The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1954-07-08
BY EARL HoFELDT
Mont0rev Peninsula Herald

NN0tUStOY EOttttDOto FNWU0
MONTEREY, Calf. Up - The
other day I talked with q high
school freshman whose parents
are members of the Late Hour and
Elbow Bending Society. Jokingly, l
asked: "Do you think you'll be a
delinquent"
WELL" he responded, "Tve got
the right background"
AS everywhere else, the causes
and responsibilities for delinquency
lie mainly with parents. Young
sters know this, as the lad talked
with indicated clearly.
Monterey is an unusual area, in
some ways. This city, and Carmel,
both on the coast, are areas Of ex-
pensive homes. Carmel is q widely
known art colony. Monterey's pop
ulation is about 10000. Carmers
5000. Inland is rural King City,
primarily agricultural, with $500
persons in the city limits.
Yet it was here that the PENN
sula's worst riot occurred one
night last summer. 1t stemmed
from a dispute over whether a
gang of Mexican or Swiss-Italian
youths had primary rights to
"drag'-as they call 1.-THE main
street in their souped-up cars. Six.
teen Mexicans and 81 Swiss-Ital.
ians met in a vacant lot. When it
was over, one of the latter was
dying of a knife wound, two others
were seriously hurt. Police
rounded up every youth, lectured
each of them and their parents on
their responsibilities. Since then,
not one of the boys has been back
in court.
The peninsula's overall rate OF
juvenile delinquency is slightly un-
der CALIFORNIA; state average, well
below the big metropolitan areas.
But it's climbing steadily, par.
ticularly on car thefts and bur.
glas.
Sophisticated Carmel has had
other problems, too.
Police Chief Clyde Klaumann
had to- warn parents they could
serve their own children drinks in
their own homes-'but not other
peoples children or we'll have you
charged with contributing" Easter
Hell Week" in this resort town
was long a problem, with an influx
of youngsters from other cities to
this resort area. They were de.
structive, insulting, defiant.
Kaumann'S men started picking
them up and writing letters to
their parents. 1t has helped keep
the kids in line. They were tough
just so long as Mama didn't know.
Klaumann firmly believes tina,
the parent should be linked
through moral and legal response.
bility-to the acts of his child.
When a boy is picked up after
Carmel's strict 1890 pm. curfew
for example, he is taken to police
headquarters and his parent.
phoned. They are told they mus
come and take their. child home
Perhaps Pop has to roll out o.
bed to come and get Junior. Per
haps the police call broke up
party. Whatever the case, the par
entS have been Inconvenience
Thus their responsibility is brought
home with emphasis.
I'VE don't want to send young
sters to court unless they're sbso
lutely hopeless or If they're three
time offenders" says Klaumann
Usually, by maintaining a clos,
link between the youngster ant
the parents, we can work out tn,
problem right here. This works t
everyone's benefit. The youngste
is not placed in official custody an,
no Jail record is written up agains
him."
Here's the program of Montere,
Police Chief Charles E. Simpson
for building sound parent-child re
lationships;
l. Start working with you