The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1911-01-26
CURFEW LAW URGED
BY JUDGE DE LACEY
Women to POliceStreets Also
Needed, He Says.
FAULT LIES WITH PARENTS
Juvenile i"urt Head. While Declar-
ing Iiis Disbelief In Charge of
Loose Morals Among Children Of
City. Thinks Restrictive Measures
Should Re Adopted.

Replying 10 charges made by former
Police Judge Ivory q. kimball that young
boys and girls, engaging in fragrant con-
duct could be seen roaming about the
Capitol Park until late in the evening,
Judge William II. De Lacey. of the Juve-
nile Court. last night vigorously denied
that Washington children are as loose
maraled as represented. at meeting of
the committee representing the Washing
ton Curfew Club. at the residence of
Mrs. G. 7. Smallwood. 2lo1 S street
northwest.
Judge DeLacy said that he did not be-
lieve there was so much roaming about
in the parks at odd hours of the night
at least, he had never notice much of
it. He strongl yurged the home train
ing which he and others declared to be
responsible for the need of curfew law
for the District. and gave some sound
adive about carrying cetain laws into
effect
Plain clothesmen and force of
women. he urged, were the best ways
of dealing with young children, when
they are to be arrested. He also pointed
out that there was Il certain evil exist
ing among many young men who resort
TO inducing girls to drink from pocket
TASKS which they cary. when denied ad-
mission to drinking places.
This evil, Judge De Lacey declared.
could only be removed by the law
offend,1, as the present liquor laws do
not prevent this method of defeating its
aims.
In addition to these remarks. Judge De
Lacey earnestly pleaded for the passage
OF the Curfew law and against the evils
which permit young children to roam the
streets in the dark.
IF their parents do not keep them at
hoIne," he urged. the committee should
try to reach them through the parents
associations of the public school and the
larger use OF the public school through
out the District as social centers and
such license to their children. or should
we enact the Curfew alwr'
The enactment OF such a law, Judge
De Lacy thought, will hedge childhood
with so many restrictions as to de-
velop in the children a disrespect for
the law" Should this law be passed.
he claimed that it would be wise to
place it's enforcement under the super
intendent of public schools as the tru-
ancy law is enforced.
Ways and means for probing into the
problem now facing the parents and
children of Washington were discussed.
for which purpose the meeting was
planned.
Committee Heads Named.
The following chairmen of committees
were appointed, receiving instruction that
they shall themselves make up the per-
sonnet of their own committees: Publ
city. Rev. Zed H. Copp; pastoral. Rev.
DR.. G. Freeland ePters; legislative. Mrs.
Margaret Dye Ellis, of the w. c. r. u:
locality, c. w. Skinner. superintendent Of
the industrial school of the District in
Mrs. George Otis Smith: Dis
trict committee. A. f. Shoemaker: finance,
f.. s. Wescott
to make a canvass of all the pastors OF
the city. when efforts will be made to
have a sermon on the curfew law
preached in every church Of the city on
the first Sunday In February. Particu-
lar attention will be paid to this, owing
to its far-reaching results.
Addresses were made by other men,
bers of the committee. suggesting ways
and means Of solving the problems fac
ing the children. Earl Goodwin, in
speaking OF the motion pictures. with
which he has first-hand knowledge, de-
MED that the majority Of the picture
films were degraded, but claimed. rather.
that the good companies manufacture
only clean pictures.
He favored a censorship OF women.
which would be greater service to
Washington than the police censorship.
which was not strictly enforced.
II. 0odvin warned TIE committee not