St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-06-13
OPEN LETTER FROM MINNEAPOLIS
YOUTH CTTY'S MAYOR AGNEW

Editor; On May 90, l947, the
installation Of officers of Progress
sive Youth City was held at the
Phyllis Wheatley Settlement
House. 1t was quite a surprise
that at the installation, approx
imately 60 people were present
this includes a vast majority Of
young boys and girls between the
age Of 10 and ~, about 10 older
boys and girls, two parents, and
Mr.. Thomas and part Of his staff.
The installation was to be held
in honor Of the parents; but un-
fortunately, only Is parents were
invited, and | was told by a few
Of them that they didn't get their
invitations until day or two after
the installation.
My apology goes to those par
ents, 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 a spaghetti dinner. AL
though, this installation didn't turn
out as we had expected, we will
most certainly have 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 to be a small minori-
ty Of adult leaders around the
Phyllis Wheatley area that don't
want people to know about the or
ganiZation; and because Of their
own personal graft and jealousy,
they are trying to put a stop to
this organization-that is the rea-
son for the failure of the installa-
ton. My sincere thanks goes to
Mr.. Donald Gates. very good
friend Of mine, who brought that
point out in one of his articles of
Juvenile 1--WE in this newspaper a
few weeks ago, and | quote, -. q.
1T SEEMS THAT EVERY TIME
A PERSON OR PLACE OF BUSI-
NESS PROVIDES A PLACE FOR
TEEN-AGERS TO GO, SOME
PERSON AS QUICKLY As POS
SlBLE PUTS A STOP TO IT :"
To the parents who would like
to know the purpose of the or
ganizatiun, here is a portion Of my
speech that was supposed to be
given at the installation. We the
youth of today are the adults Of
tomorrow; therefore, the admins
tration Of the first youth govern
ment of Progressive Youth City is
to prepare the youth for tomor-
row, thus making them better citi-
zens, having loyalty and respect
for our flag, and giving them a
better religious and moral back
ground. 60.
we have quite few elected
offices, such as: the council, the
Judges, a mayor, the attorneys. a
city clerk, a treasurer, etc. and
also quite a few appointed offices
such as: the police force, the fire
men, the standing committees. etc.
Take the councilman, for example;
his main job is to make laws, He
might never become an alderman
in the city Of Minneapolis, when
or after he had reached his twenty
first birthday, but he would vote
for the man who Is for the right
laws. all Of which he had learned
from Progressive Youth City and
School. In all it would train him
to vote, not for the Democratic
party, nor for the Republican par
ty, not for the Communist party,
or any party, hut for the person
that is going to do him and every
other citizen the most good.
The prosecuting attorney will
learn how to prosecute justly. He
will learn one Of the main things
for which our country stands:
Justice TO all men.
Our main job, however, is not
to train councllmen. attorneys, and
judges, hut it is to build up the
standards Of citizenship Of our boys
and girls. This is the sole purpose
for which this organization was
started. Our biggest job is to give
attorneys in Minneapolis, less and
less people to prosecute. Judges,
less and less people to fine. BY
doing this, juvenile delinquency