The Wrangell sentinel., 1938-10-07
CRIME PROBLEM


 The problem of crlme in the Un-I tied States involves many factors, social, economic, environmental etc. Eminent authorities. leading penol-l 0gists and sociologists as we'll asl the heads of erime-preYention bu-I Feaus and agencies. have endeaYOr-I ed, through exhaustive research, tol trace the sources of this deplorablel condition of affairs that is cOstingl the taxpayers of America over fif-l teen billion dollars each year. Thesel authorities are agreed upon Onel point at least namely. that the pres-l ent glaring lack of good influencel and sound training In the home isl largely responsible for this gargan-I tuan problem of crime in America. The following items, taken from various sources support this state ment.
 Stating that the Nations army of criminals is one-third the size Of the enlisted personnel in the L. 5. Army James v. Bennett director of the Bureau of Prisons Department of Justice, added: Behind the aYeGageI inmate of our federal penal insti- tutions is the shadow of a juvenile delinquent He urged authorities toI strike at crime through carefully planned methods of dealing with youth problems. As a further evil dence Of the fact that the various parole boards throughout the nation are not functioning as eapably asI they should, Mr. Bennett declared that of the 75,000 men aud women who leave the country's prisons an- nually at least 50 percent return.
 In sermon recently delivered att the Cathedral of St. John the Diyinel in New York City, the Rev. pr. George Pickett Mayo, superinten-I dent of the Blue Ridge Industrial School of Virginia, stated:
 There are so many dishonest men and women because there arel so many dishonest boys and girls. They start out dishonest and grow1 up to be more dishonest. They arel not guided sufficiently in theirl youth. Crime among juveniles is onI the increase. Dishonesty is the most common and dreadful sin withI which the Nations are afflicted. Ourl Democracy depends upon honestI men and women to administer itsl affairs.
 Doctor Mayo charged that fathersl and mothers do not set good exam ,Io, fo. thaIr ahiIdrau ua aISo ataf II ed that the purpose of the schools should be haracter-building and nOtI the making of an efficient machiueI for the earning of more money.
 Police Court Judge Edward M Curran of Washington, D. O., in al recent address before the fathers and mothers of students attending Gonzaga (Roman Catholic) High School charged that parents whol fail to exert control over their child ren are largely responsible for ju- venile crime, adding:
 'If you parents and teachers would accept your responsibility inl fuller measure, I'd have less to do. If they (the children) have respect for parents, they will have respect for the law when they grow up. The solution to the crime problem-ifl any there be-lies in the cradle; and that's where the parents duty comes in.'
 Speaking from his experience on the bench, Judge Curran explained that most first thefts on the part of juveniles are for the purpose of ob- taining money for movies, candy, orI the admission price to ball game. Stating that his own court shows aul increase in crimes being committed in the District of Columbia, JudgeI Curran held that crime could be- minimized whenever public senti-l ment is sufficiently aroused, staysi aroused, and is wisely directed.
 Judge Fay Bentley of the District of Columbia Juvenile Court, in re- gently addressing citizens associ- ation, stated that the delinquentl child problem could be attributed tol