Evening star., 1933-10-14
POLITICAL LOOT
RACKET ASSA|LED
RaISt0n Asks "N0 Quarter"
at Anti-Crime Session.
Plans Drafted.

A vigorous attack on political corrup-
ton. which was termed the "ugliest
form" of lawlessness known in the
United States. marked this mornings
session Of the National Anti Crime Con-
ference at the Shoreham Hotel.
THE money that has been mulcted
from county, city. State and national
treasures, is as bloody as the 80 pieces
of silver that Judas accepted for the
betrayal of Christ" the conference,
which moved into its final stages today,
was told.
The statement was made by Cameron
Ralston, field director Of the National
Reform Association, oldest anti-crime
organization in this country. The cor
rupt politician should be shown mo
quarter of mercy" he declared, adding
a plea to "clean the whole kit and ka-
Doodle Of them out of our Nation"
School and Church Hit.
Pointing out criminal tendencies are
acquired in youth, he blamed both
school and church for failure to get boys
and girls started In the right direction.
Although the American people expect
too much" from the school. the church
and the home, he said, greater efforts
should be made to overcome the in
fluences of "a debauched metropolitan
press, a sex-made moving picture pro-
gram and the mind-conditioning bally-
hoo of the advertisers.
From these sources comes a great
educational program of intemperance,
descending morality and the ever deep
ening stream of slovenly literature ne
asserted. This calls all the more
for the education Of youth. for the de-
velopment of chara cter-and we can
not begin too young
Ralston was preceded by Capt. Rich
mond P. Hobson, U. S. N. retired. presl-
dent of the World Narcotic Defense As
ISOLATION. who told the conference the
exploitation Of drug addicts has an in
innate causative relation tc crime"
Hobson Sees Huge Waste.
Hobson, famous for sinking the Mer-
rimac, in Santiago Harbor during the
Spanish War, estimated the cost OF
drug inspired lawlessness at 81 ,OOO,-
900 year.
In New York. he said. so per cent OF
the persons convicted Of of1enses in
volving moral turpitude are drug ad-
diets. The fact that some drug addictS
develop a mania for recruiting Others"
he declared, is largely responsible for
the rising tide of crime in America"
AN analysis of typical cases" he as
serted, brings the conclusion that the
youth of the country are being recruited
into drug addiction in pool rooms. dance
halls, on street corners and elsewhere
Addicts of some narcotics. he added,
would rather kill than not, even after
robbing their victims"
A resolution setting aside Saturday
and Sunday. November II and IL, for
special consideration by the churches OF
the seriousness of the crime problem
was adopted. Introduced by Right Rev.
James E. Freeman, Bishop Of Washing
ton, the resolution was indorsed by Dr.
Joseph F. Thorny, S. j., professor OF
social economics at Georgetown UNI
versity and personal representative OF
the president of the institution, who
Church would be glad to cooperate IN
carrying out its provisions.
Bishop Freeman declared the churches
hardly can expect to survive unless they
assume their responsibilities In the cam
paign against lawleSmeSs. On the days
designated, he suggested, all the
churches should give serious considera-
ton to the threatening condition and
endeavor to awaken the people to the
comparative need for action.
Plans Drafted.
The conference moved into its final
stages today, as chairman of IA COM
mittees, charged with formulating plans
for a country wide drive against law
lessness, prepared to submit their pro-
posals to the nearly 400 delegates.
The conference was addressed last
night by Marcus A. Kavanagh of Chi
cago, Superior Court Judge, who un-
loosed a broadside of criticism of the
publics attitude toward members Of the
underworld.
When criminals are placed on trial,
he declared, "the sympathy is nearly
always with the man accused. and there
is elation If he is found not guilty"
your courts Of final review, when
they reverse Judgment on guilty man
because of some technicality. are ap-
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