Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1903-02-21
publishing this suggestion in the paper
that is entirely great.
PATRON AND SIBSt RIREE.
The Proposed Curtcw Ordinance.

FEuSTBt Re-, MD, Feb. IL, 1908.
To the MINING .IuUE>NI.
No more bic scd measure was ever
devised To Safeguard the youth of our
towns and cities from the fearful perilS
of the streets at night than the "Curfew
Law now before your Council.
The usefulness of such ordinances has
been widely and uniformly recognized i'll
many towns and cities i'll our land. and
the statistics Of the wonderfully good re
suits flowing from their successful opera
ton elsewhere should settle the question
of their usefulness here III Frost burg.
So, too, the wide testing for years of
this law should also settle the question
of It's legality. The resident gentlemen
of the Bar are far too good lawyers for
one moment to impeach it.
But should anyone be SO faluouS. the
writer's many years of experience III
courts of last resort warrant him i'll pro
nuuncing ,.r cufhcdru upon the question,
and remark that what is technically
known rs the police power of the
State or municipality amply covers all
the powers delegated by such an Or
dinauce.
But one other objection remains and
that does not really eXist-the enforce
ment of the law. 1t will practically en-
force itself. One OF two lads arrested
and released on their own recogniZance,
with the threat of something worse for
the next offender will settle the question
of many further arrests. The news of
it will speed like wild-tirc among the
children and they will disappear from
the streets thereafter lis if by magic.
70 the parent who will take the time
to reflect awhile upon the purpose and
operation of the law-its saying useful
ness to the youth, to his chiidren-in
keeping them from the temptations and
communicating influence and example Of
evil company at II time when their young
mlndsare most ceptiblc-to such Il par
ent or good citizen no argument is
needed. No man would think of allow
ing valuable horse-no. nor even IL
spawned mule to knock about the streets
at all hours of the night. Yet not a few
such do allow young animals far less able
to take care of themselves to do so-their
infinitely more precious lads and lasSes
Or is it that you fear your horse or
mule might he stolen that you see to it
so carefully that II docsnt race about the
streets o'nights: And yet does it never
occur to you that the devil is stealing
your boy or your girl whom You nightly
permit to roam at will the dangerous
streets: The biggest night school,
where folly and sin are cumningly taught,
is kept i'll this city. The devil is the
teacher, and his claSS-roomS are the
streets and alleys, where he and his vile
helpers are ever busy.
As IL lawyer of wide experience upon
the criminal side of the courts [ can as
sure the parent that from among the
varied sources of pollution and crime no
single agency graduates So many young
men and women into the prnitcntiary
and brothel as the devils night schools
held OH the streets
If any father or mother doubts the ut
terly evil influence of this street racing
o'nights, let him or her 60 abroad ii few
nights and listen to the shocking pro
family and obscenity that from any
street or alley will greet them . Stop IL
few moments on Hill street and hear the
shameful oaths and unclean words that
Il knot of small boys often pour forth
during their noisy aSSemblinSs on the
Bowery school-houSe porch
| have professionally seen much of the
seamy side of city tough life, but
candidly declare that no ripe product of
New 1oTk VI Illlduclplld SluilS can
excel the juvenile and older specimens
that nightly roam the streets of Frost
burg
The honorable gentlemen composing
your city council have expressed a de
sire to know the wishes Of the people
upon this question. Petitions are, there
fore being circulated calling upon them
to pass this ordinance
\ copy of the Ordinance will be found
III this issue of the JOURNAL.
Finally, l may say that no i'll result
can possibly flow from the laws opera
ton so carefully is the Ordinance drawn