The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1934-05-11
NEWSPAPERS OPINION
SOCIETY AT BAY

II ia true as President Hoover's Research COM
mittee ON Social Trends pointed out, that "crlme
cannot he measured Directly But there are many
indirect induces ats amount" the committee con-
cluded "must be inferred from. the frequency of
como occurrences connected with it, for example.
crime brought to the attention of the police; per-
cons arrested: prosecutions, convictions and other
dispositions, such as probation or commitment
Each of these may be used as an lndeX Oh the
amount of crime"
particularly challenging index of crime in the
limited States is contained in figures indicating
that bomicides have doubled in the last 3S years
The annual toll by homicide is now between H.
900 and 10000. These figures are revealed by Dr.
Frederick L. Hoffman, consulting statistcian, in
recent issue of the Spectator, an insurance pub
location.
Dr. Hoffman reports that in 81 cities for winch
uniform data are available since 1900 the COM
bifed homicide rate per 100000 of population has
increased from sol in 1900 to 1917 in 1888 Blame
for slayings is placed by DR.. Hoffman on the I'M
restricted sale of firearms, crime fiction and lurld
criminal trials. He might have added gangster
movies, political control of police and courts, and
legal procedure begged down with barnacles of
delay and technicalities
The average man and woman, IMMERSED in the
theories of criminoogy and penology rightly re-
CARDS the prevalence of crime not Only scar
dial and disgrace, but challenge to society to
put in force the tenets of civilized living. We are
confronting measurable reversion to savagery.
There is no blinking or condoning the stark facts
faunted before our eveyes daily in all their lurld
and distressing details. Prohibition can no longer
be blamed. Organized criminals pursuing their
way as vigorously in drug traffic, burglary, racke
teering and kidnapping as they ever did in illegal
liquor traffic.
What commentary upon the effectiveness Of
today's machinery for detecting and Furnishing
crime is the Dillinger case. The community too,
must hang it's head in shame that the police au-
thorties of Arizona need to call in their posses,
searching for the kidnapers of six yearod child
to let the family arrange payment of ransom 70
save the chid's life When the police anywhere
must thus lay down their arms, gangdom has So
ciety at bay.
Perhaps the most serious aspect of this desper-
ate situation is that instead of being aroused to
the menace of crime, the public has grown cal
loused to it. For this the sensational press which
has accustomed the public to daily details of crime
ad nauseam, and elevated gangsters into cheap he
roes, must pear the burden OF unacceptable blame.
Not until the public arouses from its lethargy and
righteous public indignation scourges officials
sworn to enforce the law to do their duty will the
wave of crime be checked.
Granted that there are many other factors in
the complex situation, including education, preven-
ton, and dealing with crime at its source by
better handling Of Juvenile delinquency, the i'm
mediate duty is to deal resolutely with the chal-
lenge of organized crime here and now-Chrs-
tian Science Monitor