Evening star., 1944-01-31
MoreWorkers
Held Needed 10
CutDe|inquency
Boy Scout Official
Testifies Before
House Group

Provision for additional adult per-
sonnel for public and private
agencies dealing with or engaging
in youth activities was outlined to-
day to the D'Alesandro subcommit-
tee Of the House as the most practi-
cal means Of reducing juvenile de-
liquency in the District by Linn G.
Drake, area Boy Scout executive.
Testifying at public hearings be-
fore the Public Health Subcommit-
tee of the House District Committee
today, Mr.. Drake listed number OF
steps that might be taken to lessen
the delinquency problem, but he
declared the manpower shortage
among agencies giving youth guild
ance struck him as being crux OF
the situation.
Suggesting that delinquency today
Is not so much on the increase as
might be thought from reports of
Juvenile arrests, the Scout execu-
tive declared:
"If you will remember the stories
of adults as to the pranks they
played in their childhood, think
you will realize that the kids of to-
day are not quite the holy terrors
that some would have us believe"
Cites Earlier Testimony.
Mr.. Drake pleaded that the COM
mittee consider some sort OF legis-
lation, or other steps, that will
face the problem honestly" and
make adequate manpower available
for child guidance agencies. He
called attention to the testimony
last week of Judge Fay Bentley of
Juvenile Court that many of the
men working for the court and
other agencies, on the problems of
wayward youth, had been drafted.
Mr.. Drake said England had gone
much farther than this country in
meeting this situation-"in fact,
we have hardly touched this ques-
tion yet"
The scout executive suggested
that men in the armed forces who
have the right training be assigned
to child guidance agency work when
they are released from service.
He also urged that additional
support, in the way of work as well
as financial help. be thrown be-
hind existing agencies instead Of
fddling around in search of some
new panacea."
He characterized adoption of a
curfew law as merely "a clumsy
escape mechanism" on the part of
those who would avoid meeting their
own responsibilities.
Asks More Facilities.
Mr.. Drake also urged that efforts
be made to increase recreational
facilities and to make better use of
those we now have; that steps be
taken to improve housing conditions
in crowded areas, and that youth be
encouraged to help adults meet the
situation.
ut may be that youth can lead us
out of the fog" he said.
In urging adult guidance as pos
sible immediate answer, Mr.. Drake
said that while plans for increased
recreational facilities, eradication of
the slums and use of the educational
processes were good, they also were
"tragically time consuming prof.
ects."
The committee listened with ap-
parent interest to Policeman Oliver
A. Cowan, colored, who has been
designated by Maj. Edward j. Kelly,
superintendent of police, as school,
boy patrol co-ordinator for the 18th
precinct, to organize the boys and
girls in eight schools of the precinct
in constructive, character-building
programs.
Cites Progress.
Pvt. Cowan, who emphasized that
he was not an expert, and could
make no claim to oratory or knowl-
edge of psychology, psychiatry or
anything like that" suggested that
the big brother" idea was produc-
ing results in the 18th Precinct.
He said his sympathetic attitude
towards mischievious activities of
youths had resulted in the word
being spread around that he was
"a good guy" Boys and girls en-
listed in the boys town" organiza-
ton and helped to reduce petty
thievery, breaking of street lights,
and playing dice" he said. He de-
scribed how a thousand boys and
girls engaging in constructive" ac-
tivities had organized a choral club,
a basket ball team, shoe and cloth
ing exchange, a fingerprint club
and other programs When he said
the boys needed better facilities
and had not been able to get use
of public school buildings because
of some technicality about $40
fee promises of removal of that
handicap came from several wit
nesses.
Kelly Pledges Action.
Mai. Kelly told the committee he
was sure the fee question could be
handled at once; Milo F. Christian
sen, District recreation director,
said he was suggesting use of the
Banneker Recreation Center and
that consideration was being given
to opening the Mott School each
night as a place for meetings, under
supervision. Harry E. Polk of the
colored Police Boys Club said his
group was ready to cooperate.
Representative Rowe, Republican,
of Ohio remarked that perhaps pub
lie officials too frequently were
interested first in balancing the
accounts-forgetting that the cost
of boys characters was the greatest
cost in the account"
Chairman D'Alesandro called to
the stand Rudolph E. Robinson, COL
ored, the acting mayor" Of the 18th
precinct in the Cowan organization,
to inquire how many of the boys
and girls in the group went to Sum
day school. The boy told him Sum-
day school was attended by about
IS per cent of the children.
Hearing Interrupted.
Shortly before today's hearing
ended the Rev. Clinton N. Howard,
-f &La