The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-30
OTNNTCT DIR. A. E. BUCHANAN
OAAN 11O L 52-33 When Building
TALKS FOR THE CURFEW
COLONEL HOGELAND GIVES REASONS
WHY 1T SHOULD BE ADOPTED.
Regards 1t as a Great, Though mex
pensive RefOrm--BOy Bands of
Robbers Broken UP.

Colonel Hogeland, the ''newsboys' friend"
and promoter of the curfew ordinance, was
seen al the Occidental Hotel yesterday, and
in response to a question as to what he
thought of the enforcement of the curfew
ordinance for Indianapolis, he said
Il want it distinctly understood that If
the simple ringing OF bell judcially. in
all of the cities and towns in this country
will empty the reform schools OF the TWEEN
ty thousand boys and girls in them, l will
not myself be the one to refuse the ringing
of that bell especially when it does not
cost anything. When the rebellion was 60
ing on the people wanted it put down.
Abraham Lincoln did not stop removing
generals of supposed ability and educa-
tion, until he finally came to General
Grant, who proved to be a competent gen
eral, and who put the rebellion down. We
are to-day in the midst of a reform move
ment with overwhelming proof that a SIM
pie municipal reform, secured through the
adoption of the curfew ordinance, which is
attended with no expense except the ring
ing OF the bell, Will empty station houses,
Ja1lS, warehouses;, reform schools and PEN
1tenttaries, prevent murders robberieS, ar
son and saIe-blowing, train-wrecking and
hold-ups. 1t was the people who wanted
the rebellion put down, and it is the people
now who want a stop put TO the social and
moral destruction of American youth, and
the continued piling up of millions of dollars
in taxes, and the need of a standing army
of police and court officials to prosecute
ness in putting down the rebellion, and the
people mean business now in stopping
crime through the curfew.
LAS showing where our crime comes
from, a leading monthly periodical reported
that in 1892 clever; of our largest cities, en-
ploying 1900 policemen, arrested $50 900
men, women and children at an expense of
$20,0 900, and during the same year there
were not $500 arrests in the country out
side of the cities. 1t is roughly estimated
that two-thirdS of the population of the
United States live on farms and one-third
inhabit cities: towns and villages. With
this showing it is evident that we are TAX
ing from one-third of the population the
criminal classes.
Il have repeatedly of late called public
attention to the certificates of mayors and
chiefs of police in various cities where the
curfew has been adopted and is in force
showing a decrease of 80 per cent in COM
mitments of boys and girls to the station
houses, jails and reform schools during the
last year Now l ask the officials of cities,
counties and States, with proof positive
such as this why they Will for one mo-
ment decline to give parents the benefits
the ordinance offers. L will suggest that
doubts as to the curfew ordinance doing
all that is claimed for it in building up
schools and lessening taxes to open up
correspondence at once with the city Off
Gals at Denver, Pueblo, Omaha, Lincoln,
St Joseph, Kansas City, Des Moines, To-
peka and LeavenWorth. in Kansas, and
Richmond and Madison, in Indiana, and
scores of other places where the ordinance
has been adopted within a year, and find
whether these things are SO.
"A few samples as to the expense attend
ing the prosecution OF crime: Inc trial OF
two criminals in Kentucky, Neal and Craft,
cost the taxpayers of the State $4,000 to
try them. The chief of police at Joliet, H..
told me that when he was first made chief
of police two small boys were arrested for
a trivial ofenSe and were detained for half
an hour at the station house. They re-
ia Il. air1.A Es.,.
day, then over night. They grew bold as
criminals and are now in the states prison
serving out long sentences for their crimes
and they nave cost the taxpayers of the
county $4,000 to try them He said: Had
taken those boys when first arrested them
to homes on farms they would to-day be
law-abiding and honest citizens Police
officials have told me that unless crime
thrives some of their number will lose jobs
i can hardly think there are police officials
who fear the loss OF positions through the
curfew, though strange things are happen
ing. Some years ago in Topeka, Kan.
met one OF ten extra police, who informed
me that i've and the other extras had Deen
a whole year watching two bands of boy
robbers in the suburbs Of the town and
supposed them to be New York crooks
But last night he continued. we raided
them and broke them up, but failed to
make any arrests This statement he made
In the presence of an audience of citizeus
and offered TO show me the caves of the
boys at midnight This he did. l soon be
came convinced that there was some reason
Tor tolerating these bands of boy robbers
even though they were believed to be New
York crooks. few days later, meeting the
extra policeman in neighboring town from
where the caves referred to were situated,
/ inquired how 1t took him and nine other
extras year to break up two bands of boy
robbers. Then he replied: I will be frank
with you, Mr.. HOgelaud. There were n lot
or rich taxpayers in that town and we could
not get any money out of them, and the
boys did not do very much mischief but
we extras got years salary and a good
living.
Now, what the people want are simnle
facts. This is no reflection on honest no
lice officials | know hundreds 81
thousands or them to be. The several IN
tional conventions of this association have
with the assistance of the police officials Of
numerous cities, got at facts respecting
crime among youth that have opened the
eyes of air-minded men. At one of the
conventions reports signed by chiefs of no.
lice in various cities reported the existence
OF not less than eighty bands OF boy rob oers
within their limits, aggregating about lime
hundred members. Reports from the ON
Gals of trunk lines Of railway reported an
army Of youthful tramps who sometimes
ditched trains, held them up OF murdered
some Of the railroad employees
The ordinance is absolutely free from
politics and UNCONVENTIONAL features and
will lessen convicts I'm the penitentiarV i'm
the same proportion that il restricts youth
same time II protects the trades of honest
mechanics. Cities with the curfeW have no
bands OF boy robbers and young hoodlums
who raid empty houses and destroy the
brass and copper fittings or break the win
dows. Families In cities where there Is no
curfew are moving away ana leaving emp
" houses expressly 10 avoid the influence
Of neighbors' children who are on the
streets al all hours Of night Supern-
tendents Of reform schools certify that the
curfew, IL honestly enforced will prevent
commitments TO their schools"