Evening star., 1939-11-27
A Prisoner Suggests
Code for the Youno
Asks Parents
To Teach Children
Love of Truth
To the Editor of The Star:

Love of Truth
To the Editor of The Star:
Somewhere today there are parents
who are wondering If there is anything
they can do to help their children be-
come good, successful men and women
Today is Thanksgiving Day and I am
spending it and many more days to
come in prison. That is as it should be,
for I now realize that did everything
in my power to merit this distinction.
An infraction Of the law finds its moral
equivalent in penalty. Looking around
me here today see the hard deter
mined faces of men who thought, many
Of whom may still think, they were or
are smart enough to commit an infrac-
ton of the law and get away with it.
The operation of the law of gravity is no
more inevitable than the moral law, in
the final analysis
Incarceration is not the only punish
ment. Even if we seem to get away with
something there is always present an
inner degrading realization which sets
us apart from decent people. Thus the
moral law functions.
I have had plenty of time to think
and the thought arises to me that the
best time to strengthen moral character
is when one is young. 1t is foolish
captain who waits until his ship is on the
rNokc hofNro ho o% 70
determine his course.
Modern business standards demand
better educated youth. AS result
millions Of parents move heaven and
earth to give their children the ad-
vantages commensurate with their
means; the advantages of a so-called
higher education
In one sense that is very commend
able, but in larger sense something
very vital is either being ignored or not
being given proper attention. Otherwise
our penal institutions would not be so
overcrowded today.
Intelligent smart, or clever men and
women are usually desirable adjunct
to human society. There is, however, an
element among us in which this culture
finds expression in cunning and crafti-
ness. We want to outsmart the other
fellow We want more money. more of
the worlds goods. If we can get it on
the level, all right If not. there is always
that peculiar desire to beat some one
else to it,
If I were parent today would want
my children to acquire rational, normal
love OF the truth. I would want to
point out to them the falsity of the
opposite processes of reasoning. Teach
them to be honest; never compel them
to hide the truth about anything be-
cause they fear you. Slaps and abusive
criticism will never accomplish anything.
Teach your boy or girl to come to you for
love and understanding. If they have
done something wrong, do not frighten
them by railing at the weakness of the
younger generation. Remember you, too,
were young once upon time and per-
haps made few mistakes yourself.
Reason things out as intelligently as
you can with your children and they
will love you and remember you for it
as long as they live.
People who have been taught to love
the truth naturally reject anything that
is not true. They have no desire to take
anything that does not belong to them
nor would they knowingly do anything
that would hurt any one else.
In other words, instill in the minds Of
your children morals or religious princi-
piles along with the education you are
trying to give them. Do not be SOL
emn and sour-faced about it, either; be
sure to make them realize that the
truth you want them to know and live
will make them happier than anything
else in the world Make them understand
that the love of truth is the reason you
are happy.
am going to ask one of the guards,
who is going up to Washington to mail
this to you for me-
One of the religious workers who
comes here read some Bible verses the
other day. I do not remember which
chapters they were from, but there were
one or two lines that have stayed
with me:
with all thy wisdom, get under
standing
What profiteth man though he gain
the whole world if he lose his own soul?"
I have been a miserable fool and a
very contemptibly unworthy one, at that;
but this bitter experience is teaching me
something and am going to try to be
better man. Maybe what have written
will help somebody else whose ship is
heading for the rocks, before it is too
late. If so, can have one reason to be
glad for this Thanksgiving Day.
Lorton, Va. TRIM.
November %.
Expects Dizzy Deal
To Reel Through Campaign.