots OF
crime-was suggested today by I
twelfth Wickersham report to Pres.
Hoover.
The commission itself, however,
made no recommendations or sug-
gestions. 1t merely appended to an
859-page two-volume report on the
causes OF crime" prepared by half
a dozen experts, a brief statement
saying IT was unable to discuss the
subject.
Sums Blamed.
One entire volume, however. was
given over TO an experts report,
setting forth figures TO show that a
steady stream Of juvenile criminals
was pouring from the disorganized
areas Of half a dozen cities studied.
Conversely, 1t maintained these
same people. t'ansplanted 10 other
sections were led less often into
crime.
Accepting these conclusions, Col.
Henry w. Anderson OF Richmond,
Va, who wrote a report of his own,
recommended TO the president that
there be prompt and effective ac-
ton TO remove the slums In our
cities and the under-privileged areas
In the rural sections"
Reports by the other experts
named as causes for the uprush OF
crime in the United States factors
ranging from unpopular l-ws,
employment and economic depres-
sion TO political corruption, and
police graft and dishonesty. Pro-
hibition and the drug traffic were
mentioned indirectly but were not
dwelt upon.
Morris Ploscowe. commission con-
sulant. in an analysis OF published
literature on the causes OF crime,
asserted the activities OF bootlegging
gangs would not be possible with
out the demand for intoxicating
liquors and the tremendous profits
TO be made in supplying It."
Politics Linked.
PloscoWe said also the link be-
tween politics and crime and the
acceptance OF protection money by
the police probably could be traced
in part to the attempt to enforce
laws not completely in accord with
community opinion"
Miss Mary Van Kleeck, OF the
Russell rage foundation, reported
that a study Of the Sing sing prison
records over ten years showed the
ranks of the unemployed produce
more criminals than the ranks OF
the employed. She suggested states
establish more employment bureaus
rather than prisons.
In another phase OF the study Of
Sing Sing. Ira De A. Read. director
OF research OF the national urban
league. found there were more
negroes among the prisoners than
was warranted by their proportion
OF the total population.
The main study submitted BY the
commission, however, was that pre-
pared by Clifford r. Shaw and
Henry d. Mckay OF the behavior
research fund OF Chicago, dealing
with Juvenile delinquency.
Residences Plotted.
Taking the names or thousands
OF boys who had appeared before
the Chicago and other juvenile
courts owe a number Of years, the
two experts plotted the residence of
each upon a map Of each city. Here
are some Of the conclusions they re-
ported:
That specific areas, usually firing
Ing the business sections. produce by
far the greatest number OF delin-
quents.
That once a section becomes so
characterized. II continues to turn
out large numbers Of criminals each
year.
That Of S,l4l boys before the Chi
cago court. 43 per cent. More be-
came recidivists ~(repeaters) from
the Stun areas than from other q Z
tions, indicating the factors that
make boys delinquent tend also to
perpetuate their delinquency"
That when German and Irish
immigrants occupied ,lese sections
the rates of delinquency were as
high as at present. when the Italian.
Polish and negroes dominate these
areas. bur that chin sren Of the
former now appear less often in
court.