The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-24
TO TAKE PLACE
OF THE SALOON
Club for Men and Boys Proposed
by Business Man, Who Sub
scribes Generously.
OFFER MADE TO UNITY
HOUSE AFTER RESEARCH
To Furnish Wholesome, Healthful
Recreation for Boys and
Young Men.

A way has been opened to secure for
Minneapolis club for men and boys,
designed as substitute for the saloon
on Sundays and other days. A local
business man of philanthropic instincts
has made proposal looking to the
club, at nominal cost to the members.
He has thoroly investigated the pur-
poses and management of successful
clubs Of the sort in eastern cities and
has made his offer only after having
been convinced that such an organiza-
tion in Minneapolis will work for good
citizenship. While the proposal has
TALLY one which concerns all the agrees
sive. enterprising business men Of the
city.
The plan is to have separate club
building to cost about 100000, to be
maintained under the management of
Unity House. It is to be no offshoot Of
any organization, but defnite and dis
tinct club building. With only nomi-
nal charge for membership and an age
OF age, it is expected by the promoter
of the plan that the limitations of space
would be reached at once
While the name Of the benefactor is
withheld, he is known to be business
man, who, while in hearty sympathy
with all methods in vogue for reform,
believes that the matter Of prevention
OF crime and immortality is vastly more
important.
He makes an offer as follows:
81 will subscribe the first $1,000
necessary for the erection of such
building, and will pay $1,000 per
year afterward toward maintenance;
the entire management to be left in the
hands Of the executive committee of
! Unity House and shall rejoice if my
modest offer shall bear fruit in secur-
ing such a plant.
There are many clubs in operation
turnout the country, one of over TWEEN
ty-five years. standing and with, at
present, over 1000 members, in the city
Eof Hartford, Conn.
y"sThere is abundant data to guide
US, so there is little or no need of MAX
/ ing mistakes. The door of opportunity
is practically wide open, it appears to
me, at the present time, and l can think
1 of no money more wisely spent than this
nor which will be more effective in shap
+ ing the future of our fair city and de
veloping a quality Of citizenship which
will make for good morals and gooc
government.
The Donors Purpose.
, The purpose of the generous offer i:
which accompanied the offer. It reads
The recent order Of Mayor Jones in
? closing the saloons Of the city on Sun
days emphasizes, to my mind, the need
OF substituting something in theil
: place.
: "Recent personal observations have
: convinced me, moreover, that one Of
. the most prolific sources of immortality
: and crime is to be found in the lack Of
Q boys and young men Of our cities, OF
clubhouse which shall afford then
8 the same relative comforts, privilege
t and advantages Of fellowship as ar,
4 enjoyed by our business men s clubs
J., "This is particularly true of Min
neapolis, where so large a portion o
: the year must necessarily, owing t.
e climatic conditions, be spent indoors
i 1" have also been Investigating tn
y work done by boys and mems club
8 in other cities. and find that, wher
properly conducted, they have been
: tremendous success in the training an,
j. development Of boys and young me,
g who otherwise would spend large POI
;. tion of their time on the street, in tn
saloons and questionable places gen
orally.
"Our best sociologists claim that tn
period between Is and 20 years is tn
crucial time in the formation Of tn
character Of our future citizens.
No Organization Here.
l Minneapolis has no organization q
this character, entirely separate and di
tinct from any special church influence
il and where the boys and young me
enjoy that sense Of proprietorship an
personal participation which must be
evidence for results suggested.
|EIn looking over the various orga,
izations Of the city best fitted to dire,
~ this work there is none, to my mind,
logical as Unity House. All that
needed is building and capable d
IL rector.
re ct can think Of no expenditure
s. money likely to earn a greater return
a the lupbuilding Of clean, useful, hie
ID grade men, than this; to say nothing
m the counteracting influence as oppose
n to what is vicious and demoralizing
u individuals and neighborhoods.
e IT wish I could furnish the sum ne
n essary to construct such buildin
Thinking it possible, however, that ii
30 plan may appeal to some of our phila,
le thropic citizens If the movement
m started, I make the proposal.
=, The matter has been placed by IL
"a Unity management in the hands Of
IN committee for further consideration.