The sun., 1892-04-03
ELlzABEfH'S INDIGNANTCRY.
RHATi ARREST GIRLS UNDER 10 VINO
60 TO PlCNICs AND. BALLSS

1 i
RHAri ARRESr GIRLS UNDER 10 Wnt
60 TO PlCNTcs AND. BALLSs
| Psspis TAssght Aiaerran Csilins wal
Jekaag when he Introdueed HE OrAf
nance. bus Ht west Through, anA the 20
lice Say They are ooiag - Eafsres IL
Nothing that has happened In Elizabeth
slnce It went into bankruptcy about fifteen
years ago has stirred the people OF the town
30 deeply as resolution which was passed By
the City Council on Friday night Elizabeth
has seen stirring incidents In the long inter
val between the two events referred to. There
have been innumerable strikes Of large pro-
portions. including those at the works Of the
Singer Manufacturing Company. the cordags
factories, and the coal yards: also a cru
sade against saloons; and the ceremonies
commemorating the Tooth anniversary Of the
landing OF Washington at "tho Port" aroused
every citizen. But the resolution entitled
An act to prevent vice and immortality.
which became . city ordinance on Friday
night. has disturbed Elixabethans moro than
all OF these. -,.
The opponents cf this remarkable ordinance
are beside themselves with anger at It's pas
sage. They declare In the most vehement
manner that they will have IL repealed. and
that they will make its hackers howl before
they are through with them. They aseert.
first. that the title OF the act is malicious. false
and misleading: second. that It reflects un.
Justly and wronefully upon the youth Of both
sexes resident In the city: third. that IL
aims serious blow at tho liberties Of young
girls and subjects them to . police sur
veillance hateful to every citizen Of this re-
public: fourth. that It interferes without cause
with the harmless amusemonts known as
plcnics and dances. which have always existed
unmolested heretofore. There 10 talk OF in
dignation meetings. and the street corner
orator finds no difficulty in gathering an au-
dlenco by merely mentioning the ordinance or
its authora
The ordinance provides that "any female
under 10" caught attending any picnic. ball.
dance house. or like place Of amusement un-
accompanied by one OF her parents or her
legal guardian. shall be arrested and fined $40
for each offence: and any person. society. club.
or association conducting such amusement
Chief oi Police is instructed to see that these
Alderman Collins is the author Of the law.
When he tirst proposed It the present opposi.
ton was not manifested because. 1t was said
It was presumed to be weak attempt at
aa aS ena casn re-
3 sss s SS ssIsts Sss1Sss
s%sy, 5 5saa ;S"t sss Sen%t!sSse - &ssst
supposed % chat the s would
finally be buried somewhere. and citizens Of
81 classes were amazed to see It become law.
yotes to pass It and those who were opposed
knsm hs "a" has N ss
j. places q assp S Ana lasting stigma upon
Y Ths ,s eppSstion e tie tie law thus publicly e1.
% doubtless sH,pftiSss those In fsvos
though theS pqobsSy sla not sonsder o:ss; so%c
o ESe
ordinance was really needed.
We have had many complaints from par
who Who refuse % to do as they are t told. some time
S 4 e 10 @suSs, q d Ese
siubs IN Ellzaseth whIsh give Ssiis Hs and %sl Pc
led astray; These have in turn .eTereised a
hf
toiSrs ali We could % Was to advise the girls to
found them committing breaches Of the peace.
Now we can prevent their going. There are q
number Of picnic grounds in Elizabeth. and
their influence on young girls Is bad. The law
was made at this time because tho picnic
season begins on the FIRST Of May and
Iss'' be- prepsped spsq ''Psefi fos e. know "i u no
G0DGssen L s.stsd " "saa dSn BE- p1oDos. % use
be arbitrary or to interfere with young girls
who are at proper picnics and dances. There
are always many young girls at the German
picnica. which are harmless family gather
Ines. We won't bother them any more than
We viii! interfere with ,thoee who attend the
Sunday school picnics."
The young girls and the members OF the
young mems clubs are highly inoensed at the
law. The reporters met number who felt
that they had been outragcously stignatized
by the police and tho prom oters Of the law. A
black-eyed girl who has missed very few Of
the public balls and picnics OF Elizabeth In
several years shook her head dehantly when |
her opinion OF the law was asked.
please" she said. even IL / ain't aiteen. I'm
old enough to take care OF myself. and don't |
make any mistake. "a like to see any police |
man, touch me-" and she seemed to grow sew. |
oral inches taller.
At an informal meeting OF one Of the young
mem clubs ono OF the members said:
This law wis an outrage upon every citizen |
md upon every member Of our organization.
Wo always protect the ladies. don't wc?"
chorus Of ayes" answered this query.