Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1919-09-25
MAKING PAYETTE
SAFE FOR
CHILDHOOD
SAT the Ringing of the Curfew.

Most Of US got our first knowl
edge of the curfew" from the sto
ry of the young man who was sen
fenced to be hung. At the ring
!. ing of the curfew" of certain
day; the night because his beloved
watched and when the bell began
to swing she siezed tine great clap
per and allowed herself to be
swung with it so that there was
no sound, and her lover was saved
/ We know nothing of the reason
for setting the execution at cur
few, but it is recognized that the
hour between the dark and the day
light is an important moment for
the people who live in the earth.
/ for one thing it is recognized in
the laws of all well ordered cities
and towns, that it Is a time when
/ parents should have their children
at home, except for sufficient rea-
sons to send them out on specific
errands. Payettc has such a law,
and to it there is penalty laying
upon both child and parent. If a
boy or girl under the age of 10, be
found on the tleets, alleys or un-
occupied grounds in the city, after
9 o'clock in summer evenings and
after s o'clock winter evenings.
Thelaw was made for the help of
parents, but it has not been so ac-
cepted by those who need it most.
In months PAST children nave be en-
taken to their homes after the pro-
hibited hours, and the officer
greeted with a what is it your
business where my children are.
Together with this there has not
been any manifest Indignation on
the part of citizens in general, so
cases of delinquency has been over
Hooked to certain extent. Now
however, there has been an awak
ening by the charge of crime com
mitted upon those who by the law
hould have been at .home aud it
seems the time has come to enforce
the law.
The Ministerial Association took
1t up at their meeting, and conclu
ded 20 find what the City Council
was thinking, with the result that
it appears everybody who takes in
terest enough to be good citizen,
is in favor Of seeing to it that
street trailing by children be
stopped. If the parents will CO.
operate with the officers, and the
community get awaks to stand be-
hind the officers and put social
ban on any resistance against his
efforts, then the present existing
ordinance is ample for the need.
But il there be failure on the part
of parents to cooperate in enfor-
cling the present law, there are
other processes, that have worked
elsewhere and will work here.
They will be put in our ordinance
if necessary.
This IS in effect report of what
the ministerial committee found by
visiting the Council upon its in
vitation. But it is a matter of lar
ger concern than ministers and
Icouncilmen can effectively handle
There must be community senti
ment behind it all. There was a
good showing of interest in the
plan of our government to arouse
respect for our Constitution. But
it is sheer stupidity to think Con
stitution can Americanize people
who like Topsy, had no bringing
up, but jest growed. T" Give to
the subject of child contamina ton
as much thought as you give to the
matter OF San Jose scale. and see
if you are not stirred BY a sense of
loyalty to get behind this move
ment. One Who Is Interested.