The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1943-10-01

Z III ] u. W NC
born in the reformatory, will be
branded for life because the Pro-
bate Court refused to allow the boy
and girl TO marry, although each
had parental consent. and in spite
or the obvious advantage that the
young mother would have been ell
igible for a soldiers widows pen
sion had the boy died. or for a part
or his pay had he not--all this in
addition to the fact that the child
would have been born in wedlock
and spared the disadvantages or
handicap a namelesS child faces.
Marriage Not Allowed
Now. when permission to wed was
denied by the Judge Of the Probate
Court, who. in Connecticut, must
pass on the marriage of minors, the
couple did the obvious thing and
tried TO be married In another
State. Before they were able 70
leave. however. the girl was ar
rested. The boy. too. was brought
TO police headquarters. but charges
against him were dropped because
of the imminence Of his induction.
So the unfortunate girl was COM
mitted indefinitely. which may
mean until she is 81, ito be saved"
as the judge put it. from infiu-
ences'-apparently oblivious 10 the
possible effect OF the influences un-
der which he was placing her. The
time OF her commitment is indefi-
mite. but she can be held until she
is 21-seven long years in which to
repent her folly but. more impor-
tant still. TO become an embittered
woman.
And what, pray, does a l4-year-
old girl know of love7" asked the
judge. refusing TO believe that this
boy and girl were really in love.
and there was. apparently. no one
TO remind him Of Juliet whose love
for Romeo, though no more mature.
has never been questioned.
without condoning such cases.
surely our courts and our people
should be motivated by mercy and
understanding rather than by un-
necessary cruelty and such rigid
Interpretation of the laws govern
ing minor delinquents. This boy
and girl begged TO be allowed TO
marry and to make what restitu-
ton they could for their child. but
now. because OF the stiff -necked at
titude OF a small group OF law
makers, we have another war trag-
edy that might have been averted.
War Hysteria
Problems such as this case pre-
sents will be no new experience In
the brave new world for which
there is so much concern, nor will
they be problems that can be
brushed aside for more important
ones. since there is no more impor-
tant obligation than to be able 70
meet understandingly the prob
lens of our young folk who. though
undoubtedly wiser. seem to be no
more controlled than youth ever
was under the strain and hysteria
of war.
For those in love, separation, par
ticularly separation under such I'M
certain conditions, presents dew
astating and impelling urge to
snatch anything that one can by
way of happiness or even escape.
The mature and experienced know
that youth will have to pay for its
lack of Judgment in giving way to
impulse. but we cannot expect
youth to realize, or even be i'm
pressed. by any such possibility.
Parents must be held responsible
for the misconduct of their chill
dren; it is the parents, rather than
the young people. who should be
punished, II the law feels the need
for punishment. rather than the
child brought into this world by
an unwed boy and girl.