The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1943-07-29
The Problem Is Here Also

In The Forum this week Libby mother brings into
local discussion problem that has been pondered BY
communities for time 1t is the long standing ques
ton Of providing place where the young people of the
community gather for entertainment and pastime
place that will be devoid Of the temptations frequently
found IN the average Waslde dance hall and beer paror
This problem has been brought to the front here because
OF the enforcement Of Montana law that prohibits the
presence OF minor IN dance hall where liquor sold
III conjunction with the place Compliance with that law
by the management OF the Cedar Creek club has taken from
larger lInber of Young people popular gathering place
For tie first time it turned them loose Saturday night with
plece to 60. And to say that the young people
up state it mildly according to report of those
whose business it is to look after such matters.
Some other communities have thought it wise to provide
hall where the young people could gather and dance and
where soft drinks and other refreshments would be avail
aDle The charges in such establishments only high
enough to pay expenses and such halls places of
tainmeat arc generally sponsored or managed by some
adult organization It said this arrangement has been
very popular with the young people in communities where
II has been given trial Some hoping that similar
plan can be worked out IN Libby and Troy
This would be fine service if some lodge or other public
spirited group would take this matter in hand and make
arrangements for such place of amusement 1t might
prove to be partial solution of the problem in juvenile
delinquency that today causing much in all
communities.
This discussion should not be closed however without
reference to another aspect Of the problem There
doubleday much truth in the argument that young people
must nave place TO congregate and where they enjoy
themselves 1t is said that if they do not have they will
get INTO cars chase around the country and become
involved III circumstances that are unWholesome to say
the least But right here there arises the same old com
plant Of parental neglect and Indifference just what Sort
OF parents are there who permit their minor children to be
out until all hours OF the nght Apparently many of them
nave little concern about what their children do or what
sort OF characters they develop Of course many parents
90 care but they apparently in the minority And
where large numbers OF young people under parental
restraint whatever it becomes practically impossible for
few parents to successfully control their adoescent chill
dren Because under such conditions there nothing quite
SO devoid OF comonsense adoescent The old stock
phrase that 1T is my life and I'm going live as please
seems TO be ample Justification for anything in the mind of
me adoecen lie or she doesn't need want the parents
ADVICE until the foolish youngster gets into trouble and then
how ready ne or she is to rush the protection of the
ents whose counsel had been spurned
ms problem OF what to do with the young people and
the other problem of juvenile delinquency fall directly onto
the shoulders OF the parents If of them held closer
rem on the activities Of their children and exered great
oea more discipline there would be not nearly SO many
problems Of youth to solve.