Imperial Valley Press

JUDGE JENNINGS
STRESSES NEED
OF GOOD HOMES

The family is the foundation
stone of civilization and when this
is threatened disaster is sure to follow,
Judge Lacey Jennings told an
interested group of Junior chamber
of commerce members at their
regular weekly breakfast meeting
this morning. Judge Jennings, who
is a judge in the superior court of
San Diego county, is in El Centro
for a few days in the place of Judge
A. C. Finney and was the guest of
honor of the Juniors this morning.

The visitor spoke of the crime
problem which now occupies the center
of the stage in the thought of
the American people and while setting
forth several facts which might
be adduced as the cause of the present
increase, he gave as his candid
opinion, based on an experience of
several years observation, that most
of the young criminals of today are
from broken homes, those which
have been torn asunder by the divorce
or separation of the parents.

Efforts are being made to minimize
crime, Judge Jennings stated,
but there is a general awakening on
the part of the American people to
the deplorable condition of crime increase.
Several factors are contributory
to this increase, he informed
his listeners. First, the recent war
which has been blamed for the orgy
of crime which has swept the country,
by so many persons. He acknowledged
that there is some truth
to this statement, for it is not beyond
reason, that wholesale killing
such as was engaged in during the
World War, should have such an
effect on the people. Then the
speaker touched on the multiplicity
of laws as a cause for the crime increase.
There are so many laws on
the statute books at present that a
feeling of disrespect and carelessness
in their observance is engendered
in the minds of the people.
Such a condition, he stated, is only
natural.

Criminals Young

These two facts, he insisted, are
more contributory agents than causes
of crime increase. In his experience
he found that many of the
present day criminals are just comparative
youngsters and possess none
of the physical traits of former offenders.
Home training and environment
are blamed for this condition and until
these are properly remedied we can seek
in vain for the solution, the speaker insisted.
Restore the home and the family to the
position it held in the hearts of the
American people 25 years ago, and
we will have the solution of this
great increase in crime.

The business meeting of the chamber
was concerned with the discussion
of a proposed baseball diamond
at the fair grounds to be used by
different teams in the county. This
will be considered at some future
meeting with a view of securing its
adoption.

It was announced that a special
meeting is to be held with the park
commissioner relative to planting
trees on East Main street and also
the San Diego highway. The exact
type of tree to be planted has not
been determined as yet.

The auditorium financial committee
is to meet soon to devise ways
and means to further this necessary
civic project.

Under the direction of Russell
Kliegel, manager of the Pacific
Telephone and Telegraph company,
a film was shown depicting the
searching out and remedying of various
"troubles" which affect the
service of today. The film was extremely
interesting and depicted in
a most realistic manner the great
work necessary to keep the lines
open at all times and under all difficulties.