The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-04-01
Youths Leisure Time
 Great Social Problem
Knights of Columbus Answer to Challenge of Times
 Told in Story on "COIumbian Squires'

Members of Nv Givney Circle, Columbian Squires, whose varied activities have made them the out standing group of the order in the Unitetd Statese, were the guests Saturday afternoon of the Water bury Democrat and Station WATR. Accompanied by their chief counsellor, Patrick Wallace the youngsters visited the broad casting station and were escorted about by George Duffy, studio manager. They participated in the weekly "Jamboree" of WATR and later in the day witnessed the presentation of a Columbian Souires" program. The great social problem of properly supervising the leisure time of American youth and divertlng it into useful and constructive work, was out lined by MT. Wallace in a special interview with William T. Far rington, city editor of the Demo- crat.
 Mir. Wallace in his answers out lined the purpose of the Columti- an Squires. The history of McGiv- ney Circle founded in May, 1884, was reviewed and a tribute paid to the, Mothers Club organized as an unofficial auxiliary.
 MT. Wallaces statements in part were as follows:
 Leisure Time
 What to do with youth in its leisure time today Is a problem of national significance. In 20 years present day youth will be either carrying the country on It's backs or the country will be car- rying them. A glimpse at the prbo- lem reveals startling information. Two million five hundred thousand American boys and girls between the ages of IA and IS years are out of school and out of work. The disintegration of youth is q social ordeal which must be faced with something more definite than good wishes for the present and future welfare. All that youth has meant to American boys In the past has been taken from them. American youth has not past--no present--no future. They are "the lost generation" because they have lost the right to higher education to a job--to a sense of security.
 America is paying 13 billions of dollars year in it's flight against crime-crime which starts in un- organized leisure time. That Is an annual per capita cost of $100 for every man, woman and child in America. Something more signifi- cant is evident, however, as we in- vestlgate the ages of those who are lncarcerated in our reforma- tories and our prisons. The largest age group of criminals in the Uni- ted States in 19 years, closely fol- lowed by the IS and 17 year groups. This we see crime ns an older boy--not as an adult prob- lem. Yet experience proves that the criminal-the racketeer and the gangster-go out the window when supervised boys work comes in :. e door. Youth today. particu- larly youth of the high school period. is exposed to subtle and dangerous influences which tend to nulllfy the influence of home. school and church. These influences operate In his leisure time. He is exposed to the sex and crime themed movie and stage produce ton, rotten literature. dance halls, roadhouses and similar nefarious influences. From all sides danger ous ''isms" Haunt his attempts to remail moral--buqet his youthful efforts to remain decent. If this older boy goes wrong he goes wrong in more serious and more personal way than does his young CT brother. By nature--he is q clean, upright. decent lad--hopInR that the conditions which have de. prived him of almost every other opportunity will at least give him chance to grow tc decent man hood
 Balanced Program
 Tho primary objective of tht Columbian S0uires program is the