Evening star., 1936-04-28
INCREASE IN CRIME.
BY YOUTH DECR|ED.
Lester Urges Daughters OF
1912 to Join in
Child Aid.

Declaring that the tremendous in
crease in juvenile crime presents one
of the most serious of national prob
lens. w. H. Drane Lester, admins
trative assistant to J. Edgar Hoover,
chief of the Federal Bureau OF In
vestigation. last night called upon the
National Society of the United States
Daughters of 1912 at the opening ses-
sion of their forty-fourth annual coun-
Gil in the Willard Hotel to join in
fighting conditions driving children to
lives of crime.
He characterized the preponderance
of juvenile crime as one of the most
discouraging phases of modern trends
in criminality. One of every five per-
sons arrested in the United States to
answer criminal charges, including
the most serious types, such as muir
der, armed banditry and burglary, is
boy or girl under 81 years OF age,
Mr.. Lester said.
OF the total number Of juveniles
arrested each year. so per cent are
apprehended for the more heinous
types of crimes, the speaker declared.
He suggested that one of the most
important activities any patriotic or
ganization could undertake would be
that of interesting children in health
full, natural activities which would
divert them from the paths of crime
More Marines Urged.
Brig. Gen. Richard P. Williams,
U. S. M. c., in charge of Marine
Corps Reserve activities, told the more
than 500 delegates that the United
States today is in a more favorable
position as regards national defense
than at any other period in its peace
time history.
Happily" he said, the people Of
the United States insist upon main
tanning a Navy adequate for the de-
fense of the Nation. An adequate feet
is feet ready for instant use. In
all its primary essentials, the United
States fleet, with one vital exception,
fulfills these requirements. Its COM
bat vessels are satisfactorily manned,
but its accompanying military force.
known as the Fleet Marine Force, IS
woefully short of the necessary
strength"
He explained that the Fleet Marine
Force is the only instrument of the
Navy which can supply the feet with
naval bases so necessary to its opera
tons away from home shores. A feet
without adequately and properly To-
Gated, maintained and defended
bases, he said. would be as useless as
an automobile to man in a country
lacking filling stations and repair
shops.
Last nights meeting, following .
day of pre-council activities which in
cluded trip to Fort McHenry, Bal
timore, formally opened three-day
convention which will close Wednes-
day evening. Last nights session
opened with a colorful ceremony. To
the music of the United States Ma
rine Band Mrs. John Francis Vein
mann of Little Rock. Ark, national
president of the society, lead her
staff Of officers. escorted by the State
pages and colors, into the council
chamber.
Pledge Of Allegiance
Mrs. Harper Donelson Sheppard of
Hanover, Pa, national chaplain, pro-
nounced the invocation and the So
ciety, led by Nine Grant Cantacuzene,
took the pledge of allegiance to the
United States flag. William Tyler
Page recited the Americans Greed.
Greetings from the General Society
of the War of 1912 were delivered by
George Holden, national president.
A musical program was given by Mrs.
Margaret Ray Seay, soprano, accom-
panied by the band.
Today's sessions of the convention
are devoted to the receiving of an
nual reports. The morning session
was given over to the reports of Mrs.
Llewellyn N. Edwards, chairman of
the Credentials Committee: Mrs. A.
Blake, chairman of the Rules Com
mittee, and Mrs. Myrtle M. Lewis,
chairman of the Program Commit
tee and to reports of the following
national officers: Mrs. Weinmann,
president; Mrs. Robert j. Johnston.
honorary national president; Mrs. Ar
thur S. 1sham, first vice president:
Mrs. Daniel w. Snyder, second vice
president. whose report also included
that of the Membership Committee;
Mrs Charles A. Luce, third vice presi-
dent; Mrs. Charles c. Allen, fourth
vice president; Mrs. Sheppard, chap
lain; Miss Sara Mead Webb, record
ing secretary; Mrs. Lucius McCon-
nell, corresponding secretary; Mrs.
Arthur j. ONeill, treasurer; Mrs.
William A. Kelsey, registrar; Mrs
Nathan Cole, jr, historian; Mrs. Will
liam S. Shaw curator; Mrs. Willis
Hitzen. librarian. and Miss Florine
j. Judik, special secretary.
At this afternoons session reports
will be received from the State presi-
= dents. The report for the District
of Columbia Society will be delivered