The Bismarck Tribune

That Curfew Proposal

Informed that children have been known to frequent Bismarck's streets at all hours of the night and into the small hours of the morning, the city's Community Council proposes a curfew law to warn children when it is time to go home at night.

The adoption of such a system would mark a return to an old-fashioned but very worthwhile custom, for it can do neither the minds nor bodies of children any good to be running loose at such times.

There is grave cause for doubt, however, as to whether the adoption of another law or ordinance is the correct answer to such a social problem, for the care of any child is a direct and personal issue not easily met by general means.

A better way would seem to be a renewed effort on the part of parents to give their children the care and direction which every child needs, for the presence of children on the street at night is a condemnation of the parents rather than of the children. Responsibility should be placed where it belongs and that happens to be upon the shoulders of those who bring children into the world rather than upon the children themselves

That the practice is bad from the standpoint of general social welfare is undeniable and there is better than an even chance that the child who now roams the streets at night may find himself in trouble tomorrow.

Parents might think of this when they neglect their duty in this respect.

If a curfew law is adopted it should be accompanied by authority for the police to pick up "stray" children after any given hour and an injunction to make the parents come and get them after they have been taken into custody. Perhaps, if it becomes bothersome to let their children run at large. the offending parents will take the trouble to keep them at home in order to save themselves greater annoyance.