Twin City Review

Playgrounds and recreation under
the supervision of men and women of
clean habits is the prospect before
the people of Champaign on June 2.
There is absolutely no reason why
this project should not go over by a
big majority. The tax per capita is
only 37c; per tax payer it is only 74c.
This means that it will cost the people
of Champaign less than the price of
a moving picture show for one night:
and this cost is to be paid only once
a year.
Actually doesn't it sound ridiculous
for a sensible voter to object to 37c
a year for a wholesome, clean and
thoroughly supervised play plan?
And yet there are a few of Champaign's citizens who object to tax of
this proportion.

To be sure it does not mean that
the city shall spend upon
this price. It means that the school
grounds, parks and vacant lots that
are open will be utilized. One mill on
the dollar will not purchase parks; but
it will provide equipment for parks
and playgrounds already available.
That is exactly what is needed.
Cities that have recently voted on
the question of supervised-play have
considered the question from one
angle of a public utility. Those who
have done so have recorded a splendid
majority vote in favor of the plan
Public utilities are needed, We could
not do without our water system; our
electric light system: our street pav-
ing. our railroads and street cars.
These are all modern utilities.
But children play as they played
fifty years ago, without modern equip-
ment, without proper leadership and
with no advantage whatever that can
be called modern. It is the purpose
of this tax to put the children on the
same scale as the rest of us live in
this day of advancement.
No issue should prevent its adop-
tion by an overwhelming vote. It
takes only a few minutes to record a
ballot. And it is up to Labor to
"knock off" just long enough to cast
a favorable vote on the question
People who have every play advantage
for their children will not take the
pains to go to the polls.
If Laboring men are careless of this
opportunity they may rest assured
that no one else will safeguard the
interest of their children.
The supreme advantage of super-
vised play is that it totally eliminates
the "rowdy" gang leader who teaches
both boys and girls many things that
they should never know.
When the men of forty and fifty
were boys they were under the super-
vision of the gang leader. It is not
necessary to explain that we learned
a multitude of things in the wrong
way.
Then there was ample opportunity
to "rush the can," and to visit every
place of notoriety that would result in
low morals and permanently hamper
the life of a boy. Whether the voter
realizes it or not this supervised play
plan eliminates all such disadvantages
of youth. And to be able to obtain
proper leadership for a cost of a few
cents in taxation is an opportunity
that should not be disregarded. LET
THE CHILDREN HAVE YOUR
BALLOT ON JUNE 2.