Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-06-13
OPEN LETTER FROM MINNEAPOLIS
YOUTH CTTYS MAYOR AGNEW

Editor: On May 20. i947, the
installation Of officers Of Progress.
Sive Youth City was held at the
Phyllis WhsatIey Settlement
House, II was quite surprise
that at the installation. approx.
imately 90 people were present
this includes n vast majority Of
young boys and girls between the
age Of 10 and IL. about Is older
boys and girls. two parents. and
Mr.. Thomas and part Of his staff.
This installation was 10 he held
In honor Of the parents; hut un-
fortunately. only 26 parents we're
invited. and I was told by few
Of them that they didn't get their
invitations until day or two after
the installation.
My apology goes to those par.
snts, and the others that weren't
invited. had nothing to do with
the invitations except TO sign them.
nor did have anything TO do with
the money that was supposed TO
be used for n spaghetti dinner. Al
though, this installation didn't turn
out as we had expected. we will
most certainly have q meeting
with the parents In the near fu-
ture; and we will make sure that
the meeting will be held at the
convenience Of all the parents.
Many people do not know the
purpose Of the youth organization.
There seems 10 be a small minori-
~ Of adult leaders around the
4 Phyllis Wheatlcy area that don't
want people to know about the or.
ganixAtion; and because Of their
own personal graft and jealousy,
they are trying 10 put a stop to
this organiEation-~thRt IL the rea.
son for the failure Of the installa-
ton, My sincere thanks goes TO
MIR, Donald Gates, n very good
friend of mine. who brought that
point out in one Of his articles Of
Juvenile 1--WE In this newspaper u
few weeks ago. and quote, e.
IT SEEMS THAT EVERY TINE
! A PERSON OR PLACE OF BuSI-
( NESS PROVIDES A PLACE FOR
TEEN Ayers TO co, SOME
PERSON AS QUICKLY As POS.
SIBLE PUTS A STOP To TT :"
/ To the parents who would like
to know the purpose ~ the or
! EaniEation, here is n portion Of my
speech that was supposed 10 he
I given at the installation. I'VE the
| youth II today are the adults Of
tomorrow: therefore, the admins
tration II the first youth govern.
ment Of Progressive Youth City IL
10 prepare the youth for tomor.
row, thus making them better eiti.
Gems, having loyalty and respect
for our flag. and giving them n
better religious and moral back.
ground, .
we have quite a few elected
Offices, such as; the council, the
iudgcs, a mayor the attorneys. a
city clerk, u treasurer, etc, and
also quite a few appointed offices
such as, the police force. the Are
mon, the standing committees, etc.
Take the councilman, for example;
his main job is 20 make laws. He
might never become AN alderman
in the city ~ Minneapolis, when
or after he had reached his twenty,
first birthday. but he would vote
for the man Who IA for the right
laws, all " which he had learned
from Progressive Youth City and
School, IN all Il would train him
60 vote, not for the Democratic
party. nor for the Republican par
~. not for the Communist party.
OF any party, but for the person
that il going 90 do him and every
other citizen the most good.
The prosecuting attorney will
learn how 90 prosecute justly, He
will learn one 81 the main things
Tor which our country stands
Justice to all men.
'Our main job, however, u net
to train councilmen, attorneys, ard
Judges, but Il is 10 build w the
standards ~ citizenship II our boys
and girls THIS Ia the sole purpose
for Which this organization Wss
started our hiEwvst Job Is - give
attorneys IN Minneapolis, less and
less people 20 prosecute. judges,
less and less rvoPle 10 fine, ny
doing this Juvenile delinquency