The Lubbock avalanche. (Lubbock, Tex.) 1909-1922, 1922-05-12
PROBABLY LARGEST ATTENDANCE WAS PRESENT THAI
HAS EVER ASSEMBLED ON LIKE OCCASION
PROGRAM WAS PEPPY AND INTERESTING
Posey Elected President And W. o. Stevens wee rre
sen, For The Ensuing Year. Many Optimistic Talks
Made By Members And Visitors At Banquet

once they know they can never sue
ceed as well with as without them.
THE supervised playground de-
velops the spirit Of fair play and
honesty. Dishonesty in play Is the
foundation for dishonesty IN busi-
ness later. Crooked work on the
playground means crooked work
behind the counter. a great mall
order house IN the North steadily
refuses 90 employ students from cer-
tain schools 0f the city because they
have found the athletics of those
schools crooked and dishonest, nerce
they are not willing 10 trust those
boys and girls with their business
interests
"The play also teaches and prac-
tices respect for and obedience %
law. Our city laws are frnmed with
practically no regard for the laws
OF childhood. The crimes unwit-
tingiy committed by the citizens of
town against childhood are more
numerous and less TO be pardoned
than the crimes committed by chill
drcn against the town. In New
York, during July, Of & certain year
of III arrests Of children 100 were
for playing ball on the streets; III
for playing "cai" on the streets, and
more than 100 for yelling IN con-
nection with their games. No, they
were not delinquent children. II
was a natural thing for any normal
child 20 do. They were acting IN
harmony with their nature and the
divine plan. The city had refused
or failed 20 recognize and provide
for the natural, normal expression
Of child life. The police court brand
ed the children as delinqucnts when
the brand should have been put
red-hot across the back of the guilty
city.
within half-miic radius of play
grounds opened in certain sections
of Chicago. arrests Of children de-
creased 2s per cent with in a short
time after the opening Of the ground.
surcos ful dealing with children on
probation increased 80 per cent, thus
making an increase Of 90 per cent
in the successful dealing with de-
in0ncncy among children. Even the
i law itself cannot show "a better pef
cent In its DEALING with adults.
"Wll Lubbock meet this problem
now. and deal with b wisely by
providing these grounds while we
can. or will we shut our eyes %
the facts, ignore them, and 60 on
until the time comes when no SUIT
able grounds will be available for
a recrention site. Will we safeguard
the future Of our children hy wise
provision now. or shall we let II
90. and thus lay the foundation for
idleness and crime In the days 20
Gomez We must answer this ques-
ton. The responsibility y ours, and
il measured by our obligation and
opportunity to meet H. We are
| soon 20 have a high school building.
Will our trustees provide adequate
playground space7 Certainly u
should contain several acres, and
could be 50 arranged as to render
service during the entire year. VII
we citizens give the trustees the
proper encouragement and support
| 10 this end? An inadequate play
ground would be calamity, an
abonination Of desolati0n, standing
where il ought not TO stand, and
will be testimony 10 our indif.
[ ference and -sightedncss al
/ through the years 20 come.
This Is spoken with no thought
I Of dictation. and without suggestion
/ from anyone. IL grows ont Of my
I interest in childhood and a slight
acquaintance with present-day con.
I ditions and movements. make nc
! apology for champloning the cause
of our children. They are the hope
Of the world, the ones who are te
shape the destinies Of the. mightiesl
nation Of the earth, and a wrone
done them Is a wrong against the
welfare Of the nation, and the civil
zation of the world. Let US do the
| thing that ought to be done, anc
we will think more Of ourselves
and will reap a rich reward through
all the coming years. As i close
think Of these n,eaningfui words
| from Goldsmith:
"Ill fares the land, 10 Fastening
Where wealth aecumulstes ant
men decay"
mr. ". L. cihtous cnaiI nhal va ."'
railroad committee Of the Chamber
Of Commerce made short talk IN
regard 10 the railroads Of this coun
try. saying: "Our dependence upeI
the railroad in this country Is great
or than II Is in most countries be
cause Of the fact that we have ns
water transportation nor searcel,
any other means Of transportation
except BY the railroad. For this rea
son they have become 10 US as vita
as life itself. We could have ns
prosperity. no advancement, and al
most no existence without them. 1h'
railroad II ss necessary 10 our we'll
being as the green grass II 20 TN
livestock. When the railroads ar'
tied up by strikes. OF are not oper
afinx for any cause Whatsoever. I