Evening star., 1953-11-24
FBI Official
Addresses

By Ruth Dean

Parental delinquency was
blamed as one of the chief
causes of juvenile delinquency
and indirectly of the Nations
high crime rate yesterday by the
head of the Washington field
Office of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation.
In an address before the Dis
trict Federation of Women'S
Clubs, Leo L. Laughlin declared
it is such factors as parental
neglect. broken and unhappy
homes and lack of discipline that
produce juvenile offenders.
Mr.. Laughlin spoke at the
monthly meeting of the fedora
ton, held in the auditorium of
the new Perpetual Building AS
Sociation.
Noting that 2,O36,510 estab-
lished major crimes were re-
ported in 1852, the highest rate
in the country'S history, Mr..
Laughlin said approximately 48
per cent of burglaries and SO
per cent of auto thefts were
committed by children under
II years of age"
1T is when the home breaks
down and stops being a center of
family life, stops being a force for
good, that our youngsters and
our country pay the price," he
declared.
Mr.. Laughlin's talk was the
highlight of program planned
by the federation's public affairs
department, of which Mrs
Ernest w. Howard is chairman.
"As Americans, we are wax
ing up to the realization of the
Importance of intelligent par
ticipation in our public affairs"
Mrs. Howard declared. 1--WE
need leaders in the United
States with integrity. compe-
tence and honesty of purpose
from the highest Office in our
national Government to the
lowest in local affairs"
The need for parental and
community leadership in COM
batting juvenile delinquency was
stressed in reports from division
chairmen
I'VE as parents and club
women, must help by creating
a warmth and love in our
homes" declared Mrs. Pierce
Ashburn, chairman of the public
affairs departments Division of
Community Services.
It is only in such an atmoS-
pkere, Mrs. Ashburn continued,
that children will learn that
Illustration is a part of growing
up. and that all we mothers and
fathers want to do, is to help
them to grow to be better peo-
pie and citizens"
Mrs. William Pye, the fedora
tons representative to the
United Community Services, sug-
gested a four point program for
ciubwomen and parents to fol-
low in combating the juvenile
problem.
plan for more family par
ticipation," she proposed. En-
courage your children to join
church and club groups. Please
turn out, yourselves, for evening
meetings suggested by teachers,
your church, your citizens asso-
citation. And find out how and
where your children spend their
out of school leisure time"
Mrs. Erich w. Schwartze, fed
Grafton president, conducted the
business session preceding the
program.
Delegates adopted a resolution
reaff1rming the federation's in
dorsement of the use OF wire
tapping evidence "for the protec-
ton of this country against espi-
onage agents, and persons COM
mitting subversive acts against
it,"
Business also included REIN
statement of the Political Study
Club to membership, and an
nouncement that the next meet
ing of the federation will be held
December Ia.
A $40 donation for the Inde-
pendence Hall restoration project
of the General Federation of
Women's Clubs was received
from the Pro Bonata Club.