Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-19
LOCAL COMMENT

| If Mayor Ingledue Will carry out his
| intentions, as outlined, and enforce
with an iron hand the old curfcw or
dinance. the good women and mothers
| of Marshalltown will extend to him
thelr everlasting gratitude. The cur
few ordinance has long since been dead
ana In fact never lived The inten-
tions of the ordinance were good, but
the provisions were never enforced.
To many a curfew law has always APP
pearod in the light of farce. rms
may have been due to the fact that so
many of the women urging It's en-
fore cment were those who never reared
children BE that as 1t may, there are
some good things about the curfew,
and il 1t Will accomplish one thing,
keep young boys and girls OIL the
streets at night, 1t will nave per-
formed a mission well worth the trou-
BILE incidental to its enforcement.
If there are people who feel that the
cu,few is unjust and silly, an ac-
uunintance with II situation that mas
existed here recently might change
their opinions. Not many months ago
there was a club organization OF young
people, some OF them not yet old
enough for high school, banded togeth-
er under an innocent name. The pa
pers contained accounts of occasional
parties, at which dancing was a prom
inent feature. Had this been the only
amusement, or had the club room been
rented for occasional gatherings, per-
haps all would have been well. This,
however, was not the case. The CLUB
room" was rented by the boys by the
month. and afforded Il convenient place
in which the downfall of young girls
might be accomplished. 1t was here
that one young GIRL referred to In TINS
column a few weeks ago. fell. An
o her. not then learned of, was lured 10
ruin Two young boys, just entering
their teens, responsible for the condl-
ton of the girls, have left town, fear
ing prosecution. Perhaps their moth
ers know why they are gone, but more
likely not.
Some may say, why do not the
police break up such things?" Well
and good, but young people, even chill
dren, are not fools, and are often able
To hide their actions successfully. On
tlc SJTeclS Ut IIlIiIiEhl ttIlNa slNtiiS W
derly. the police have no cause for ac-
ton. without some ordinance like the
curfew. If it were enforced the young
people could not be engaged In such
immoral conduct.
The Iowa river has claimed It's first
victim of the season at LeGrand. VINO
will be the next one? Every year the
turbid old stream, innocent looking as
1t sluggishly winds about takes some
Young mans life without warning. If
there were any way OF warning boys
and Young men to be careful this paper
would take action. but it is as natural
for a boy to want to swim as 1t Is for
a duck to make for water. The Iowa
river is a treacherous stream, owing
to the character of the soil that forms
it's bed and banks A favorite swim
ming hole one year, and reasonably
safe. may be filled with holes and
"step-pffs" the following season. Faith
ers who have youngsters who want
to go to the river for an occasional
plunge might do well to accompany
the lads on the first trip, and see for
themselves just what the stream is
like this season. Better than that, in
sist on using the Y. NJ. c. A. pool. 1t
may not afford the boy so much fun,
but it is far safer Funerals are eX-
pensive things at best and not pleasant
experiences.
The big cereal mills at Boone have
burned Marshalltown has an empty
factory building commonly known as
the glucose works. 1t could easily be
converted into a cereal mill. MARSHALL
town wants new industries and has the
best of shipping facilities. Why not
a proposition, or at least an investiga-
ton?
If it is true that the sick cows are
being kept in herds by dairymen 1t
is high time some one was being held
up as an example to others.
Such a condition should call for an
application of criminal negligence sec
lions in the statutes.