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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (April 11, 1956)
Keeping Youth Busy Cure for Delinquency, Ex-Police Chief Says Editor's note: Ernest L. Downing has just retired after serving 12 years as police chief of the railroad junction town of Aver, Mass. During that period he eliminated juvenile de linquency from Ayer. And he became known throughout the nation for his work with youth. Here he teils some of the secrets of his success in this field.) By ERNEST L. DOWNING Written for United Press Ayer, Mass. (U.R) When I took over as police chief, we were averaging 30 complaints of juvenile misbehavior per month. For nearly 12 years, now, not one Ayer youth has been sent to a penal institution. And for the past six years we haven't had a single juvenile court case. What'g my idea? Keep them busy, and they'll be happy and keep out of mischief. I do not like the idea of mis trusting a youngster until he proves true. I prefer to believe him true in the first place. Youngsters respond and take pride in doing their best when they know that someone believes ' m them. Some people think placing a child behind four walls for a length of time is a cure for delinquency. This is just not so. Too often exactly the opposite happens the child becomes a hardened criminal. I also recommend that our fed eral and state government con sider seriously the establishment within national and state forests of forestry camps for the re habilitation of our youth in wholesome outdoor activities. I also recommend a study of what constitutes the most ef fective court system for the handling of juvenile offenders. Out of such a study can come some idea of how a juvenile court can be run effectively, how much time the court should spend in social study of the youthful offender before trial, and adequacy of probation sup ervision, and the protessionai and human qualities needed by he court. Such a study k most import ant because many times children are deprived of their constitu tional rights through the arbi trary proceedings of some of our courts. Medford Lmlea Press- ti Leased V ire Tribune Lmlea Press Full Leased Wire One reason why so many of us tail to understand the juve-; nile is that we look at only one side of the problem. How much more sensible first to try and see clearly the juvenile's side, even though we may not be ready to accept that one's con clusions. Working with, and for, our youngsters is fun. Never can a policeman do his best work with children if he doesn't look upon it as something important, some thing to add to his growth of mind and character. Doctors tell us that the way to control disease is to prevent it. The same thing is true of delinquency and crime. Whole some outdoor activities, like hunting and fishing, are pre ventive measures. A prisoner in a Kentucky penitentiary summed it up pretty well when he wrote me as fol lows: "if we had a cop like you in my town when I was a kid, I wouldn't be here now." Second Section MEDFORD, OREGON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 11, 1956 Pages 1 to 8 try. it WEARING CHEF'S HAT, Primo Camera, onetime heavy weight champion, is busy these days In kitchen of new restaurant he is opening near Hollywood studios. Re cently he has boen a wrestler. (International Soundpkoto) Science Betters Nature's Shell Provided for Eggs Atlantic City, N.J. (U.R) The sheets of any size. Perforations American housewife faces a future of unbreakable eggs. The egg is among 370 exhibits at the 25th annual packaging exposition of the American Man agement Association which open ed a four-day session here yes terday. The new egg comes in a trans parent, unbreakable polyethy lene container which is even more germproof than the shell provided by nature. In a process developed by Cor nell University, the eggs are shelled, dropped into recesses in a polythylene sheet and then covered with heat-sealed poly ethyene. The sterilized container is filled with inert gas as a final step to keep out air. Eggs packages in the new manner may be shipped in flat in the sheet facilitate easy sep aration and the individual con tainers have the openings. The eggs may be boiled and eaten right out of the container, said a spokesman. He predicted the new method will allow chickens yet another outlet for their product-vending machines. The process and equipment are expected to be commercially available within a year. r Proved by scientific test ONLY IO A RO 1 MAGNETIC SNATCHER Edmonton, Alta. (U.R) A department store complained to police that some one was at tempting to remove nickels from a shopping bag dispenser. Police charged with theft a boy found standing near the dispenser with a "magnetic device." THE LITTLE CAMPAIGNER Lexington, N. C. (U.R) The) "world's smallest law officer" opened his campaign for reelec tion as constable today. Shirley Fritts four feet, 10 inches began his career at 72 pounds in 1936. He now weighs 104. f'tKNOW THE CHLDREN ABE SAFE WE HAVE A I I It's a wonderful feeling to know that your children are safe in their own backyard playground ... protected by Cyclone Fence. Our direct fac tory prices mean that you can have Cyclone Fence protection for just a few cents a day. Find out about our long term, no money down, payment plan. Phone for a free estimate. 2-5480 314 Fast 6th Street - Medford, Oregon IT. ft n Andy's Diamond EV2onth Special Safe and Institutions Praised for Job Portland (U.R) Oregon insti tutions for the handicapped and Mnfortunate are doing an excel lent job, bt are faced with a number of serious problems, Gov. Elmo Smith told members of the Oregon Chest at their 13th annual session in Portland yesterday. He pointed out that population of institution has increased by more 1,200 persons or 13 per ent in the past four yean. Total population on April 1 was 9,287, be said. "Problems facing these Institutions,- consist not only of need lor more space because of exand frtg population, but more staff members and facilities for train ing of psychiatrists and other taff members," the governor explained. Difficulties of attract ing and keeping a professional staff because of available salaries and desirability of a long-range research program also were mentioned. Ride the famous SMI FRAUCISCO via daily bus to and from Dunsmuir You'll enjoy this interest ing way to San Francisco and back. Leave after lunch by special S.P. char tered bus which connects with streamliner Shasta Daylight at Dunsmuir. Ar rive San Francisco 11:30 p.m. (PST). Returning, leave San Francisco on the Shasta Daylight in the morning; be home in time for dinner. Daylight con nects with other trains to and from Los Angeles. 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