Evening star., 1943-12-01
Veteran Actress
.Assai|s Movies
OF Gangsters
Dame May Witty
Says Films Had
Bad Influence
BY DON S. WARREN.

Dame May Witty, the English
born stage and movie star, today
told the Pepper Senate Health and
Education Subcommittee the gang
ster types of movies had contributed
to juvenile delinquency, but "prac-
tically had killed themselves" by
being overdone.
Responding to a question from
Senator Wherry, Republican, of Ne
braska, Dame May asserted gangster
films had had a very bad" effect.
but that type Of picture today is
practically dead"
The motion picture industry, she
declared. has realized the juvenile
delinquency problem and "is doing a
great deal of help" It's product can
"do wonders" if properly handled,
she concluded, but she warned
against too much "preachment."
Warns of Future Problem.
Concluding testimony which she
began yesterday, Dr. Katharine
Lenroot, chief of the Children's Bu-
reau, predicted that. while the cur
rent study is directed to wartime
juvenile delinquency, the postwar
problem would be of far greater
proportions"
There will be millions Of youths
suddenly demobilized from wartime
activities. Many of them will have
been out of school for one to two
years and will have been making
large earnings. The resulting prob
lem will be of much greater serious
ness than that of wartime delin-
quency."
In her general conclusions DR..
Lenroot declared juvenile delin-
quency lis the result of serious
breakdown in family security and
parental guidance and in commun-
lty safeguards to children. It can
be attacked only through action bv
individual parents, schools and
community agencies. who should be
furnished with information, guild
ance. and when necessary, financial
assistance from the States and from
the Federal Government.
Answering question from Chair
man Pepper, DR.. Lenroot declared
governmental agencies had failed
mSeraoly' to provide adequate
chlld-care facilities. She said the
resources of the States and local
communities had not been utilized
lully. Volunteer workers could do
much but generally have not been
used IN local programs. she added.
WPB Policies Assailed.
Policies Of the War Production
Board on materials to be used in
school construction were criticized by
the Children's Bureau chief. She
said:
The War Production Board estab-
lHhed tJanuary 3, 1912 the criter-
ion of 200 per cent use of school
buildings before critical materials
could be used in the construction of
additional class rooms. This results
in double sessions or vastly crowded
schools.
The unfortunate result OF double
sessions can be seen in children
wandering the streets and hanging
around pool rooms and popular
hangouts Many of these Young
people are living under boom town
conditions. in crowded housing. with
both parents employed. thus elimi-
mating the control of both the home
and the school.
Immediate and longtime effects
OF such conditions on children and
Young people cannot be measured in
terms of essential materials"
The investigation committee yes
terday heard a corps of child guild
ance experts, headed by the Rev. E.
j. Flanagan of Boys Town. blame
parents for the mounting misdeeds
of their offspring
Father Flanagan Testifies.
Lets keep the mother in the
kitchen where she belongs" said
Father Flanagan, founder and direc-
tor of the nationally known home
for boys near Omaha, Nebr. The
present war is being fought primarily
for future generations, and it would
be a hollow victory, indeed, if we
were to sacrifice our children in the
process of winning it.
"A mother renders more invalu-
able service to her country right in
the home, than the most skilled
riveter or machinist could ever con-
tribute" He declared it was the
mothers duty not only to keep the
child out of mischief by keeping him
busy but to provide a proper
moral and spiritual background, the
lack of which is the real cause of
delinquency"