The Republican journal., 1900-08-09
THE CURFEW LAW.
Shall Curfew Ring In Portland, and
Belfast.

! Shall Curfew Ring In Portland, and
| Belfast.
A member of the Belfast Improve
ment Society recently received a nose
from Mrs. Pollister, corresponding sec
rotary of the Portland Woman's Council
concerning the curfew law and obtained
her permission to publish it, as follows:
2 ATLANTIC ST., PORTLAND. Me. A
copy of The Republican Journal of July
5th came to me and from it's columns |
was glad to learn that my native city is
up-to-date, as the Village improvement
Society and action in regard to CurfeW
Law prove. My interest in this law is
so great I take the liberty of sending
you some quotations from Bangor let
| tiers:
BANGOR, Me, DEC. 6, 1899. | called
this morning upon our Municipal Judge,
Mr.. Vose, and Deputy Marshal, Mr..
John C. Bowen. Judge VOse says the
law is grand success and that Rev. II.
e. Foss of the Methodist church, Father
McSweeny of St Johns Catholic church,
among others, say the law far surpasses
all their expectations. Mr.. Bowen
saws: ''The law is a success and it has
come to stay. 1t has made percepti-
BILE difference III our streets. The
Chief of Police says: ''The law has
worked well and has accomplished more
than | expected it would | can as
sure YOU that the law is a success here in
Bangor whatever it may be elsewhere.
called on Rev. G. w. Field this morn
ing and found him more than willing to
add his name to Others Ill favor OF the
law, {. +. BLISS.
Dear Mrs. Pollister: Mr. Bliss tells
me that you desire some statement from
me regarding the Curfew Law, its sue
cess or otherwise. 1t gives me pleasure
to comply with the request SO far as
can. | know little about the matter
from personal observation. | am too
old to be much i'll the streets myself.
But am assured by the police, and by
others who have put themselves to the
trouble of ascertaining the facts, that
the law is altogether Il success: that the
lads and children who used to abound at
the corners of the streets. and at the
doors of saloons and play-hOuSeS, are
now conspicuous by their absence. The
law does not seem to require much en-
torcemrnt. The little boys stand in
wholesome dread of the police, and the
sound of the Curfew Bell is a signal
| which they are prompt to heed | have
been told that in only one or two cases
has there been any need of intiicting a
penalty. | should think from what
am told tlat very seldom is SO much
good done with so slight an outlay of
effort as in the case of the Curfew Law.
Yours very truly,
Bangor Dec. :, 1899.
The words of our beloved townsman
are forcetuI and his self-written letter
treasure to me. Miss MaryS. Snow sends
me strong letter, which you will be glad
to read. | enclose copy. Wishing you
success. Cordially yours,
ARABELL.A PILLSBURY POLLISTER.
Following is Miss Shows letter, refer
red to above:
Everybody who lives in city knows
very well that there is a large number
of children whose parents are either IN
different to the careful training of chill
dren or who are entirely helpless in the
enforcement of any pretence at training.
Further, that the children of weak OF
reckless parents are peculiarly attracted
by the cheap ''shows." the excitement
going on about low resorts, and the
doings of the people who appear on the
streets after the shades of evening gath
er. Before the curfew law controlled
the children of this city it was com
mon sight to see children from eight to
fourteen years of age hanging about
the doors of the theaters till near mid
night on the chance of having a check
thrown to them by some person coming
out who could endure no more of the
poor performance going on within.
The passage of the patrol wagon through
the streets would bring out dozens to
see spectacles which should never be
seen by anybody, much less by an i'm
questionable child. The Curfew law
entirely controls this, and the localities
of the town where children should not
be are free from them. The objection
that the police force must be increased
is entirely witho ut basis in practice.
1t is true that the police, especially the
chief, must be in sympathy with the law
and in turn it is necessary to have
Judge who will wisely further it. We
are fortunately blessed with two officers
who believe in this law, welcome it as
an aid to their work with adult crimi-
nals-in its preventive power. Objec-
|
the parent is interfered with. Surely,
to all people alive to the seriousness of
the evils of street life for young peo-
pie it must be clear that parents who
take the liberty of being reckless or
Indifferent to the moral welfare of their
children should be very promptly inter
fered with. 1t resolves itself into
very simple question of whether the city
shall protect children too young or too
poorly trained to protect themselves.
We have stringent and thorough laws
for quarantine against contagion Of all
kinds, except moral. Surely, when people
with a deeper and more far seeing hui
mainly for the future of the yyounyg, at
tempt to put safeguard about children
too young to Judge accurately between
life and death, it should be simple
matter to win the support OF city gov
ernment."
| TIr rnVIv