The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-16
CITY NEWS.
OPPOSE REPEAL
OF CURFEW LAW
EDUCATORS AND CLERGYNEN
WOULD RETAIN THE MEASURE.
Chief of Police Conroy Also Approves
Agitation to Repeal the Ordinance
Stirs Up Many to Call for Its En-
forcement-W. g. 7. U. Greatly In
tereStcd.

The proposed repeal of the curfew
ordinance may have an effect different
from the one intended. There is
prospect that new life will be infused
into the ordinance as a result OF the
agitation.
A rather wide inquiry among per-
sons who deal largely with children,
and among ministers ana others m
terested in the welfare Of young peo-
pie, shows that none approves the re-
peal of the ordinance, altho many are
opposed to permitting ineffective laws
to remain on the books. They call
for an effort to enforce the ordinance
instead of it's repeal. No fault is
found with the law, and 1t is claimed
that it was proved in the months
soon after it's passage that 1t could
be enforced with good effect.
It is generally agreed that the law
has become a dead letter, but Chief
Conroy favors enforcing the ordinance
and will welcome an agitation that
will afford him support, as without
public cooperation little can be done.
DR.. c.. NJ. Jordan, superintendent OF
schools, helped to secure the passage
Of the ordinance, and still approves OF
it. He does not approve of dead let
ter laws, nor laws that public senu-
ment does not support, but he does
not believe that the curfeW law tails
necessarily into that class, and ne
hopes to see renewed efforts to en-
force the law, instead of its repeal.
The w. C. T. U. was largely instru-
mental in securing the passage OF the
ordinance, and, altho no concerted &C
ton has yet been taken, several prom1-
nent workers are preparing to orlng
the matter before the unions and to
send in individual protests, as Well as
+o ask othor rafOrm agencies to give
the matter attention. ....sf o
Many believe that, even without po-
lice enforcement, the curfew bell ana
the regulations for which it STANDS
have had and still have to some extent
a positive moral force. Every ring
ing of the bell is reminder that the
children should be at home, and the
force of this warning is not altogether
lost. It is the opinion of D. H. Paint
err, principal of the Adams school,
that the children have learned to re-
spect the hour and that parents make
it an issue in the family.
DR.. L. H. Hallock Of Plymouth
church said: IT am much afraid that
| the ordinance is dead, and don't be-
| lieve in dead laws, but I should dis
! like to see a backward step such as
| the repeal would be, for I think the
sentiment of the people favors the
spirit of the ordinance, properly en-
| forced. What is needed is enforce
| ment, not repeal,
DR.. S. D. Hutsinpiller thought the
! existence Of the law had an educa-
| tional value and was a reminder to the
police Of their duty in dealing with
| fragrant cases. He believed that prop
err suggestion would stimulate enforce
| menta of the ordinance. The. plan OF
the law he approved, as it is the duty
| of the public to supplement the home
when the observance of the higher
| law Of the home is neglected. Inc
well-regulated family would never feel
the force Of such a regulation, and
the ill-regulated one should. pic