The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-10-14
HOPES FUTURE WARS WILL BE FOUGHT ON FOOTBALL FIELDS
 INSTEAD OF FROM TRENCHES
Delegates to Recreation Congress Tells of the Cvzng Effects of American Games, in China, Philippines, South America and Among the Dispirited Men Held Prisoners in European War Camps.

Future wars, we hope, will be fought. not from trenches. but on football flelds," said speaker at the opening session of the Recreation Con- gress at Grand Rapids, Michigan, Oc- tober to inclusive. This speaker described the internationalizing, civil izing influences of American games in China. India, the Philippines, South America and among five million dis spirited men in the prison war camps of Europe. The Congress discussed athletics, games and play as the best means of building character and eff ,ciency-whether for peace or for war. Any one who thinks of play" as merely child-like, soft, amusing, un- important, would have been surprised at the hundreds of powerful, earnest men and women assembled at Grand Rapids, intent upon the inviSoration of American life through wholesome use of leisure hours of all the people.
 Community centers in the public schools were emphasized, with their varied activities - dramatics, games, civic discussions, music, library cen ters, dancing, sometimes pool tables, always clubs, classes and serious study groups Milwaukee's wider use of her school buildings is making that city famous for something other than its bottled products.
 Great, yet growing, powers were rep resented at this Leisure-time Con- gress. One delegate is superinten- dent of playgrounds, sports and mul- titudinous recreational activities in Chicago's South Side Parks-a life building plant worth s144, 100000. Another delegate represents the lei sure-time activities in Detroit's Art Museum, in her schools, parks, pub lie and private properties which ft would cost fifty million dollars to re- place. From Kalamazoo, Michigan, a town of about 45,00O population there came to the Congress fifteen of the eighteen paid play leaders employed by the public schools. From Virginia, Minnesota came the public librarian, president of the Minnesota Association of Librarians. From several large in- dustries came representatives who are developing industrial recreation. AL together, it was evident that the 7,- 500 employed playleaders of America
  social forces
 Many delegates came from great dis tances, at large personal sacrifices of time and money-from Dallas, W1nni- peg, San Diego, Providence and from scores of towns and cities in between, with sprinkling of leaders from oth- CT counties, even Uruguay '
 Five sectional meetings went on busily at the same time, from 9:30 to 11:3O A. M., with large, eager groups in each exchanging experiences and working out answers for the 272 ques- tion-problems submitted in prepara- ton for this Congress. Four or more simultaneous luncheon conferences continued the discussions. Afternoons were devoted to demonstrations of re- creational activities. At supper con- ferences specialized groups thrashed out their problems. There were also two general sessions, when we all got together, at 11:50 A. M. and P. M.
 Technical discussions characterized this more than previous Congresses. What games to play?" How to reach all the children all the year," Plural life, how make it more attractive?" .Methods of re-creating industrial power killed by monotonous tasks?" "Can politicians be shown that eff1- cient playgrounds are good politics?" .sWhence shall adequate public funds be secured?" Apparatus" 'Acci- dents." Laying out playgrounds." "Recreation Buildings" Upon such themes as these the delegates got Gown from orations to brass tacks.
 Never before has there been Re- creation Congress with so large an at tendance Equally unique were the preparations for this gathering-in- lcluding advance letters from ten State Governors, from Secretary Baker,