may mean that the records are kept more completely than in
former times. It may mean temporary causes like bad times are adding to
the number of arrests and convictions. It may mean new classifications.
It may mean that figures are based on arrests instead of convictions. It
may include misdemeanors with graver offenses. It may or may not include
repeaters. Statistics in any field are useful, but usually for broad
generalizations, and they must always be interpreted by men of
experience who are not interested in the results. Still, on the whole,
it is probable that statistics show that crime is on the increase. What
have reason and human experience to say on the subject?

We should always bear in mind that crime can never mean anything except
the violation of law, when the violator is convicted; that it has no
necessary reference to the general moral condition of man. Is the number
of criminal convictions growing, and if so why? In the first place, the
criminal code is lengthening every year. When civilized man began making
criminal codes, there were comparatively few things forbidden. The codes
were largely made up of those acts which, in some form, have for ages
been generally thought to be criminal. Religious beliefs, customs and
habits were included in the penal statutes. So were such things as
sorcery and witchcraft. Property was then not an important subject in
man's activities. When the instinct to create and accumulate property
began to rule life, the criminal code grew very rapidly. Complex
business interests, combined with the constantly increasing value placed
on property, were always calling for new statutes.

The same tendency, indirectly, demanded still other statutes until at
the present time this class of crimes makes up a large part of the
criminal code and is growing steadily each year. Then too, the necessity
of property has called for the violation of this part of the criminal
code more than any other, and it has naturally caused a considerable
increase of crime. Man in his social and political activities is ever
weaving and bending and twisting back and forth. For a number of years
the universal tendency, especially in America, has been toward what is
called "Social Control", the idea being that more and more people should
be controlled in an increasing number of ways. Of course, if people are
to be controlled they must be controlled by other people. This policy
has been extended until we are ever p