The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-12-17
WATCHED BY MANY
MUCH INTEREST SHOWN IN TIE
"CURFEW" LAW.

DR.. sIinnick Explains His Position Upon
Refers to Several Prominent Men on
the Subject and Tells What They Say
About it Ex-Attornev General Brad.
ford Writes Him a Letter-Anticipates
Some Opposition, But Intends to Fight
for the Measure.
Considerable interest seems to be man
ifested in the "curfew'' ordinance which
was presented by DR.. Minick las Mon
day evening in the council meeting. Peo-
pie seem to be talking about it all over
the city.
Tuesday night after the meeting of
the G. A. r. lodge, OF which Dr. Minick
Is commander, be stepped into a quiet
little banquet which was being held by
the Order of the Eastern Star. He had
nc sooner entered than every one present
desired to hear from him concerning his
already famous ordinance and he was
literally compelled 70 make a speech,
telling his position upon the question.
The movement seems to arouse consider
able controversy, and an Eagle reporter
called upon DR.. Minick yesterday TO as
certain what he had to say concerning
the matter.
well, now, what do you want 10
know?" asked the doctor; "what can
] tell you?"
We'll l would like to know something
about his ordinance and its working, or
anything else you care TO say on the
question
We'll, you can quote me as saying
that i am in this fight TO stay. l have
entered it and have not failed to mea-
sure my ground before doing so. 1 will
be a member Of the council for a year
or SO yet, and having begun this fight,
I mean 10 either see 1t carried through,
or be found fighting upon it when my
term expires
do you believe it will carry?''
ffes sir, / do. / believe that fully
two-thirds Of the people Of this city are
in favor Of such move. Go upon our
street corners after dark and there you
will find the little fellows who are to
make our men of the future They are
not at home. but learning all the vices in
the category and none of the virtues
The object in the measure is 10 make bet
ter men and better women of them. for
the boys are not the only ones, for little
girls can often be found upon the streets
late at night, with no apparent object in
view. Parents either do not know or do
not care where they go, or what they do
and consequently there is criminal
class who spring from this source"
When asked concerning other cities
that have this law, he said: 'Other
cities? Why certainly, every city of the
frst class within the state Of Kansas
has such an ordinance except this city
New York City is at this very time dis
cussing the enactment Of such a law,
and Chicago is doing the same The
measure originated year or two ago
In its present phase in the west and
within another year or two il will be
in force every where in the nation.
Have you heard anything about the
working o. the law in other cities?' was
ashef,
Certainly. Mr.. John Crider. city at |
torney OF Ft. Scott, told me that the law
worked like charm in his city. and |
that 1t was intensely popular among the |
CITIZENS. While attending the municipal !
convention recently I talked with Mayor |
Jores OF Kansas City, No. and he de- |
ciared the law to be one of the finest pre-
ventions of crime in existence. Tn.
children under cover of darkness start
at pure mischief and this soon grows un-
III IT becomes crime while the person still |
remains child even. Dow McClain. a /
prominent man of Kansas City. Kan. |
stated TO me that the law was one of the |
pest among all of those made TO prevent |
crime. i have a letter here from Gen. |
Bradford OF Topeka, which speaks for
Itself Mr.. Bradford is an ex-attorney
general Of this state
DR.. Minick is firm in his decision 10 see
THIS matter to the end, and the contest
Is watched with interest The following
Is The letter referred to above:
Dear DR.. Minick:-The ordinance of
which l nand you a copy is now upon
the ordinance books of Topeka and we
think does much good. Something over
TWO years ago We passed an ordinance
of this kind which was amended by the
passage of this one
There has been demand for copies
of this ordinance from several states.
including New York, Indiana, Illinois.
Iowa. Missouri and Michigan. and sever
al cities in Canada, including Montreal
nave sent for copies. Kansas City. Kan. |
has similar ordinance, and they are
pleased with it:
You will observe by this slip that the
city clerk of that city is called upon for
copies, all going 10 show that the whole
country is becoming interested in the sub
ject
Recently l noticed in a New York
City paper an editorial on the subject
and recommending it for New York City
as a preventive of child crime.
The thought was presented by me by
seeing small boys al late hours consre-
eating about saloons and drunken per-
sons. following after police officers when
allied to make an arrest in some place
of bad repute
Il also noticed in our own town a lot
1t boys. colored and white, ioitering
about the depots and car yards al late
lours waiting to see some unusual sight
that these boys would he bet
er on at home in bed, and knowing that
he parents Of such either could not or
lid not try 10 keep them at home, I !
hought little police help would do {
,ood, and so advocated the 'curfew," {
ND ] am now glad that / did Try It
nd you will like it. Child crime Will de- !
reaSe and anxious parents Will be made 5
lad IS. B. BRADFORD" {