The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-01-29
Father and Son Movement
to Be Launched.

1870
movement will be launched that will
mean much for that fine expression OF
citizenship for which the organization
stands. The Fathers and Sons move
ment Is spreading all over the coun-
try and the banquet which will be
given this evening at the association
rooms Is to be the first of a series Of
such informal gatherings designed TO
draw the fathers and sons of PEN
sacola into closer touch with one an
other, to promote comradeship be-
tween them and to stimulate the in
terests that should be theirs.
While several cities have taken
simultaneous action in this move
ment. Cleveland. Ohio, and Denver,
Colorado, were the pioneers.
In 1913 every state in the union
but three held Father and Son meet
ings In one or more cities. Sone of
these meetings were attended by sew
erai thousand men and boys who
come together to get better acquaint-
ed.
II is a fact to be deplored that
modern conditions of business, edu-
cation and even the home life are not
as conducive TO that closer compan-
ionship between father and son that
makes for the best interests Of both.
II there Is not a cordial relation
ship between the father and son it is,
II must be, in the very nature al
things. largely the fathers faith.
The Father and Son movement Is
designed especially to reawaken. TO
stimulate the interest, the reciprocal
affections OF the boys and their
fathers.
The boys this evening who viii be
guests with their fathers at the Y. M.
C. A., viii be lads between the ages
OF twelve and fourteen. Later boys II
other ages. and their fathers, will be
entertained.
But the Father and Son movement
is not intended only to re-create. or
to strengthen, the bond between the
fathers OF boys. and the sons Of
fathers, but also to interest fathers
in boys who have no fathers OF their
own.
In the state of New York for the
year 1913. the following statistics are
given. Boys Industrial Institute, s13
boys, cost per year $17S.SOS24. Juve-
nile delinquent. S64 boys, cost per
year. sl52,745.59. Orphans. loo boys,
cost per year, s26.4s6.4s state Re
form school, 1887 boys, cost per year,
S22o.S0650. Total boys in these four
state institutions, s.21s. total cost to
the state OF New York, s57s,2sl.s1.
There are in the United states
over 500 900 high school boys and
over 100000 working boys in the
shops, factories, department stores
and many other lines of work. Many
of these boys are from homes VITA
out the support of a father and the
boy in many cases is the bread win
ner. These figures are from state IN
stitutions and do not include private
or UNCONVENTIONAL work for boys.
Every father In the United states,
who makes no effort to better the
conditions of his state, is in a measure
responsible for these conditions And
IL must be remembered that whatever
affects largely other boys, must in
greater or less degree affect Your boy.
"Am I Ny Brothers Keeper" is a
world old cry. And the answer of the
ages is in the affirmative.
We are not only called to account
for our brothers, but if we do not,
If we fail to extend that helping hand.
we are so closely in touch with the
world about us, the forces that con-
troll the universe are so reactive. that
often our attitude becomes antagon-
istic not only to our fellowman. but
10 our own best interests.
II you throw protecting arm
about the delinquent boy, If you help
to eradicate the conditions that con-
tribute towards his delinquency, you
are helping to safeguard your own
son md your sons son.
Father and Sons movement has
- Possibilities. The idea is not
M social, it strikes deeper than
axkAIowing the idea TO its logical
it, sM> it reaches out to the sons
Dsers OF all the world, and
incaiculabie.