The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-20
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

L naping epidemic and the never failing daily
crime news persStently remind us that the
crime problem continues undated. It also
should impress upon us the fact that we have
made very slight improvement in our modes of
dealing with criminals. And this is no trivial
matter, since our crime bill amounts to a sum
fully equal to one-fourth of our national income
today.
DR.. Ranulf now brings to a conclusion his
monumental study of the psychological basis Of
punishment in Greek thought and practice
("The Jealousy Of the Gods and Criminal Law
at Athens" By Svend Ranulf. Vol. II. Williams
& Norgate, Ltd, Levin & Munksgaard. So He
comes to the conclusion that our moral indig-
nation and savagery in Furnishing others are
fundamentally based upon disguised envy. In
this he agrees with NistzSche Bertrand Russell,
Joad and Mencken. There is much to support
this point of view and recognition of its truth
should help greatly in promoting a rational
overhauling of our criminal codes
Mr.. Taft has written very sensible book
criticiSing the conventional shortcomings in
handling witnesses which grow out of the effort
to win case rather than to arrive at the truth
("Witnesses in Court" BY Henry w. Taft. Mac
milan. $1600 He does not, however, get at the
real root of the problem, namely the outworn
jury system and the whole complex of horse
play involved in our criminal courtroom pro-
cedure.
" discussion of the best kind of tacura
powder to obscure carbuncle But, until the
time comes when we can eliminate the jury,
supplant it by paid body of permanent experts
and make use Of the elements of modern psy-
chology, such superficial reforms as Mr.. Taft
recommends will certainly be in order.
"Take the WitneSs!" is a vivid biography of
Earl Rogers, one of the most original, daring and
successful criminal lawyers in the history of the
Pacific coast. CTake the Witness! The Amazing
Career of Earl Rogers, Criminal Lawyer. BY AL
fred Cohn and Joe Chisholm. Stokes, $3.50
Indeed in the foreword to the book his daugh-
ter contends that ne was the greatest criminal
lawyer who ever has lived. Certainly, he was
one of the most successful of our criminal law
yers. matching Darrow, Fallon or Steuer. But
it would be rash person who would contend
that Mr. Rogers advanced the cause of truth
and justice in the courtroom.
Yet SO long as we have to deal with unds-
eliminating savagery on the part of prosecutors,
men like Rogers will be necessary as foil
We must not only catch and convict crimi
nails; we must treat them intelligently after they
are convicted. No other American has done so
much to drive home this elementary truism as
Thomas Mott Osborne.
LIE understood the rudimentary logic that if
l. a man is not good citizen wiler he comes
to prison, he can not be good one upon his
discharge, unless the prison has fundamentally
reconstructed his code of behavior. Mr.. Os-
borne's famous scheme OF inmate self-govern-
ment was designed TO produce just such an
effect
Frank Tannentaum, long a friend of Mr.
Osborne, has written a very complete and in
telligent summary of the latters experience at
Sing Sing. Osborne of Sing Sing. BY Frank
Tannenbaum. University of North Carolina
Press, So. 1t is to be hoped that an equally we'll
informed writer will soon tell the story of Mr.
Osbornes administration of the Portsmouth
naval prison.
Not only must prisons be civilized; there
must also be intelligent after-care for discharged
convictS. New York state now has the frame
work of respectable parole system, and the
third annual report of the parole board makes
it possible for us 20 review the progress being
made in an intelligent handling of the problem
Of the released prisoner. (Third Annual Report
Of the Division of Parole Of the Executive De-
partment. Legislative Document. j. B. Lyon
Company. 81.
In his message to congress last January.
President Roosevelt had the courage to say that
many of our more serious forms of anti-social
action are still within The letter of the law. Mr..
Wickwire is to be praised for his nerve in re-
counting fearlessly these border line activities in
Wall Street. weeds Of Wall Street BY Arthur
NJ Wickwire. Newcastle Press 49, It would
be an interesting and Illuminating exercise to
compare this book with one of our better sum-
maries of the methods and ravages Of the con-
ventional racketeerS and organized criminals.