Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-29
Reference Made to Work in Philippines
and Porto Rico
CLUB HOUSE IN THE CANAL ZONE
Arrangement Of Government with 7. N
O. A. is Defended.
RETURNS TO CINCINNATI IN EVENING
EThIs Morning lie VIII Speak at Unit
versIty of Cincinnati and THIS
Evening to business Mems
Club.

DAYTON, o., April 2s.-Seoretary Of War
William II. Taft delivered the principal
address here today at the laying OF the
cornerstone Of the new building Of the
Young Mems Christian association. He
also handled the trowel the stone was
lowered into it's place and smearod the
mortar like master mason.
The secretary, in company with his
brother, Charles p. Taft OF Cincinnati
arrived here at noon. His friends had
planned q parade Of civic societies. but
by the wish Of the secretary this was dis
pensed with. The cornerstone exercises
were preceded by a luncheon. At the as
sociston building addresses were given by
w H. Thresher, II. a. Wilbur and Rev.
w ]. 6huey OF Dayton, besides the speech
delivered by the secretary
Secretary Taft was given hatter-
ing reception by about 5000 people After
expressing appreciation Of the Invitation
TO be present at the dedication Of this
great new building to the high purposes
OF the Young Mems Christian association"
Secretary Taft said;
''The great advantage OF the institution
is that after long experience II has come
to be conducted on the most approved
business principles and while 1t furnishes
on the one hand, opportunity for the
contributions Of those who love their fel-
lowmen, It furnishes on the other an eK-
ample Of assistance to those who need
assistance which does not discourage self
help by creating a spirit Of dependence In
those who enjoy the benefits
AsaocIatiOn Aids Army.
Another characteristic OF the associa-
ton is its nonsectarian religious quality.
It believes in the Christian religion, is toll
Grant, liberal In its scope and knows no
denomination no race. no politics. The
truth is. the growth OF the Young Mems
Christian association has been an evidence
and at the same time assistance to the
growth of tolerance among all denomina-
tons"
Secretary Taft said that he thought It
not especially appropriate for him to de-
liver an address on this occasion, an he
had not been particularly identified with
Young Mems Christian association work,
''But when remembered" he said, 'the
usefulness OF this association in the army
of the United States, In the Philippines
and on the Isthmus OF Panama, felt that
l should be failing not TO render testimony
upon the scope Of the operations within
my official cogniZance. l had to put my
self 1000 miles from home really to know
the power for good this association eX-
erts."
The secretary referred to the work which
the association was doing for railroad EN-
| ployes and to the fact that congress had
given authority TO the secretary of war
, TO grant permission TO the Young Mems
Christian association TO maintain on all
military reservations such buildings as H.
might require. He said that army officers
, In the United States and In Porto Rico
} and the Philippines had been enjoined to
aid the association In every proper way
and that excellent results are being
achieved.
YM. @. A. Work I'm Tropics.
/ But nowhere" the secretary said, rs
: the opportunity for the usefulness of the
Young Mems Christian association greater
than among the Americans in the Philip
: pines, Porto Rico, Cuba and Panama. It
is Inevitable that great army OF Amert-
cans who go hrst to our tropical de-
tendencies, long distance from the
United States, should be wandering and
irresponsible"
He pointed out that even staid and up
right men Of good habits at home often
yielded when In the tropics, to the temp
tations to drink and otherwise dissipate.
This was due in a measure, he thought, to
a lack OF amusement and home surround
; ings.
, Nothing contributes more 10 the sup
port Of the views Of opponents in our
plans Of progress than the presence In
Manila and other cities Of dssolute Ameri-
cans whose example is anything but edify-
ing and who form object lesson to en-
r force the claims made by our opponsnts
d that there is nothing OF value in American
y civilization for them TO follow. Their
It people are generally temperate people, as
v most tropical people are.
y Now, the way 20 avoid this is to fur
Q nish a place In which the leisure hours OF
8 Americans can be passed in rational and
s moral pursuit. The Young Mems Christian
h association Is the most effective instrument
10 70 this end that we have. Recently, Mr.
i Hoyt OF the association raised In this
II country $4,000 for the construction OF a
y building in Manila on condition that $4,000
should be added by the citizens Of Manila
i II speaks highly for the public spirit Of
}, the association and others In Manila and
}; for the energy OF the agents who repre-
8; sent the association in Manila, that IN a
o very few days after the ofrer became
known. $4,000 was raised and the generous
enterprise has become a completed thing"
, Club House I'm Canal Zone.
Secretary Taft said that in the canal
Z zone, the canal commission had con-
structed four club houses. one each at
Culebra. Empire. Gorgiana and Cristobal.
and that plan had been devised whereby
5i the commission, working with the young
z mems association. will manage these and
l. other similar buildings IN labor centers.
, The commission furnished the houses and
70 will give them proper Libraries.
A. In closing. he said:
IA Some question has been raised as 70
is whether the expenditure OF this money
" was within the authority OF the commits
l. sion / haven't the slightest doubt about
d II. The authority OF the president Is to
. build the canal. ard ne has therefore, the
:, right 10 eNpend the money IN any way
; necessary 10 that purpose. This is a great
T. enterprise involving the moving 20 the
7- far distant tropics OF a colony OF from
1900 20 5000 persons. To render the per-
ie sOnnel efficient Il is absolutely necessary
T. that they be surrounded by the influence
A. 10 keep them In a moral and physical
state which VIII make them efnclsnt la
"A 4 -