The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-12-31
TO PROMOTE PLAY
Committee Appointed to Look
Into Question of Fairgrounds.
Address by Charles F. Weller at
National Hotel.

Members OF the board OF eOucAtlOu
| and the city commission were appoint
ed a committee to promote interest In
Topeka Fairgrounds at meeting OF
prominent citizens held this noon at
the National hotel.
| Charles Frederick Weller of the
Playground and Recreation Associa-
ton of America proposed that $1,S6O
be raised to employ an expert to come
to Topeka for eight or ten weeks to
study playground conditions here and
map out plan Of action-procure
needed legislation if necessary No
action was taken relative to this ques-
ton.
Why have Topeka children largely
| lost the old-fashioned games which
| invigorated the childhood of their
parents? Why, throughout America,
| have such games as "Pum-pum-pull-
away Tag "I-Spy.'' "Duck-on-the-
rock" and prisoners Base very
| largely disappeared? Why are even
baseball and football mainly vicar
ious-the few playing while the many
look on?
These questions were asked by
Charles Frederick Weller of the
Playground and Recreation AssOcia-
ton OF America at a luncheon-confer-
| ence Thursday noon at the National
| hotel. c. S. Gleed, H. B. Wilson, H.
T. Chase. J. Will Kelley and Robert
Stone signed the call for the meeting.
men and women attended.
Space does not mike play. To-
peka's broad streets, private lawns
and attractive parks do not assure a
vigorous play life for the children.
There is need of leadership, encour-
agement, organization and the teach
ing of games-in short, play leaders
or supervisors have been found indis-
pensable in the 342 American cities
which have Fairgrounds.
1t is not for big cities only but for
smaller communities also that play
grounds and recreation centers are
needed Among the 342 cities which
have supervised Fairgrounds there are
los cities with less than 10000 inhab-
itants each.
1t is said that 80 per cent of all
crimes are committed in the leisure
hours from to II p. m. America is
beginning to realize that faults and
moral weakness do not develop in
school hours or in work hours SO
ground and Recreation Association of
America heads a great movement to
change leisure from a liability to an
asset.
Less Than Cents q Child.
For 900 children, in thirteen cities,
last year this association developed.
supervised, publicly supported year
round systems of playground and rec
reation activities. Less than five cents
per child was the cost of this vital SER
vice. That is, every 81 900 contributed,
gave 20 900 children a chance to play.
To benefit the children and young
working people of Topeka it is pro-
posed, to bring here in April or May
one of the expert field secretaries of
the national association who will help
Topeka to develop Fairgrounds and rec
reational activities appropriate to the
local conditions and needs.
In Kansas City. Omaha, and Mime
conducting similar campaigns. In such
varied cities as Birmingham, Roches-
ter, Richmond, Milwaukee, Red Bank,
Bennington. Indianapolis. Green Bay,
Kenosha, Tampa, Detroit, Providence,
Sioux City and Wheeling the field Sec
retaries of this association have been
eminently successful in developing play
grounds, recreation centers in the
schools and other building
activities which are supported by pub
lie funds.
Supporters OF Movement.
Joseph Lee, of the Lee-Higginson
company Boston bankers, is president
of the Playground and Recreation as
ISOLATION of America. He contributes
a good deal of time and 5000 annu-
ally. William Kent of California is
vice president and an active supporter.
Henry p. Dawson, president of the J.
p. Morgan company, is first vice pres
ident of the association and he signs
yearly thousands of letters in its be-
half. Among those who have helped to
develop this constructive, educational,
philanthropic association are Jacob
Riis, Jane Adams. Theodore Roose-
welt, Charles w. Eliot. John H. Finley,
Mrs. Thomas A. Edison, Harold H.
Swift. The work is controlled by
board of forty-eight directors, elected
by the $500 subscribing members of the
association.
Topeka people who have already con-
tributed funds for the work of the Play
ground and Recreation Association of
America include David Bowie, Arthur
Capper, George NJ Crawford c. s.
Gleed, Ashford w. Greenwood, Frank
P. MacLennan. Mrs. B. F. Shumate