Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1915-02-17
Some Pertinent Criticisms.
Warren, Mimi, Feb. 16. 1915.

Editor Sheaf AS a citizen of this
city, cannot help but feel an inter-
est in its welfare and the welfare Of
its inhabitants. This week has seen
the elimination of serious situa-
ton. Numerous Of our young boys
are going wrong. Two of them were
a few days ago bound over to the
district court charged with breaking
into the till Of the 500 Depot and alb
stracting some $4,000. When the st.
Olaf boys were here a suit of clothes
was stolen from one of them. But
a few days before considerable wheat
was stolen from Andrew Melgard.
Numerous other smaller crimes have
been committed. What is the cause?
1t is hard to tell just what the cause
is. but as we look over our city some
Of the things which lead to the down
fall of people can be easily seen. We
have but to look into many of our.
stores to see the nickel in the slot
machines openly operated. This is be-
ing done in the face Of our police Of
ficers and our city council and no
steps taken to prohibit same. We
have but to go into our pool rooms
to notice the playing Of pool for
money. It is these things which
first install into the minds Of the
youth the spirit of gambling; when
once started the desire to gain mon
ey at the expense Of another is but
the stepping stone to stealing. The
sale of Intoxicating liquor is being
carried on ip the city; not perhaps to
any great extent, but with the know
ledge Of many. To my mind the
real cause of the open law breaking
in the city must be placed upon the
heads Of those whose duty it is to
try and stop same, and who do not do
SO. When the city council fails to
take steps to stop other violations Of
the law, knowing these violations are
going on, cannot help but place a
portion of the cause Of the downfall
Of youth to these individuals. Rather
harsh language, but it is true. The
council is too lenient. They look to
the finances Of the city only. They
know of some of these violations and
they sanction it. Our police force is
woefully weak. AS a protection
against fire it may be sufficient, but
one has but to watch our youth to
see that they fear not our police
force. If you have policemen who
have no control over the youth and
the lawbreakers, you might as we'll
not have any policemen at all. In
the history Of our present night
Waterman and policemen l know Of
but one arrest he has made in the
past five or six years. Arresting
people is not necessary at all times,
but when the lawbreakers show abso-
lutte Indifference to our police force
it is time it was being changed. &,
can understand what the youth
Of this city are up against. There is
absolutely no place for them to 60
where good influences are at work.
There IS no place Of amusement; alb
solutely nothing done by the city to
try and make good men Of them;
there is no work in this city for the
young men, except during the fall Of
the year; there is altogether too
much loafng around places which
are after what little money the boys
are able to get from their parents,
and when that little money is gone
the boys can only get more by steal
ing, and can they be wholly blamed
for falling into temptation, when
temptation is thrown in their path
daily?
/ think the worst feature Of it all
is that the city council allows the law
to be violated without any action on
their part to stop-it. They counte-
nance it. They violate the law itself
by allowing the slot machines to ex-
list, and yet they are very anxious to
punish the youth who offend against
themselves or their neighbors, but
they don't want to even interfere
with the law breaking Of their fellow
merchants.
in nincverythiners h h h hrdluuuu
If these outward violations of the
law were, stopped, if steps were tax
en- to clean the city of those viola
tions which they know exist, but
which they have not perhaps evil
dence upon which to stop it now, but
which could be readily obtained: if a
place of public amusement, like a
gymnasium and a skating rink were
operated for the benefit Of the. youth
of this city. we would see a wonder
full change in our young boys: Instead
Of leading them into temptation, we
should try. and afford them some
amusement that would lead them
away from temptation: .si
To my mind our hayward youth
are not entirely to blame. Our coun-
ell and our citizens are partly to
blame. wonder if change will
ever come about?
Yours very truly,
A. Citizen.
Inf%o, Ernrn Tho Wnsf