Evening star., 1935-05-19
EDUCATION GROUP
MAPS CRIME WAR
National Commission Named
at White House Session.
Work Outlined.
BY GRACE HENDRICK EUsTIs.


The most important resolution
adopted by the Conference on Social
Education, which met at the White
House yesterday, was the appointment
of a National Commission on Social
Education.
The work of this national COM
mission, which is now composed of
the sponsors of the conference, with
the understanding that the number
shall be increased, will be:
l. To compile from data now avail
able, educational materials for study
and discussion groups, for neighbor-
hood and community forums and for
speeches. These materials will be sent
TO the local units from the national
agency.
2. To provide simple, technical
guides for inquiring into community
social conditions. especially those
which are known to predispose to de-
Gnquency and crime.
Will Be Clearing House.
8. To serve as a clearing house and
N4ctl 4bOb4LlE NC11GC1 1Ol IAlC ChRCA
Of groups and communities.
T. To counsel with national agen-
cies in order to make the program as
effective as possible.
5. To devise ways of developing the
work of local units. so as to bring
about co-ordinated action.
The object of this conference on
social education. acting through the
commission, Is to prevent crime by
striking at unfavorable social condi-
tions. Bad housing, undernourishment
and lack of vocational training were
the points especially stressed by Mrs.
Franklin D. Roosevelt when she opened
the conference yesterday morning.
Judge Florence E. Allen of Cincinnati
Ohio, demanded GENERALIZATION Of
the administration of the courts, when
she addressed the conferees. Dr.
George Kirchway, once warden of
Sing Sing and dean of the Yale Law
School. now retired, said in his speech:
"The cause of crime is bad company
The cause of habitual crime is bad
habit, kept alive by bad company.
The remedy is good company"
$50 Attend Session.
More than $50 persons gathered in
the east room of the White House for
the meeting, which lasted from 10
am. to pm.
Besides the SO sponsors, whose
Washington members were Mrs. Anne
Archbold Mrs. Emily Newell Blair,
Willard E. Givens, Miss Katherine F.
Lenroot, DR.. John A. Ryan, DR.. An
son Phelps Stokes, DR.. John Ward
Studebaker and Dr. William A. White
there were representatives from many
churches and missions, parent-teach-
-er associations, clubs. educational bu-
reaus and associations of social work.
ers, adult education, public health,
mental hygiene, recreation and pro-
baton agencies.
Charles P. Taft Of Cincinnati.
Ohio, son of the late President, acted
as chairman of the conference, When
1t came time to elect a chairman of
the newly created commission he was
asked to serve, but refused on the
grounds of having too much work.
However, he agreed to continue as
presiding officer until he could ap-
point an Executive Committee of not
more than nine members which will
elect chairman of the national COM
mission.
The commission hopes to raise 500
QUO Tor the expenses of the first year.
This will come from individuals,
foundations and, in some part, 1t is
hoped, from the Federal Government.
Church Cooperation.
In statement after the confer
ence, DR.. John c. Mcdowell of New
York City, moderator of the Presby-
terian Church in the United States
and secretary of the Board of Ma
tional Missions of the Presbyterian
Church. said the church should stand
for effective social action to prevent
injustice and destroy its sources.
"The church should cooperate
with all movements that prevent
physical. moral, mental, economic
and civic weakness" the clergyman
declared. THE church cares for man
in all of his essential integrity, and
therefore it cannot be Indifferent to
the environing institutions and con-