National Affairs: Edict

Into Chicago evenings last week, at ten, a phantom curfew tolled. There was, of course, no actual bell, no iron clapper to send austere waves of sound across the tranquility of the Loop. There was merely an edict—the police were to arrest all children under sixteen years of age whom they found on the streets, unaccompanied by adults, between the hours of 10 p. m. and 6 a. m.

Policemen perspired, berated silently this idea of Police Chief Collins, stopped all suspicious-looking girls and boys. Several arrests, investigated, proved to be married women. Meanwhile, competent Chief Collins read newspaper editorials, smiled, scowled.

The curfew echoes: “Splendid innovation . . . menace to personal liberty more serious than prohibition . . . protection for our daughters . . . a stupid nuisance. . . .”?