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EDITORIAL

We publish in this issue an article by Mr. Clifford G. Roe, attorney for the purity organization, on the conditions prevailing in Boston relative to "white slavery." It seems that the people of Boston resent the charge that there is such a thing as "white slavery" in existence in their city. The article of Attorney Roe demonstrates beyond question that Boston, like all other large cities, is cursed with this vicious system. Commenting on the system, the writer says:

"To learn whether or not the 'white slavery' traffic is nation wide, conditions in various parts of the country have been studied. From ocean to ocean the trail of this monster can be seen. New York, Chicago and San Francisco and many other cities, realizing that there is a trade in the bodies and souls of girls, are making determined efforts to blot it out. They acknowledge its presence and are fighting it. In New England it is different. The good people there shun the thought of such a subject. They have not learned that false modesty a thing of the past, and the time has come when we must know the social evil problem as it is and meet it face to face."

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This question is so broad and sweeping that no one city or state should close its eyes to actual conditions.

To eradicate the system it will be necessary for a National organization to cope with the subject. There should be no room nor place for a person engaged in "white slave" traffic, and close communication and affiliation should exist between all persons interested in the subject throughout the country. One of the most effective ways to circumvent these human monsters is perfecting the laws in the various states. Massachusetts is very derelict in this respect. Commenting on this phase of the case, Mr. Roe says:

"In the revised laws of Massachusetts, 1902, Vol. 2, page 1785, Sec. 2, the procuring must be fraudulent and deceitful and the woman must be unmarried and of chaste life. If the procurer marries the girl to circumvent the law he cannot be prosecuted; if the girl makes one mistake in life, she cannot be protected, from being procured. In many cities the evidence in the cases shows that 'cadets' are paid to marry girls by the while slave traders so that prosecution may be avoided and they may thus crawl through one of the many loopholes in mosscovered laws, made before pandering became a curse upon civilization. Because a girl is not of chaste life is no reason she wants to become a prostitute. One wrong step and she is no longer chaste, and then we say, according to law, let her shift for herself. We all make mistakes, so let us be charitable. The words 'previous chaste life' should be erased from the law, and all female persons should be protected from the traders."

It is to be hoped that the good people of Boston will acquaint themselves with the actual conditions that exist in their city and join hands with those in other parts of the country, who are aiming to suppress this vicious system. It will require the united efforts of all persons interested in the subject to accomplish results.

Juvenile Court Buildings

One of the questions interesting Juvenile Court circles is that of the Juvenile Court building, its location and arrangement. The location of the building is one of the essential things to be kept in mind at all times. This will depend in a great measure on the city or locality where the building is to be erected. It should always be placed where the center of population is to be found. Avenues, parks, boulevards and floral decorations are very pleasing, but the material and principal question is the accommodation of the people that are to be served by the Court.

Some criticism has been offered with reference to the location of the Chicago Juvenile Court building. The fact remains, however, that it is centrally located and accessible to the great mass of people that have business with the Court.

The arrangement of the building itself should be kept in mind at all times. The dependent boys and girls should be kept separate, and under no circumstances should they be allowed to associate with the delinquents. Separate playgrounds should be arranged for both the dependent boys and girls, as also the delinquents. The children detained in the home should receive that care and attention that is afforded children in well-regulated homes.

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It is hardly necessary to make any explanation of the above picture. It is not a painting or drawing from the pencil or brush of an imaginative artist. Neither was the picture posed, arranged and photographed by any person as a means of portraying poverty in its superlative form. It is a cold, dim reality. Admitting that it is not a very pleasant picture, it has its good points. Published as it is in the November issue of this magazine, when the thoughts of all turn to turkey and Thanksgiving, this picture ought to furnish food for thought. Whether the reader is one living in the midst of plenty or in the depths of poverty, this picture should appeal to you.

As this magazine is a paper devoted essentially to juvenile work, some of our readers may have the impression that the above picture is a trifle irrelative of the subjects included under the caption. They are wrong, because there are children in this particular case, and those same children are the cause of all the poverty and destitution that goes with the above picture. Right there is the point.

If those children had done their duty to their mother, the old lady would not have been in the above condition, and we would not be publishing the picture. They were not trained right, these children. They were not taught to respect their parents, and to consider the fact that this same mother had sacrificed many things, probably denied herself many of the necessities

of life in order to raise her children from their infancy until the time came that they were able to care for themselves. When such a time came that they were able to shift for themselves, they did not realize that they were indebted to their mother in any manner. They simply left her in her old age to struggle and get along the best she could under the circumstances.

Some of you pessimists, when you are about to sit down to your Thanksgiving dinner and complain because you cannot get the certain part of that big family turkey that you like the best, just take a good look at this picture and then thank your stars that you are lucky enough to have any turkey at all.

If you have children of your own, teach them to respect their parents, and explain to them what they owe to you in gratitude. If you don't tell them while they are young, you might just as well not tell them at all. The time to train a man or woman properly is when they are children. Do not be lax with them now, and expect good results when they grow up. If your children are doing the right thing by you, appreciate it. It is a pretty gloomy proposition when you think of children being less faithful than an ordinary dog. It doesn't sound very nice to have to say, "Yes, both of my children deserted me when I grew old, and the only friend I have now

is the old dog, who sticks to me even if I am down and out

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NORTH EAST WEST SOUTH

MINNESOTA.

At the annual convention of the American Humane Association, which closed October 8 at St. Paul, the following officers were elected: Dr. William O. Stillman, of Rochester, N. Y., president; Albert Leffingwell, of East Aurora, N. Y., first vice-president; Mrs. Caroline E. White, of Philadelphia, second vice-president; E. W. Newhall, of San Francisco, third vice-president; Nathaniel J. Walker, of Albany, N. Y., secretary, and George A. H. Scott, of Chicago; Oscar A. Trounstine, of Cincinnati; Mrs. Lawrence Gronlund, of Oakland, Cal.; Thomas D. Flynn, of New Orleans; John H. Holmes, of St. Louis; Dr. T. J. Beaty, of Salt Lake City; Mathew McCurrie, of San Francisco; H. Clay Preston, of Brooklyn; William Rutherford, of Philadelphia, and John Heap, of Washington, D. C., assistant secretaries. M. Donald, of Brooklyn, was elected treasurer.

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The association will meet next year with the International Humane Congress in Washington, D. C. Delegates from every civilized country will attend. Much credit should be given these annual conferences for the manner in which they handle the problem of the dependent and delinquent child and kindred subjects.

NEW YORK.

In the training school for boys, for which a site has at last been secured in Yorktown, Westchester County, the state of New York is to take a long step under the cottagehome system for the reclamation of wayward youths.

The system is not new. A reformatory on the cottage plan was established by the Philanthropic Society of London in 1788, one was opened near Hamburg, Germany, in 1833, and a third came into existence at Mettray, France, in 1839. The idea took root slowly, but within a recent period it has spread rapidly. Great Britain and the United States have now in operation numerous cottage settlements for boys and several for girls. A few years ago the New York Juvenile Asylum of this city was transformed into a boy colony at Echo Hills, in Westchester County.

To get away from the institutional environment is the aim in all these cottage establishments. Broken into small groups, the boys lose the prison-like sense of walls and long dormitories. They are no longer mere inmates. Foster fathers and mothers in the cottages convey the suggestion of family life. Individual tendencies have a chance to develop. Guardians and teachers-not keepers-find opportunity to cope with different boy natures, according to their differing needs.

It is an oft-repeated criticism of our penal systems that our punishments are devised solely to fit the crimes. In the cottage-home establishments means of correction are modified to fit the various delinquents. Perhaps these institutions, dealing with waywardness at its beginning, may teach the state yet how to apply at a later period the principle of reaching, not the fault, but the man himself.

OHIO.

. All those living in the central states should remember the Conference of Judges and Probation Officers that will be held at Cincinnati, Ohio, November 9 to November 12. The meetings will be held in the Christ Church Parish House, 318 East Fourth Street.

Every convenience for the care and entertainment of the delegates has been arranged, and many of the most notable leaders in juvenile court work have promised to be there. Those wishing further information will please address Mr. L. H. Weir, care of the Juvenile Court. Mr. Weir is secretary of the Conference Committee, and we are sure will be pleased to send further details upon request.

ILLINOIS.

At a recent meeting of the Illinois Congress of Mothers, held in Chicago, plans were completed for the furtherance of child hygiene, and meetings of parents will be held every week at which lectures will be delivered by prominent physicians. Social hygiene will also be taken up among young men and women in colaboration with the Juvenile Court.

Miss Cecil Bowman, recently connected with the United Charities of Chicago, has been appointed probation officer of the Springfield Juvenile Court by Judge Murray. Judge Murray made the appointment at the suggestion of several Springfield women who are interested in the Juvenile Court.

UTAH.

Since the last legislature has taken the Salt Lake City Juvenile Court over from the city this institution has become almost a nullity. The change was evidently made for the one purpose of using the Juvenile Court for political patronage and, although the court was given every consideration when under the protecting wing of the city, it has since ceased to prosper. The court has now been relegated to two little skylight rooms on the fifth floor of the county building, which means when the elevator is not running the women and children must climb five flights of stairs. Absolutely nothing has been done so far in complying with the law requiring the establishment of a girl's detention home.

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DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

Judge De Lacey of the Washington Juvenile Court has a very neat little way of gathering all of the children that have appeared before him and placed on probation together and having them unite in a sort of monthly mass meeting. Every month some 200 children, dressed in their best clothes, come with their probation cards to the court. Judge De Lacey then gives his "good citizenship meeting" a little talk on various subjects, reports are read by Probation Officers Dillon and Darrion, and Court Officer Hickey distributes books among the children on the free library plan. It wouldn't be a very bad idea for some of the other courts to adopt these little monthly meetings, as much good certainly results from them.

The Daily Panorama of Life as Presented

in the Juvenile Court

By Andrew H. Wilson

Judge of the Juvenile Court of New Orleans

The Juvenile Court daily presents an animated panorama of life, a solemn and serious procession of tragedies that are interesting as well as pathetic. Youths of all sorts, conditions and ages, of both sexes, pass along charged with having committed, or the subjects of every offense known to the decalogue; many the innocent victims of inexcusable neglect, and some irresponsible entirely. The adult offender keeps step in the march, responding to charges against him for offenses of every character against the youth, answering to a stern and exacting court for injury to the child. And here in numbers is the mother, anxious for her offspring, and asking of the court compulsion to a wayward husband that he provide for his children, and oft-times wearied and patient parents taking their wandering boys and girls away from sin and crime to probable reform and happiness during the larger and better days to come! All a never-ending procession that day by day passes on, perhaps, to light and hope!

And this procession of lights and shadows of sunshine and storm, of plaint and distress, wends on its path daily in the Children's Court, receiving as best it may, and as best the court may grant it, relief and comfort and the many benefactions that a great city has generously provided!

What of the lights and sunshine? There is woman's strength shown in her weakness, her slavish devotion to her children, her pitiful appeal to the court for maintenance, after all other efforts have failed, her own sense of duty compelling that same duty from an erring husband. There is sometimes the honesty of man, the openly expressed determination "to do what's right," the pledge and promise of better things. And every day from the lips of the child comes the willing expression of natural truth, the sincere confession of childish error and the sweet promise of reformation, and one seems to know why Christ loved little children. If it were not for the brightness and sunshine that daily illumine the court room, if it were not chiefly that divine truth seems to permeate the atmosphere and teach its beautiful lessons, if it were not for the good that comes of all these things, dull indeed, and lifeless would be this glorious work.

The active public interest taken in all of the doings of the Juvenile Court since its establishment in January, and the general approval given to its many and various dispositions in juvenile and adult cases seem to confirm the good judgment of the people of the state in adopting the suggestion of the Legislature recommending its creation. It is now generally conceded that the "Children's Court" fills a need long felt in the community, and that this need is now being supplied. The patronage and support and sympathy shown to the court and its officers by the public and by the generous press of this city have given the greatest encouragement to the movement on behalf of the young people of this city.

The True Idea of the Court.

The popular idea of this court is hardly the correct one. It is not a punitory court originally or intentionally; its punitive powers are incidental. Its construction is based on the principles of correction and reformation of the child, and of proper moral, mental and physical discipline. The

basic idea of its crusade, its object in being, is that in all youth under a certain age there is always an opportunity for betterment, for getting back to normality of condition, of correcting ways and habits so that the child will reform and progress satisfactorily in his growth to manhood. This elementary idea is true; it has been so demonstrated by data gathered from every civilized country in the world. Therefore, the first object and aim is to correct the child in some way that will help him back to normality, or to stay there. Here apply the theories of reformation; probation, for instance, "giving him a chance to help himself,” or the utilizing of public or private reformatory instruments, and sometimes, perhaps, a fine that the parent may have to pay as the price of neglect of the child. It must first be sought to correct and reform by the easiest, thence slowly up to the harsher methods; thereafter, by active punitory efforts that reach the child and correct him, and also reach the parents who probably need this correction more than does the child.

So, as a matter of fact, the larger percentage of work in the Juvenile Court is done under the corrective and reformatory principle, and it is only in aggravated cases needing more serious treatment that the direct punitory principle is applied. The demonstration of these theories is daily shown in the business of the court. It will be well, therefore, to appreciate that the Juvenile Court is not directly a punitory court, like other criminal courts, but is principally and objectively reformatory, corrective and disciplinary in illustrating it is a fact that 96 per cent of youths first brought to the Juvenile Court are entirely normal children, which will show the innocence of the child and the need of careful handling and treatment; it is also a very pleasing fact that out of every 100 children handled and treated by the court, of all sorts and variously, that about 76 per cent grow up and become worthy citizens.

A Radical Reform Was Its Establishment. The establishment of the Juvenile Court in New Orleans meant at once a radical reform in the treatment of juvenile offenders that is not yet understood or fully appreciated. It meant the immediate disassociation of children from criminal courts and jails and prisons, and from police conveyance, a release at once from every unpleasant association and influence that had previously been legally inflicted on the child offender. This was speedily and almost immediately accomplished by the magnificent co-operation of our splendid, big-hearted, broad-minded Mayor, Martin Behrman, and of our able Inspector of Police, William J. O'Connor, whose humane consideration and thorough executive ability put into operation the aims and purposes of the law. The cooperation is still hearty in all matters concerning this court. To-day no child under eighteen years of age is taken If he must be to jail or prison, but directly to the court. detained, either temporarily or permanently, he goes to a reformatory institution where he is well cared for and helped and sustained. As a rule, he is paroled to parents or to a good citizen, and after trial he is placed on probation or reprimanded or discharged. Sometimes, if his parents are neglectful, and it is the practice of the Juvenile Court to hold the parents responsible, a fine is inflicted as a punish

ment. But there is no more confinement for him in police jail or prison, or work house or Detention Home, no more is there patrol wagon for him, but held out to him is the helping hand of a great city who wants him to do better things and who tries to help him become better and stronger and fit for life as a good citizen should be. The court itself is made pleasant for him. Even there is a comfortable bed and linen for him, and a bath and a meal and kindness and very probably, by kind treatment, a better view of life than he has ever had before. Speedy and sympathetic hearing waits on him, and a judge and officers, who are his friends, hear him and advise him, and help his parents to do better for him. Even the little waif who comes to the city's door, whether by accident or design, is kindly cared for by officers, given rest and care, and sent on his way to parents, or a home or occupation is found for him. There is a spirit of sweet Christian charity to-day in the handling of unfortunate or erring children that is up-to-date in the twentieth century. A few visits to the court will demonstrate all of this and more, and it is this magnificent revolution in the care of juvenile offenders that has transpired here under conditions which are daily improving, for which we must give credit to the Juvenile Court law, and the sentiment of the people and to the co-operation of public officers and press in this fair Southern city.

Jurisdiction of Juveniles.

The jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court extends to all offenses, even to crimes committed by a minor under 18 years of age, and to adults offending against juveniles, except in felonies. Felonies by adults against children, which mean penitentiary crimes, must be tried by jury in the District Court. No matter how petty or how serious the offense charged against the minor he must be tried in the Juvenile Court by the judge. As the object sought is the reformation of the child, the highest or severest penalty that may be inflicted is commitment to a reformatory of some sort for an indefinite period, which must extend beyond the coming of age of the child. This has seemed queer at first blush, for a boy has been tried and convicted of murder, though really charged with being a delinquent, but the framers of the law and expert criminologists believe that a boy may reform by the time he arrives at majority, and think he should have that chance.

Neglected or Delinquent Children.

The law has divided juvenile offenders into two classesone being styled "neglected," that is, a child "more sinned against than sinning," to use a trite expression, and the other styled "delinquent," who has actively committed some offense. A child is, therefore, charged with being either "neglected" or "delinquent" for certain reasons, based on facts that otherwise would consist of an offense, misdemeanor or crime. He is tried for "neglect" or "delinquency," and he is punished, if at all, for being either "neglected" or "delinquent," and not for the offense that might otherwise be charged against him. The charges of "neglect" are mainly for his protection, either against himself or his environments, and embrace a wonderful lot of happenings that may only befall a child. The charges of “delinquency" are for his many shortcomings, for some of which he is directly responsible, and are intended to protect the community against him, and to correct him. His arrest is simple, chiefly by notice from the court. He is generally paroled, and he appears for hearing at an early date. He and his witnesses tell their little stories; his parents, if he has any, are and pleasantly, and with every effort to have him feel that always on hand, and what is done for him is done quietly

the court is his friend and wants to help him and not to punish.

The Business of the Court.

An idea of the business of the court up to Aug. 20 may be appreciated from the fact that we have had 1,546 cases against children only, of which 953 were white children, 592 colored children, and one Mongolian. The male sex predominated, and the children were of all ages. It is not possible to tell here the results of these cases, but it is safe to say that one-half were discharged simply or with reprimand, one-third placed on probation, and the balance finea or committed to a reformatory or asylum. This has entailed a vast amount of work upon the officers of the court, for the Juvenile Court is a court of record, and must keep complete records, and each case requires services of notices, subpoenas, etc. A complete record is kept in every case, but the constitutional provision prohibits the use of this record against a child in any manner or at any time. The work is done by a force of three clerks, three paid probation officers and two experienced police officers detailed for the day and night duty. This court never rests. It has never shut its doors since the day of opening, and will not during the life of the court. It is always open for children at any hour and, as stated above, its dormitory will receive a dozen children, and they may bathe, or must bathe, according to condition, and will have meals furnished gratuitously. This "harbor," or "refuge," work for children, though no demonstration has been made about it, has been one of the pleasant and successful features of the court.

Commitment of Children to Homes and Asylums.

The commitment of children to a place of refuge and reformation is an interesting part of the court's duty and work. We have for this purpose several public institutions. The Waifs' Home, a splendid institution in charge of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, managed by Mr. Thomas H. Agnew, whose veteran service ranks him amongst the ablest superintendents in the country, is the principal reformatory for white boys. It is hoped that this plant will form the basis of a larger and more thorough reformatory in this city, which will, in a few years, answer all of the demands now so pressing on us for attention. For white girls we have the House of Good Sheperd, a magnificent institution, doing beautiful work in the care and reformation of young females. For negroes we have the Colored Waifs' Home, under the same good society, and it is doing well and answering very nobly to the many calls on it. The House of Good Sheperd also takes colored girls, and does with them humane and reformatory work that brings about good results. There is also for colored children the Colored Industrial Home, located as a farm and residence and school on Gentilly Road, below the city. Too much in praise can hardly be said of Mrs. Frances Joseph Gaudet, an intelligent and earnest colored woman, whose zeal and indefatigable work on behalf of her charges are widely known and appreciated. To all of these institutions the court has the privilege of committing wayward and neglected or delinquent children, and that the court has done this is evidenced by the crowded condition of all of these institutions.

The law, however, made other provisions, and has authorized the Juvenile Court to commit children, principally waifs and abandoned children, to the many asylums in this city. We have found the latch string hanging outside the doors of all of the asylums to which we have applied for reception of children, and the wonderful generosity and sacrifice that these asylums make in order to accommodate these unfortunate young children bear out the reputation

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