Evening star., 1938-03-22
BOYS CLUBS HELD
CRIME DETERRENT
J. Edgar Hoover Appeals for
Support of $4,000
.a Drive.

Declaring that America is seriously
menaced by the monster of youthful
lawlessness," J. Edgar Hoover, director
OF the Federal Bureau Of Investigation
and honorary general chairman of the
1888 campaign of the Boys Club of
Metropolitan Police to raise S75 900,
today called for public support of such
youth movements as curb to crime.
Crime in our Nation is growing"
Mr.. Hoover said. The records of the
F. B. I. for the year 1897 indicate a
81 per cent incre3se in major crimes
committed in the United States, and
the tragic aspect of our problem is the
fact that 10 per cent of our arrests
were of persons under 81 years of age,
an increase OF IS per cent over the year
1886. rys.s ~ -.
Although America is seriously men,
aced by the monster of youthful law
lessness, I feel that the ravages of
crime among our youth have been
militantly challenged by Boys Clubs
and similar organizations throughout
the country. They are providing the
much needed training and the outlets
for youthful exuberance so important
in leading our youngsters from the
horror of criminal career.
Seek to Surpass Goal.
Law enforcement officers every
where firmly believe in youth work,
standing solidly behind the Boys Club,
and we of the law enforcement profess
sion believe that every outstanding
American citizen has duty to en-
Enthusiastically support the youth move
ment in this community as an integral
part in our campaign to rid America of
this pestilence"
Seeking to surpass their goal in the
$4,000 local campaign, teams CT
Washington business men resumed
their drive today in the downtown sec.
ton.
The 100 team captains and workers
were to hold report luncheon at
the Willard Hotel at 1890 pm. today
with Representative Cochran of Mis-
souri, as the main speaker.
The campaign opened officially
Sunday and will continue until
April 9. Aided by an already wide
spread public appreciation of work
done by the Police Boys Clubs now
organized in five. Washington pre-
cmcts, the campaigners are armed
with statistics showing a drop In
juvenile felony arrests from 353 in
1888 to only SO last year. There
were 309 such arrests in 1884, the
first year the club program was in
full swing, 215 in 1885 and 166 in
1896.
$20,519 for Expansion.
This years $4,000 budget allows
$20.519.50 for expansion-new clubs,
more boys and greater benefits.
Club officials and workers are seeking,
however, to surpass this goal and
achieve even greater expansion Of the
program during 1898.
The appropriations requested for
1898, are divided as follows: Admin
istrative expenses, s6,o40: Club No. 2,
S10,G68; Club No. 4. $5,885; Club
No. S, $4,755; Club No. 10, S2,925;
Club No. II, s2,380: medical and
dental clinics, $1,545; Boys Club
Band, $3.640; for Camps Ernest w.
Brown at Scotland, Md, STATS, and
for the camp farm, where the boy
summer campers will be raising vege-
tables for their own use, $3.50.
There is an allowance of $1,458.50
for contingencies and $4,500 for ex-
pansion of Camp Brown facilities in
general.
Club leaders contend, however,
"the, need is really more nearly
$l00, 900, and 1t is earnestly desired
that this goal may be far over
subscribed"
Club membership now totals almost
10000. with SOLO boys in Club No. 2,
661 in Club No. 4, 3,l04 in Club No. S,
500 in Club No. 10 and 267 in Club
No. Ii.