The Washington herald., 1911-05-22
Young Men Urged to Get
Funds for New Building.
ROSENWALD IS PRAISED
Taft Resents Stories of Molly
cOddle Members.

ing of the mollycoddle, nothing OF
softening, enervating influence in
the Y. NJ. c. A., but instead "every-
thing tending to vigorous man.
hood and everything tending to re-
strain its members from demoraliz-
ing vices and practices" President
Taft made a vigorous reply to those
who charge the association with
working under a 'kid-gloved pol
icy" yesterday afternoon before a
mass meeting OF 1000 colored citi-
zens at the Howard Theater under
the auspices of the colored branch
of the Y. NJ. c. A,
The President urged greater ef-
forts to raise the remainder of the
$4,000 necessary to receive the
benefits of the Julius Rosenwald Of
fer of $4,000 for the colored Y.
NJ. c. A. home.
MEN ARE SAVED.
Il was not particularly familiar with
the Y. NJ. c. A. when 1 was on the bench
in this country. but in the Orient in the
Philippines. in China. N Japan, in Hong
apd pn ba 81
around the world, 1 was able to see how
it adapted itself to the uses Of young
men in those far-off countries. 1t was
particularly useful in such places as Ma
Mia and Hong Kong, where young men
from home-that is, from America or
England-without families, were exposed
to the temptations Of those far-ofr lands.
''1t has reduced to a. science the TAX
ing Of homeless young men and offer
ing them a Christian club in which all
the influences are good, in which there
is nothing of the mollycoddle. nothing
OF softening or enervating influence.
demoralizing vices and practices.
There is a white Y. NJ. c. A and a
colored Y. NJ. c. A You are more COM
Portable to have your own club limited
to your race, as perhaps the young white
men are more comfortable in having
theirs limited TO their race but they are
both, nevertheless, under the broad roof
of charitable and uplifting Christianity
President Taft then explained how the
generous offer of Julius Rosenwald, of
Chicago, to contribute $4,000 to Wash
:ngton, making an exception of this city
at the Presidents personal request, pro-
vided Washington raised $1,000 for the
colored branch of the association, instead
OF $4,000, as required by other cities, was
brought about
Urges Fund Raising.
''I am here this afternoon to say to
you there ought not to be any delay
about raising that $1,000" he said "I
don't wonder that my friend here who
has just spoken told Mr.. Rosenwald that
it was imposing a good deal OF a task
on me to raise $4,000 I think It is.
But It is very happy issue, and I am
delighted to have played even the small
est part in it, because I know that for
years and years, for decades and decades,
this organizatio that he has now made
possible with a good building will go
on living and expanding its usefulness,
uplifting the colored men Of Washington
in a way that every friend of the race
and every friend of humanity will re-
joice to see.
Il heard through one of the secretaries
of the Y NJ. c. A of the very generous
offer Of Mr. Julius Rosenwald, of Chi
cago. to contribute $4,000 to any organI-
Zation which would raise 5000 for the
construction and maintenance of a col
ored Y. NJ. c. A. in any city in this coun-
try.
Il was told that you had raised $50 00J
and had put IT into a building, but that
you needed a good deal more-perhaps
s4O.00o-to make it complete. and so, at
the suggestion of my friend Of the Y.
N. c. A. and without knowing Mr.. Julius
Rosenwald. but hoping that he might
know who I was. 1 sat down and wrote
him a letter and stated the circum-
stances, and urged him to enlarge his
plan so as to include Washington.
Promises s25.OOO.
Mr. Rosenwald said that he would
make Washington an exception, and
would add the $4,000 to the $4,000 yet u
be raised by you.
In the management of the Y. NJ. C. A.
the directors are limited to certain de-
/ make no criticism of
that. 1 believe I could not be one Of the
directors. because my denomination does
not come within the list. But what !
wish to bring home to you is that with
this broad philanthropy and in the wide
spirit of his love of mankind Mr.. Rosen-
wald has not been deferred from giving
money to that which he believes to be
most useful to mankind, even though
there may be a restriction in the man.
agement which a smaller or more mar
row-minded man might resent