Evening star., 1946-05-14
Clark Urges All Out
Attack on Delinquency
As Radio Series Opens

Given added impetus by a tele-
gram from Attorney General Clark
the new radio series on juvenile de-
linquency, Youth in Trouble
presented by The Star and Station
WMAL in cooperation with the
Metropolitan Police and the Police
Boys Club-opened last night over
WMAL with the subject Environ
ment."
The Attorney Generals message
received yesterday, reflected the
Nationwide concern over the delin-
quency problem, which prompted
the inauguration of the present
broadcast series. The telegram
stated:
"Al law-enforcement agencies,
united with religious, educational
welfare and social organizations
must be modified in an all-out at
tack on the juvenile crime wave
that has placed a shameful blot on
our youth.
Must Find Solution.
II cannot refrain from pondering
over the hapless boys and girls who
through no fault of their own, are
languishing behind grim prison bars
too young to realize their awful
predicament-despite the fact that
their elders say they are old enough
to know better
But sympathy alone is not
enough Mr.. Clark concluded. I'VE
must find solution to this serious
problem"
The grave note of the message
was echoed by Maj. Harvey G. CAL
lahan, superintendent of police, and
John A. Remon. businessman and
president of the board of directors
OF the Police Boys Club who were
guest speakers on last nights broad
cast.
Maj. Callahan, citing a recent
month in which 400 police investiga-
tions involved youths of 1s years
and under, said the problem in
dicated by the figures is of concern
to all.
average Age Is 10.
"Case histories show that as much
as so per cent of the total number
of crimes in the District are COM
either unwittingly or inten-
by youths between the ages
of 6 and II" the superintendent
said. THE average age is 10. These
are the grim facts" he added.
Maj. Callahan expressed the be-
lief that preventive measures must
be emphasized and the problem
aired in full view of ALL"
IF more people know how chill
dren get into trouble, they will bet
ter be able to offer guidance during
the critical periods in the lives of
their own children"
Mr.. Remon stressed the impor-
tance of establishing wholesome
outside activities for youngsters OF
every level of the social scale and
said the responsibility lies with
parents. children land every indi-
vidual in the community with whom
the child makes contact"
Gases Dramatized.
The dramatized portion of the
broadcast, based on records in Juve-
nile Bureau files, opened with a
headline taken from yesterdays
news: Two Youths, 16 and Is, &C
on Trial in Criminal Assault Case.
The sketch dealt with a boy whose
parental control was lax, and who
thus fell easy prey to hoodlums
and confirmed delinquent.
The Star-WMAL broadcasts pro-
pose to explore the entire delin-
quency problem. They are to be
heard twice-Weekly for about six
weeks on Mondays and Wednesdays
Tomorrow's program, scheduled fol
$50 pm, is entitled "The Good
Provider,". wherein the overgenerous
parent comes under scrutiny.
The scripts for the programs are
prepared by Robert Duncan of the
Boys Club, and 1t. William T
Murphy, director of the Juvenile
Bureau of the Police Department
Producer of Youth in Trouble" is
John MacKercher of the WMAI
staff, and program interviews are
conducted by Bill Coyle, radio
director of The Star.