The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-01-30
LET THEM SKATE.

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 In the present unfortunate contro- versy between the children of Mont gomers and the city government The Advertiser Is with the children. We say let them skate.
 The Advertiser is of the opinion that while there were some aspects of existing conditions which justified the issuance of the order. that 1t is never theless too sweeping and drastic when 1t drives the childish skaters from all the sidewalks of the city. It Is easy to see that many skaters on the crowded business streets conid form a nuisance and interfere with the conn fort if not with the business of number of people who have to work to make a living and buy skates for the children.
 On the other hand we believe that a sweeping order which banishes the children from all the sidewalks of the residence district. is productive of too many heart burninss and too many disappointments to be justified The rights of men have been a fruitful theme of comment and discussion. But we hear little of the rights of chil- dren, And as a matter of fact has not childhood the inaIienabIe right of being happy? Grown-ups should be careful and thoughtfui when 1t comes to interfering with the rights of chiidren-when 1t comes to reducing their stock Of happiness.
 What a desolate old place Mont gomery would be if there were no children. We do not hesitate to say that if the children of Montgomery, already excited and Aroused over the municipal order. should take 1t in their heads to secede and leave. Montsom- cry for some place where they were permitted to skate on the sidewalks, that order would be rescinded. and that mighty quick. too. Montgomery simply could not get along without the children. Tradition says that when the Pied Piper had tofled all the chil- dren out of Hamiin with his magic music they left Hamiin the most de- serted and God-forsaken spot on the earth. We can easily believe 1t.
 The children do not have much chance for play in city like Mont gomery. They have small opportunity to play out in the fresh and whole some air so necessary to the growth and development of childhood, skat- ing. even if it is on the sidewalks. brings them out into the opsn. fur nishes them with, fine exercise and puts wholesome afr into their lungs.
 They do not hurt the sidewalks Besides that, the children who ara be- ing banished from the sidewalks in a few years will be the people who will support the city. maintain those side walks and pay the interests on the bonds that we have given for the im- provement of Montgomery. The city will be in their charge in a few years. Inasmuch as they are going to assume these obligations in the future we can afford to be generous with them and give them in advance . taste of liberty.
 We are impressed with. the experi- ence of one police ofacer who trying faithfully to execute theeorder attempt- ed to stop some children from skat- ing. Their mother was out on the sidewalk immediately.
 "stOp 'em from skating will you? That's just like the city. They come here and put down a sidewalk whether we want 1t or not. Then they compel the father Of these chill dren to pay for the sidewalk himself Then they charge him three dollars q year for walking on 1t. And you want to stop the children from skating on It."
 The policeman wisely decided that he had business at another point on his beat The children went on skat- ing.
 Let them skate. It won't hurt any thing