The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1941-06-20

Tomorrow is imperiled by crime.
A worldwide crash in morals
threatens civilization with disas-
ter. Man has lost faith in himself
and his neighbor. The boys and
girls of today are unlike those of
yesterday. Who is to blame-the
mother, father or neighbor. Our
youth often find themselves the
victims of their own cleverness.
They believe their inventions, their
gadgets and education will protect
I them from crime and its punish
ment. Some of us think when we
have educated our children and
put them through college that is
all there is to it. Let them go. I'm
through. I've done my duty.
Parents oft times forget the
most important things in life
which go a long way with educa-
ton: The Christian Spirit of Liv-
ing Clean Life. Education means
intelligence, wisdom, knowledge
and progression. Every father and
mother should take time to teach
their children the dangerous things
of life which will wreck them in
days to come. 1t is always best to
correct a son or daughter before
the law steps in and sends them
away. 1t will be then too late. The
words too late" sound dreadful.
When you have to sit down in
court and hear the judge pass SEN
! tence on your son or daughter, the
deputy step up and put shackle
or hand cuff on their wrist and
leads them away behind grim pri-
son walls, then it will be too late.
You will never forgive yourselves
You may weep, you may cry, you
may even collapse, but it is too
late then. It is an old saying
Bend the tree while it is young and
it will grow the way youtrain it.
Virtue Is It's Own Reward
These things have not given the
expected protection because the
average citizen is not sold on the
idea that virtue is it's own reward
We have vague feeling about
right and wrong, but no great con-
victions. He certainly cannot do ii
today. His character must be
moulded to fight crime and its
temptations. Character gets its
bend very early in life. There are
two fundamental facts known to
all who deal with crime. ut is
very hard to salt bread after it is
baked" Character is determined
nd based largely by what boys ano
girls are trained to desire in the
way of work and pleasure. We car
give young people a volume Of
good advice. Perhaps we may
make them do that which we
think they should do. But what
gives life lasting impressions is
what we cause them to want ant
love to do.
Preparation and Training
The most important agency il
directing the spare time activitie.
of boys and girls is the family
Parents generally are woefully
lacking in preparation and train
ing for the great task of moulding
the characters of the men and wo
men of tomorrow. Family life il
scores of other cases either
through neglect, misdirection o.
supervision fail to provide for tn,
control of the leisure and behavior
of the growing youth. Schools
churches and recognized agencie!
of recreation which would supple
ment the lack are inadequate. Thi!
situation is challenge to the mos
concentrated efforts and planning
1t is only by satisfying mor'
wholesomely the legitimate desire!
of youth can the crime problem b,
met.
The Gang And Spare Time
The problem of dealing will
crime in the making can be statet
broadly in terms of youths leisur
hours, the periods after school
work and vacation. I saw abou
! six boys between the ages of six
teen and seventeen hanging abou
a pin ball machine watching tn,
games in beer parlor. They final
ly left cursing and swearing, using
some of the vilest language in thu
book. If the story were related t,
some of their parents, they woulc
never believe it. Once the young
ster has felt the thrilling stree