The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-09-12
Can Y psiIanti Youth Dance?

and may fine Kaiser-but you
cannot sttle their productive genius
or conquer their indomitable cour-
age, Society may attempt to sup
press and ostraoize an Emerson, or
Jail a Tho~eau. to intimidate a Chan.
di or Nehru by repeated jailings
General Billy Mitchell God Bless
HIM may be court martialled for
advocating aid preparedness
But they cannot be made yes
men. and it is men like these who
are the hope OF the future On
such depends the continuance Of
all that is best OF mans creation.
fear | have strayed A bit from
the subject perhaps. but let's not
try TO suppress, repress and frus-
trate our youth too much. Let them
dance, let them kick up their heels.
blow of steam. have a sood time in
a healthy msnner But lets see
that their place for dancing is regu-
lated. that the air Is clean and
well ventilated, that no taxi dane
Ing or drinking OF liquor or beer is
allowed Let's give Messrs Paul
and Halliday chance TO expert.
ment, TO MI an urgent need for
recreation that the already over.
taxed agencies in Ypsilanti cannot
completely fll II the privilege ia
abused the license can be revoked.
OF course lpsilsnti's problem Is
serious. We do have undesirable
floaters and perhaps the prosti-
tutes (although haven't seen
,them) that Chief Patch is so afraid
will frequent public places for dane
ing But am afraid that Chief
Patch. because his work constantly
deals with crime. has been looking
so closely at the trees that he cant
see the woods His sincerity. and
his high moral principles are be-
yond reproach. He and his staf
have been doing a fine job but his
moral Indignation Is working over
time.
OF course public dance hall may
not be 100 per cent perfect. but
there is no such thing as absolute
black or white but instead there is
dark gray and light gray or there
are shades OF gray A public place
for dancing may be a mixed bless.
ing but | believe there will be
prepondrance OF good over bad II
1t is properly operated 1t will serve
a need in Ypsilsnti for recreation
and relaxation for those who are
! not fortunate enough to belong TO
| the various organizations in Ypsi-
lantl President Roosevelt stressed
the need for recreation as a safety
valve for keyed up and jittery war
nerves and in this respect
agree with him Ann Arbor had p
public dance hall for years known
as "Grangers' "Sausutuck had its
Pavilion, and Grand Rapids it's
Regent Ball Room. All were
operated successfully.
A city ordnance. prohibiting pub
lie dancing in any public place or
hall In Ypsilanti, has already been
drafted and has passed at the first
reading at tn council. The ques-
ton is up to the citizens OF the City
" foi'oAiAis HelldIll lldN n EltdI
future. In Few years 1t will he
double, triple or more in size. Let
us not he petty. SNUG small town.
ish, and bemoan the Good Old
Days" which are gone forever The
$50 1000, 900 Ford Bomb Der Plant ia
here 10 stay. The changes in Ypsi.
lant since 1910 are not those OF
just two years, but are those Of
over 20 years Let us not close our
eyes tortoise like and pull in our
necks. but let US be big enough ~
meet the future and he worthy Of
Ypsilantfs future size, Look not
mournfully into the past. II comes
not back again. Wisely improve the
present. II is thine. Go forth n
meet the shadowy future. without
fear and with manly heart 20
With humble apologies for my
ramhlings and with best wishes in
the future 10 Chief Of Police Dan
Patch, and the city fathers. for A
bigger and better YpsilantL
Very truly yours.
WILLIAM DcHAAN.