L. A. S by L. A. S.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Oct 6, 1904

L. A. S

By L. A. S.

THE increase of crime in the large cities is a subject of current press comment in New York and Chicago. Plentiful as crime has been in these cities heretofore, there has been, it seems, a perceptible increase of it during the last few months. Some statements from the Chicago Record-Herald and the New York World are quoted by the Literary Digest, which says:—

Chicago has been attracting attention by its daily chronicle of crime, and now New York is wrought up over an epidemic of murders, robberies, and hold-ups. Mississippi also comes forward with a murder record, which, the Chicago Record-Herald says, “indicates that life is about twice as safe in southern Italy as in that State.” “The violence and indifference to violence shown by our great cities, Chicago included,” says the Record-Herald, “are symptomatic of a great and rapid change that is passing over the country. If the ‘Anglo-Saxon’ respect for law and order is leaving us, it is high time to start a revival of it.” There have been 24 murders, 68 robberies, 57 felonious assaults, and 253 burglaries in New York City within one month. Accounts of hold-ups and robberies have also become a conspicuous feature of the Chicago dailies. In Mississippi there were 260 known murders committed during the eight months ending September 1, chiefly among the lower classes and negroes. This large number of murders is said to be due to the fact that the negroes, who are receiving higher wages, have spent too much money in gambling and liquor.

“The earth was filled with violence,” is recorded of the days of Noah; and “as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.”