The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1911-11-07

chamber OF the city hall last night and
passed bill closing all pool and bill
lard halls at IL o'clock every night
and all day Sunday. After heated
discussion between the aldermen, the
amendments were passed and voted
upon which resulted in to in
favor Of closing the places at IL
o'clock every night and all day sun
day.
When the meeting was called to or
der, the council chamber was taxed to
It's utmost capacity. every seat and
spare inch Of standing room was TAX
en-. Many women were in evidence
and the attendance was due largely
to the interest manifested In the pool
room ordinance that was before the
city dads, awaiting to hear the out
come of the decision that was to be
rendered.
Pres. ]. H. Worst Of the N. d. A. c..
made an address to the council as to
his theory on the pool and billiard
room ordinance, stating: THE people
of the city are deeply interested In
Fargo, the community in general are
sending their boys to the schools Of
LiliS City lOI tlCAE CuuGdLibAis anu ~ AZ
outrageous to see the minors that are
allowed to enter the different resorts, to
squander all the way from 25 cents to
81 for pool and billiards. where that
money is equivalent to some book that
they need or other incidental expense.
Another point that I wish to bring
before the council Is, are these diff
ferent places operated on a. highly
moral basis? 1t seems to me that the
youngster may enter these places and
his conscience may be clear OF all
harmful habits when he first enters
the place and slowly, but surely, be-
gins the habit OF associating with
boys that are smoking cigarettes and
drinking, and he finally makes his de-
but into their habits and the result Is
that he has lost all usefulness for his
books and his schooling.
81 have nothing to say regarding
citizens who after day OF work in an
of1ce go to a pool or billiard parlor
and indulge in a game for recreation,
but it is different with the boys; they
have all the entertainments they wish
at the schools, without any expense
whatsoever. This city is a great ed
ucational center and we should take
some steps to protect our boys, and If
it is necessary we will employ a man
whose duties will be to inspect these
places daily and to enforce the 1s-
year law
w E. Hoover, superintendent OF city
schools, expressed himself on the
theme under discussion by stating
that $50 students last year failed to
pass their examinations. One hum
dred Of these were boys and 1t is safe
TO say that 10 per cent Of these pupils
failures was due largely to pool rooms
and their influence.
'Tt costs the father or mother Of the
public school student to keep him in
school for one term $10.51 a year, and
to tutor him a year in a high school
$31. and in case he should fail 1t will
cost $62, providing he remains in
school the next year.
IT could name parent after parent
who have taken their boys away from
Fargo, and have sent them to other
schools outside Of the state Why?
Because they feared 1t was only q
question Of time when they would fol-
low the habit that so many other boys
have fallen into. the pool room gang,
and the result is cultivating immoral
tactics that go a long way toward In
f1uencing the youths mind"
Rev DR.. Beard. representing the
ministerial association and the Fargo
college, stated: "Two-thirds of the
boys in the city Of Fargo are here to
get an education. 1 viii tell you OF
an instance that occurred here last
week. A man living ITS miles west
of this city came to this city, paying
8 cents mile transportation and
back to his home again, and remained
here four or five days, investigating
the different schools and looking over
the city. He saw the pool rooms
open all hours OF the night He left
for his home, decided that Fargo was
no place for his son, and that he
would send him to some other place
for his education. BY this mans ac-
tion the city has lost approximately
800. Now I am in favor Of having
the pool rooms close at II o'clock ev-
cry night and all day Sunday.
Many a mother earns her money
over a washtub and the boy spends Il
over the pool table. 7 represent the
father Of two boys and the fathers
Of other boys. and there should bt
some restrictions on the owners oi
pool halls"
DIR. Creegan. president OF Fargo
| college. produced a petition to thu
council of 500 citizens of Fargo. al
voters and taxpayers. These sigma.
lures were Of men who were Opposed
to the pool rooms being opened aftsu
| II o'clock at night and on Sundays.
Mr.. Blooston. manager OF poo
and billiard room on First avenu,
north. addressed the city council. stat
| ing that he was citizen and taxpay
er OF this city. and that he conducte,
q place that was the equal Of any II
the country. II have invested con
/ siderable money In Fargo, and m.
livelihood depends entirely upon th
| earnings OF my establishment, and
think that / am deserving of q littI
i consideration. Fargo Is 9 metropol
itan city and II you go and close IN
Il pool rooms here. the boys viii so Z
| Moorhead, where the town Is prac
ticalIy open and indulge in the game
over there Why not keep the poo
rooms open here, where you can watc
and know where the boys are7
n costs ME $25 Il day 10 run my plac
and II takes 500 games to pay my ex
pense.v
i Mrs. E. nj. barrow presented to tn
city council last evening . petitio
signed by 7s7 names. that were th