Evening star., 1946-11-20
Juvenile Crime
Is on Increase,
Truman Warns
Coils on Conference
Here to Druft Plans
To Meet Problem

A message from President Truman.
read to the opening session of a.
three-day National Conference for
the Prevention and Control of Juye-
nile Delinquency today, warned that
juvenile crime is. again on the in
crease in this Nation" and presents
a challenge to all of u.s."
He expressed the hope that the
conference will draw up blueprint
for the Nation to aid in meeting the
problem.
Justice Harold H. Burton of the
supreme Court, general chairman
OF the conference, read the Presi-
dents message. The conference is
meeting at the Departmental Au.
ditorium.
President Truman congratulated
the conference on bringing Into
complete collaboration cross
section OF interested organizations
and individuals concerned with the
immediate problem of Juvenile de-
linquency," said he had followed the
preliminary steps of the groups with
interest, and pointed to the recent
FBI report disclosing that juvenile
crime is again increasing.
Broad Approach Stressed.
I believe we are agreed that this
tact presents challenge to all OF
U.s." wrote the President. TT also
reveals in bold relief that the roots
OF the juvenile delinquency problem
stiu lie in the homes, the schools.
the neighborhoods and churches OF
our Nation and are tied to our every-
day lives.
The contribution which this
Nationwide conference can make
toward alleviating this blight upon
our country is far reaching"
Attorney General Clark, in an ad-
dress to the conference this morning.
emphasized that broad approach
to the problem is needed to meet ths
current emergency and set up long
range program. Mr.. Clark, who
sponsored the conference, told the
1000 persons attending that ali
children are entitled to happy.
wholesome home lives" but added
that they must be supplemented by
the church and the schools.
The Attorney General declared
that recreation can play a role in
the building of youth, said that law
enforcement agencies have an i'm
portant part in eliminating harmful
influences and in searching out
trouble spots in the community.
Mr.. Clark traced the origin of
the conference to a visit he made
year ago to the National Training
School for Boys here. He eold the
conference that what he saw there
disturbed him and he decided tc
do something about it.
Gov. Clarence w. Meadows O.
West Virginia told the conferenc,
tnao Government-municipal, Stat,
and Federal-is doing very fittl,
to prevent juvenile delinuuency. 81,
said the conference has power t.
influence public opinion and tn,
Government to bring about a
change for the better. He said the
Government should immediately
recognize that the real responsibility
lies with prevention, rather than
cure, to get at the root of the
problem and keep juveniles from
becoming delinquent
Watson B. Miller, Federal security
administrator, said that the confer.
ence should accent adult delin.
quency. He described juvenile delin-
quency as being ''in all but very rare
instances the simple-sometimes
stark-reality of young people react
ing to all the pressures playing upon
them as they reach shoulder-high
and grow beyond us toward what
we deeply hope will be maturity"
Environment Called Key.
The Key. he said, is the environ.
ment which we in America provide
for our young people-and that
means not only physical surround-
ings but the spiritual climate in
which we let them grow up"
A fresh attack, concerted effort
to reassure the old virtues and values
"a good home and a wholesome
community for all young people, are
needed, Mr. Miller said.
What will really eradicate
juvenile delinquency is the effective
and vigorous expression of the posi-
tive forces in our life-the stable
and happy home, the service minded
community, the effective school, the
spiritually vigorous church." Mr.,
Miller asserted.
Judges, probation officers, police
executives, boys club executives.
housing experts. clergymen, edu-
Gators, social workers and penologists
are attending the meeting.
The panel discussions are to be
held in the National Archives
Building, the Commerce Depart
ment, the Smithsonian Institution.
the Social Security Building, the
Agriculture Department, the Justice
Department, the Federal Works
Agency, the Interior Department
and the Freer Gallery of Art.
These sessions will continue to-
morrow. The delegates will see a
British documentary film, Children
on Trial" tomorrow night. There
Will be radio program over the
Mutual Broadcasting System (WOL)
at 10:30 pm. in connection with the
conference entitled, "I Was a Con-
vict."
High School Forum