The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-17
Tag Day For 7he Bumweham Boys Gzub
Mrs w L. Murdochs Interesting Views On the Subect-A Worthy Cause-Noble Women Actively Engaged in
 the Work-Many Boys Benefited
By DOLLY DALRYMPLB.

i after all it is a penal institution, sup ported by the state, and it is not the place for the dependent child" observed Mrs. Murdoch.
 T think you chose very clever idea to raise funds for the Boys club by instituting Tag Day-or has it proven sop asked.
 "Yes, 1t has indeed,' answered Mrs. Murdoch Our friends of the Boys club have been very kind and really think that Tag Day should be called 'oppor- tunity Day'-for 1t gives the chance for everybody to assist a charity which is doing preventive work. And after all, that is the main point. To take boy be- fore the bad Is developed in his na- ture, and try to put the good instead. You know that any effort to make good cit- izens out of the boys of the streets. to replace vicious amusement with whole some play, to take the boy off the streets at night, all this, I say, is of real economic value to the city. Do you think that I could make the City Council be- live that? I only wish I could.'
 T should think that your work would bear fruit daily Mrs. Murdoch, and am not surprised at your earnestness and whole heartedness in the cause,' I said.
 "One of the most gratifying results to us has been the fact that not single white boy was arrested during the months of January and February, in the city of Birmingham" was the enthus- iastic response. That Is the work In the streets, the daily, hourly work in the haunts of the boy, the superintendent knowing well where they hang out. and that Is what has changed things. We have through Chapter III a young wom- an, Miss Abel, whom we call the Friend ly Visitor, and she goes into the homes of the boys and finds out just what the conditions are, and it is this element of personal work which we believe Is bearing fruit"
 And what amount of money is needed to carry on this work?" I asked.
 You can judge what an expense we have when these rooms that you see are to be rented and good man has to be employed to take charge, as well, as an assistant. And often boys who are abso- lutely stranded-homeless or worse-must be provided with meals Camp Hoadley, where our boys enjoyed delightful out ing last summer. through the courtesy and generosity of the Alabama Consoli- dated company, must be financed and to do all this requires more than s40o0 year."
 "Wouldn,t it be better to have reg ular home for the boys9' I inquired.
 "Oh, that is the dream of our hearts" smilingly answer Mrs. Murdoch. "A de- tention home Is what we so eagerly desire a real home for our boys where we can come in contact with their lives and help them. We want this so much that we are trusting that the good citizens of Birmingham will give us enough Tag Day to start fund for home' And you only ask for help once 1 year? That is rather remarkable for a l charity organization, I think" ''It Is a sort of compact that we have made,s' responded Mrs. Murdoch. And I think, as I said before, Tag Day should be called Opportunity Day. Each little red tag is a concrete expression of the deep love we feel for our boys, and each little tag means help In some boys life. I could tell you many stories-interest- ing, pathetic, funny, many of them; but right here there Is a principle involved we never tell stories of our boys. What we know of their lives is sacred, and they know it. Do you see? It is real ethical principle, which many fail to grasp
 had taken more of Mrs Murdoch's frirr for she with her fellow laborers was as busy as could be- and so had to leave But when I did so it was with message in my heart to the good people of Birmingham for this splendid work. There has been a great cry against in- stitutions and, of course, every think ing person knows an institution is but make-shift for a home. But what of the home. when whole family live in one room; a case of tuberculosis there, or the mother steeped in a life of vice, and the poor little children witnesses Of such conditions?
 This is the class of boys that these good. noble -hearted women are earnestly trying to save. Look ahead and see what it means to Birmingham, whether these 4oo little members of the Boys club shall be good, honest citizens, law-abiding ana self-respecting, or on the other hano' delinouents, criminals and outcasts.
 Don't you think 1t Is well worth wnlie to lend your help today and make Tag Day of 1909 a memorable one for the Boys club?
 ........ss....."...ss.ssss' ss.ssss''''s's'''''''''''''' , Tampa, Fla, where she will join MT Harrington. After spending several weeks in and around Tampa they will go to Cuba, returning by St. Augustine and