Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-03-25

Kansas forward-moving cities, DIT.
w. A. McKeever. head Of the child
welfare department at the Univer-
sity OF Kansas, told $50 men at q
luncheon in the Lutheran church
basement this noon. DR.. McKeever
told of the work along these lines
that other towns in the state are
doing. DR.. McKeever was brought
here by the women's federated clubs.
The Lutheran ladies' served q fine
luncheon. Abilene's a fine place. In
the opinion of DR.. McKeever. but
there are things yet to be done.
The meeting was the most repre-
sentative gathering Of business men
held in the city in years. G. M. Har-
ger presided and when he suggested
that such q lunch ought to be held
once a month with q short address
ON public questions there was hearty
applause. The matter will be taken
ND at the next Commercial club
meeting.
The men were delighted with the
address and the way in which the
speaker discussed welfare questions.
He addressed the women's clubs at
the library this afternoon.
your banks and your big build
inRs are not your wealth, Abilene"
said DR.. McKeever. THE physical
things don't go to make up the
worth of your town. Your wealth is
your men and your women, the
character that is stored UP in them"
ut is good business for you to
provide the best opportunities for
the children of your city to expand
all their latent possibilities" con-
tinued DR.. McKeever. "You are re-
sponsible for all the children in
town, their right training and their
right education is in your hands.
You speak proudly Of the men and
women who have achieved notable
success. But you must also claim the
boys and girls who grew up and
who were not and are not successes.
They belong to you also"
DR.. McKeever told of what other
towns are doing. Everywhere pub
lie Fairgrounds are being estab-
lished, and men hired to take
charge of the boys play and direct
them in growing garden stuff on
vacant lots and oftentimes on small
tracts of land rented by the cities.
In most places the school system Is
taking over the playground super
vising.
you ought to have a park and
and man to look after
the boys, and a woman to take
charge of the girls, too, You can
map out plan and follow it, and ,
the young folks will respond in a
hurry"
Have you any pool halls here?"
asked DR.. McKeever. The question
answered, the speaker said: Don't
close the pool halls, clean them up.
See to it that the right men are In
charge and that the conduct of the
pool halls is of the proper sort and
then let them run; they're good
thing then. You must have some So
cial centers, and a pool hall right
ly conducted, is a good social CEN
ter"
Picture shows came in for mem
ton in DR.. McKeever's talk. He
the movies as really a
part of the educational system.
They shape character" said he.
"and it is up to the people to see
that the right sort of character
pictures are shown"
DR.. McKeever visited all of the
Abilene schools this morning and
spoke to the high school students
1t student assembly. DR.. McKeever
Is interested in young folks, always
and everywhere. At the agricultur-
Al college he was known as Sunny
Tim" and the students knew him as
\ friend. After his introduction by
Supt. Stacey, DR.. McKeever asked
The cheer leader to start the school
yell When the noise subsidized, the
speaker told the students that If
they would wash dishes and hoe
gardens and do everything else with
The same vim with which they gave
he yell. they would be a bigger
power than they are. I'VE school
men believe In the yell business,
aid Professor McKeever, 1T is last
Is important as geometry"
Laughter was plentiful when the
ipeaker told the boys and girls to