Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1903-07-09
"WHAT THE CITY OWES
A ROW.

The following article appeared edi'
torially IN the Milwaukee Journal OF
recent date. IL Is as true rs 1t II
timely. 1t is applicable to all cities.
1t should be read by parents and all
others interested In the welfare Of
young men. II touches one OF the
greatest problems Of the day 1t Is
is manly in tone. 1t seeks not to hide
guilt but TO place the responsibility
for 1t where 1t belongs. The publ
cation OF such articles shows that the
press is n powerful agency for good:
"How much does the city Of Mil
waukee owe boy?
The Journal asked that question
the other day because n boy had gone
wrong. He was only one out OF an
army who had been tempted and fall
en-. Some OF them get up again.
Some Of them stay down, and we
build jails and warehouses; for them,
"The city OF Milwaukee owes to
every boy chance to grow up into
strong upright manhood. IL Is it's
duty rs II municipal machine to sup
plemcnt home training, and to remove
rocks from the path to good citizen.
ship MS many Ms possib lie.
THAT Is u debt. 1t Is liability,
greater and more important than ~
thousand financial obligations. A
government that does not meet IL fair
ly and squarely; that doesn't consider
the interest Of II boy, Is not good
government.
"And IT must take the boy MS IL
finds him not as he ought TO be.
"You know the average boy IL
weak, because he Is n boy. You can
not expect the wisdom Of the aged in
the minds OF youth, and II you expect
IL you are wronging the boy. He Is
rs or II, little bit vain, ambitious,
good natured, easily led, and often,
oh, very often, thoughtless.
I" He knows another boy who can
spend dollars whore he can III spare
pennies. He doesn't understand that
the things that boy does he must
not do.
" He wants good clothes. He wants
10 see things and go whore there are
bright lights and raggy music and
goodfellowship and fun. There are
many kinds of fun some dangerous,
The boy doesn't stop To discriminate.
1.-THE road to the world where night
hides dirt and nth and wrecks is
open 1t Is inviting Bright lights
make tinsel look like gold. Even
drunkenness seems like good Joke
when everybody Is having good
time. There are other young fellows
in the crowd. Why not join them?
"That Is how the boy gets into N
world that he wouldn't have his
mother know about The places
are all about him wide open. Tncy
are city institutions = licensed 49,
regulated ~ open To amy young fellow
who has money.
"Money! That IL the word. 1t
and drinks, that makes you forget for
while. 1t buys the kind OF pleas
urc that hurts. You must have
money to join the crowd.
"The boy Is getting IS or 10 week,
and must pay something to his
mother for board, His necessities
equal his income, There Is no sur
plus, and every day he Is handling
dollars that do not belong to him.
" He wants things. Temptation is
on every side, In dozen forms,
Much OF 1t exists because the city of
Milwaukee permits 1t to exist. 1t Is
temptation In tho hands Of men and
women who are absolutely pitiless.
" He falls He Is only n half
matured boy, lie Is weak. Romem-
Der that when you Judge him.
Part of the guilt belongs to the
great city that did not pay its debt to
the boy.