The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-02-26
Whv Not a Y. W. c. A.?

The campaign for a Guest House, which is
being vigorously pushed by several hundred OF
Richmond's most representative and responsible
women, is beginning to capture the attention of
the city. 1t has already received flattering en-
dorsement from people of means and has an I'M
usually large subscription with which to begin
it's financial campaign.
The ladies who are engineering the Guest
House movement are often asked, while you
are at this work, why don't you go step farther
and build a Y w. C. A? The men and boys of
the city have their Y. M. C. A. where they
hold their gatherings, have their gymnasium
swimming pool baths and night classes. Why
aren't the women as much entitled to a similar
institution"
There are several reasons why the promoters
of the Guest House have not endorsed the Y. w.
c.. A. at this time. For one thing, many of the
ladies most in favor of the Guest House look
with disfavor on the Y. w. G.. A. because it draws
sectarian lines. According to it's constitution,
or at any rate what amounts to constitution 1t
is entirely in the control of those who belong to
the evangelical churches. Women and girls OF
other faiths are entitled to use its privileges by
paying the fees but they are not entitled to share
in the responsibility of its management. Because
Of this discrimination, members of Jewish and
Catholic churches, of liberal organizations and
other religious bodies, do not have very friend
y feeling for the Y. W. c.. A. 1t is because these
sectarian fences are dispeasing to large numbers
in the community that the ladies feel that a
Guest House will be better for Richmond, as
things are here, than Y. w. c. A.
Again, the Y. W. C. A doesn't appeal to those
women and girls in the more modest clrcum-
stances as the Guest House will. 1t isn't merely
that the Y. W. c. A. charges its membership fees
and its fees for other privileges, but it is that the
year round it's activities such appeal to
and demand the support of the women of larger
financial means 1t is because of this that the
Y w. C. A. is now meeting with great deal of
criticism over the country. People are arguing
that it has failed to reach the very class it was
in the first place designed to reach
However much the Guest House may develop,
however many of the privileges usually assocat-
ed with the Y w. C. A. it may offer the city, the
determination is that these opportunities will
always be kept within reach of the women and
girls of slender incomes.
More important than either of these reasons
is the fact that Guest House may be built for
much less initial cost than Y. w. c.. A. The
very name Y. w. c. A. connOtes gymnasium,
swimming pool baths, salaried secretaries etc.
To erect such an institution of this kind as would
city of this size would cost great deal
more money than the town afford to
pay. The Guest House be started for $685.
600 and this will give the ladies a surplus by
means Of which to make any necessary expan-
sion in the coming years.
Perhaps the point of greatest favor for the
Guest House is that it is not stereotyped insti-
tuition which must conform to pattern develop
cd in other cities but may be adapted in every
possible way to those conditions and needs pecu-
liar to Richmond. Because of this fact the ladies
will be able to make of it Just what the town
will demand that they make of it and will never
be in the position of compelling the city to sup
port an institution that it does not need or that
i, not fitted to it's need.
Indiana Roads