Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-02
Y. M. {. A. ACTS
AS GENIAL HOST
BIRTHDAY OF INSTITUTIONS
NEW HOME CELEBRATED
Gives High Praise to Those Who
Have Tried to Make Life on
Aqueduct Line Less
Cheerless

| geles Y. NJ. G. A. in aiding the aque-
duct workers was one of the points
brought out forcibly last night by Web
ster Davis in his address in connection
with the first anniversary of the new
home of the Y. M. c. A.
The speaker compared the work of
the aqueduct and the attitude of the
citizens of Los Angeles to the duty
performed by the United States govern
ment in caring for the workers on the
Panama canal, and highly eXtOlled the
efforts of the Y. M. c. A. in providing
reading matter and entertainment for
the aqueduct workers.
The fact that the Los Angeles city
government had commended the eff
ficient work of the Y. NJ. c. A. was
dwelft upon by Mr.. Davis, whose ad-
dress was replete with praises for the
great benefits derived by membership in
the Y. M. c. A.
Kept Open House
The handsome quarters of the Y. M.
C. A were thrown open to the public
yesterday morning at 10 o'clock and
open house was held until IL o'clock
last night. Refreshments were served
to the visitors during the day and the
work of the various departments ex-
planned by secretaries.
During the afternoon an exhibition of
the work conducted by the gymnasium
department was given, and from 1880
o'clock the Y. NJ. c. A. Glee club fur
nished music. The work Of the Glee
club was one of the features of the
days celebration and was greatly ap-
preciated.
Reception committees of men and
women met the visitors last night and
escorted them about the building, and
the crowd at times taxed the capacity
of the big building.
Cadets Give Exhibition
While the swimming contest was be-
ing held in the plunge the Triangle de-
partment cadet corps gave an exhibit
tion in the armory.
The formal program began at $50
o'clock in the auditorium, A. J. Wal
lace, vice president of the Y. M. c. A.,
presiding.
Following the musical numbers was
the address of Webster Davis, who
said in part:
1.-THE work accomplished by this as
sociation during the last year, is in
deed wonderful. The total member
ship one year ago was 1743, now it is
about 3400, almost doubled in twelve
months. And it is sertain that this
number will be increased to 5000, at
the end of another year. This is the
result largly, of the excellent work
of the membership committee, and of
the 5000 club-this club having as its
motto, Each man a new man each
month"; has brought together the new
men and enabled them to become ac-
quainted, and to have assisted each
other In many ways.
"Much credit and homer also is due
various corporations, business men and
employers who have encouraged their
employees in becoming members of the
Y. M. c. A, by paying one-half of
the membership dues. Thus do these
shrewd business men testify to the
great worth of this association, by
recognizing the fact that the young
men who are employed by them are
made better men by belonging to this
institution.
Positions Found for Many
"And what a splendid record has
been made during the past year by the
employment department of the Y. M.
C. A. During this period, 576 men and
boys have been placed in positions.
Some of these were members of other
associations who came to this city to
locate, and in placing them in positions,
they were carefully investigated, so
that the interests Of their employers
were also safely puarded.
"a noteworthy feature of work
launched during the past spring de-
serves more than passing mention.
The welfare work undertaken for the
employees of the city engaged in the
Owens river project has done much to
relieve the monotony and prevent dis
content of these men on the desert,
who are working nobly to bring water
to our city. Educational, social and
recreative work has furnished whole
some employment of the hours of
leisure left after eight hours of work
each day. so that the efficiency of
these men is being increased while
wholesome influence is being eXerted
upon their lives.
"The public has recognized its duty
to cooperate with the association in
this work, for it has responded
generously in gifts of magazines,
monographs and records.
Our Country Favored
"As citizens of Los Angeles we can
justly boast that we have our homes
In the most favored country in all the
world. No such climate exists any
where else. In a region more fertile
than the famous valley of the Nile,
between picturesque mountains, rival
ing in beauty the Alps on the one side
and the old ocean with the sad melody
Of its manifold voices on the other,
We are permitted to have pleasures
and blessings that other people travel
thousands of miles, at great expense,
to enjoy.
Let us appreciate our home here;
the people have been liberal along all
lines of public improvements. They
should be commended for their efforts
in behalf of the new harbor at San
Pedro, for the great owens river
aqueduct, for good roads and high
ways, for public schools, for churches.
homes and hospitals, for the Young
WOmen's Christian association, and
last, but not least, for this Young
Mems Christian association. No
money was ever better spent than
the money spent for these.
"It must not be forgotten that to
this city, annually, multiplied thou
sands of men are coming from the
four corners of the earth. From every
land and every cline they are coming
with different habits and characteris-
tics, speaking different languages and
accustomed to different customs. All
of them unacquainted with the ways
OF California, but they come seeking
new homes in this goodly land"
-s-$-S-
Union Printers Strike