State

December 21, 1935 THE STATE Page Nine Ош* Growing Crime Wave THERE arc a lol of tilings of which we arc proud of in North Carolina, but that pride doesn't extend to our record so far as crime is concerned. By .John Marshall Parham According to uniform crime reports compiled and issued W by the United States Depart¬ ment of Justice, North Carolina stands at the top of the list for man¬ slaughter and assault cases. The state is listed as fifth in the number of mur¬ der cases. Something ought to he done about it. The records of the United States Department of Justice show that North Carolina has more manslaugh¬ ter cases for each 100,000 population than any other state in the union. For the period between January and March, 1934, the records show 4.0tl manslaughter cases for every group of 100,000 persons. During this period, the state was far ahead of other states in the number of aggravated assault eases per 100,000 population. They were 102.S. In addition to these figures, there were 5.1 murders and non-negligent manslaughter cases for every 100,000 population in 10 cities of the State. Criminal assault cases for this period, from January through March, were only 1.01 while robbery cases were 10.03 to every 100,000 population. Upon this basis, larceny and theft cases were 194.4. Automobile thefts were 50.4. But what can we do about it? Dean Justin Miller of the Ihike University Law School in effect said over the Na¬ tional Broadcasting Company’s net¬ work. a few months ago that : “we should strive to secure uniform state¬ wide control over crime and that the state, county and city forces are not always working coord i natively.” Dean Miller, however, praised the work al¬ ready being done by anti-crime forces in this and Other states, attributing part of the slow decrease in criminal records to poor salaries and the fact that law enforcement offices arc looked upon as political plums. Dean Miller said further that we should strive to secure a proper coor¬ dination between state and Federal forces. In the words of Dean Miller, “Lot us go forward in our war on crime.” PRESIDENT INVITED TO PARK CEREMONY President Franklin Delano Roose¬ velt is likely to be the most prominent participant in exercises which are to mark the formal opening of the great scenic parkway connecting the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in this state and the Shenandoah Na¬ tional Park in Virginia, according to Charles Л. Webb, Asheville publisher, who recently visited the Chief Exec¬ utive and extended him an invitation to the event. It is not known definitely when the parkway will be completed, but con¬ tracts for more than 100 miles already have been let, and it is expected that the road will be in readiness for use within the next year. The parkway, when finished, will have cost того than $1 *‘.,000,000, and sponsors of the road believe that it will attract many additional thousands of tourists to North Carolina each year. Mr. Webb said that President Roose¬ velt displayed an intimate knowledge of the parkway plans, and asserted that it was his intention to visit West¬ ern North Carolina, either before the official opening uf the park or at that time, lie could not name a definite date. WORRIED ABOUT FUND Mrs. W. T. Bost, State Commissioner of Charities and Public Welfare, is afraid this state isn’t going to share in the federal funds which are to be dis¬ tributed under the social security act passed at the last session of the United States Congress. ENDEAVOR UNION TO MEET IN HENDERSON Henderson is going to bo the scene of a big religious gathering next June when the 193G convention of the North Carolina Christian Endeavor Union is to be held in that city. This decision was reached a few days ago by the executive committee of the organization which has thou¬ sands of members throughout the state. The Rev. Luther R. Modi in, pastor of the Methodist Protestant Church of Henderson, has been selected ns gen¬ eral chairman of the committee which will make arrangements for the con¬ vention, and his principal aide will !-• Miss Josephine Langston, also of Hen¬ derson. The executive committee, which met in Henderson Sunday to decide upon the time and place for the convention, decided that it would be held on June G. 7, S and 9, and several thousand members and visitors are expected to attend. The meeting was presided over by Mrs. (ilenn Lambert of Greens¬ boro, president of the state organiza¬ tion. Various church and civic organiza¬ tions of Henderson are to cooperate in plans for the convention, which is ex¬ pected to he a splendid success.