Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-09-24

urges juvenile
War Activities
Proposes Commission
To Direct Campaign
Against Delinquency
A proposal that children be en-
listed in home front war activities
Ito far greater extent" than at
present is advanced by the Pepper
Subcommittee of the Senate in a
report released last night which
urges provision of Federal direc-
ton and grants-in-aid for programs
to prevent juvenile delinquency.
In second interim report on its
hearings on wartime health and
education, the Pepper Subcommittee
recommended creation of a COM
mission for children and young peo-
pie, to serve as co-ordinator for
existing agencies in effecting a
program ito provide for the basic
needs of all children"
Such a program, the report stated,
would be aimed at better housing
and more adequate facilities and
personnel for education, medical
care, recreation, guidance and So
cial service for children"
The proposed commission would
function first under the ONCE of
War Mobilization, and later on come
under whatever agency is desig-
mated to direct rehabilitation.
Education Program Urged.
While suggesting enlistment OF
more youth in war work, the SUBJ
committee said an important Incl
dental service which should be per-
formed by the proposed new COM
mission would be a national pub
licity and educational program "to
acquaint the people Of the United
States fully with the facts about
children and their basic needs"
Speaking Of more war activities
for children, the subcommittee
which is headed by Senator Pepper
Democrat, of Florida, said:
To-day more than ever it is i'm
portant that our children be aware
OF their place in the destiny of our
country. The committee feels
strongly that a central administra-
tive authority in the children's field
could also make a tremendous con-
tribution to the welfare of children
by enlisting them in home front
activities to a far greater extent than
they are now.
This is war of the whole people
Our children cannot escape its i'm
pact. Believing as we do that it is
a war in which every patriotic
citizen must play his full part, we
must also believe that every child
can play his part and urgently
wants to do so.
Fuller participation in war activ-
tiles would be unquestionably a
powerful answer ITO part of the
juvenile delinquency problem. II
would touch especially the teen-age
boys and girls who are particularly
susceptible to the tension and ex-
element Of war. It would raise the
morale of all children and of. the
entire Nation. 1t would be an I'M
portant contribution to conservation
and production Of essential mate.
THIS VI
Small Personnel Favored,
The commission, the Pepper Sub.
committee said, should have a small
personnel, capable of generalship
in the fight to give our children
maximum opportunity for growth as
American citizens" Particular at
tention was directed to need for es-
tabliShing child guidance clinics as
an integral part of school systems
in key" cities.
While saying administrative cost!
would be small. the Subcommittee,
said the commission should hav.
sufficient funds" for grants-in- aid
as we'll as sufficient authority, fo
immediate and effective action t.
fill serious gaps in our facilities ant
services for children, especially wal
migrants The grants, 1t added
would be administered through
existing agencies.
The group found there was 6
serious problem of juvenile delin
quency, nationally enough fol
deep concern"-but held it was no
"war-born" but had the same root!
In wartime as in peace. Sayin,
there was no conclusive evidenc,
that delinquency had greatly in
creased nationally during the war
1t found there had been a sharr
upSWlng in some places and in some
groups, but that apparently the rat,
had declined in others.
Many Factors Recognized,
The subcommittee said a popular
tendency to ascribe delinquency t.
some single factor, such as neglec
OF children by working mothers, tn.
lure of high wages for parents ant
children received little support ii
testimony. Also the subcommitte,
was advised search for a singh
restrictive remedy, such as institut.
ing a curfew, excluding childre,
from the movies or lowering tn,
Juvenile" age was unlikely to Leaf
to the heart of the problem.
The group declared the proper
answer to the problem of children
of working mothers was provision
of suitable facilities for care o.
these children during working hour.
of their parents.
The Pepper report declared promp
action must be taken to crush i'm.
mediately all efforts to make use Of
children in promoting antidemo.
cratic and anti-American propa-
ganda."
It added that participation Of
youths in race riots and cemetery
dissertations such as have occurred
in Boston, Detroit and New York
illustrates the possibility of ex.
plotting maladjusted juveniles in
treacherous and insidious efforts ts