The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1917-08-27
AM l MY BROTHERS. KEEPER
Y. vi. C. A. SAYS YEA"
AND PROVES 1T.
HELD AT n. S. AUDITORIUM
PURPOSE EXPLAINED BY SEC'y
HEISIG, SUPT. MAY, CAPT
LINSTAD AND PROF.
ATHERTON.

atlou VI COHlIlllteeS ana assistance
for maintaining Y. NJ. c. A. facilities
in the field for the soldiers. The
audience IA not large, gagged by
the capacity of the hall, but the ad-
dresses were we'll received. as was
also the musical program with which
the d~iscourses were interspersed. Ii
was determined to have another
meeting for purposes of organization
tonight in the rooms of the CONNER
cial club, to which any person inter
ested is invited.
State Secretary C. A. Heisig out
lined the history of the Y. NJ. C. A..
and explained its purpose and devel-
opment as applied to the men of the
armies-a later adaptation of the
work of the Y. He explained that
the organization was essentially one
of religion, but that il required no
declaration on the part of the recip-
lent of its care and attention. Ii
was organized many years ago by a
young shop worker in London, who
saw the need for a place and influ-
ence for young men who had no other
place to go. 1t spread throughout
London, and was first installed i'm the
United States at Boston. 1t stands
for the clean life. and for making the
young man a place to spend other
wise Improbable hours. a protection
against vice and idleness.
The institution now has regular
courses of training for its manager
or secretaries. In the army huts. as
well as the buildings i'm the cities Of
this country. they have these men 10
direct in four distinct fields of action.
There are physical directors. social
directors, educational and religious
directors. Each has his work. and il
is chosen by the men according TO
their taste.
Mr.. Heisig made startling state
ments of the causes of disease in for
eign fields. OF sickness and disease
which ~incapacitates so per cent OF
those disabled back of the lines. i'm
the French army, dissipation and vice
contributes the greater part. Com
mercialized vice follows the army and
preys upon it. Ii is but natural that
men turn to where they may for dis
traction from their routine and
Sli ain anu lACN Iiuh dN tNtIN turn
degraded opportunity.
After Gen. Pershing had looked in
to the matter in France, he sent to
this country a request for 500 Y see
~retaries and S1.000,0 coo for this
work. On his arrival with his men.
Mr.. Heisig said hat ii was not an
expression of spontaneous gratitude
on the part of the French people
which caused the girls to rush into
the streets and kiss the Sammies. II
was a carefully planned and well ex-
ecuted part of a plan on the part OF
commercialized vice-all in line with
what the army will experience from
first to last.
Prof. S. t. May next introduced to
the audience Capt. Linstad, making
reference to the captains personal at
fractions. In response. Capt. Linstad
said that he had not much to say,
finding hat the previous speaker had
delivered his address. In view of
the fact that Mr.. May had made so
warm a personal reference to him.
he would just talk about himself.
He said that the word service
meant give, give. give. and he was
in the service. He gave his time. at
tention, effort and strength. And
the modest captain ceased to talk OF
himself.
That the officers take no personal
interest in the men when not i'm ac-
tual drill or under orders, the .ap-
tain denied. But what can they do
The private is nagged and nageed
and ordered and inspected by his cor
porals, and the corporals by the ser
gaants, and the %sergeants by the
lieutenants, and the ~lieutenants by
the captains, and the captains by
but on ii goes in its m-onotonous, ir-
ritating, continual, buzzing insistent
way, back and forth from day to day
and month to month, until the nerves
are ragged. And what do the men
do when the moment of relaxation
comes? Well, they go where they
can forget-and their choices are not
according to aesthetic ideals home
ly feelings. Do the officers care?
OF course they do, but-but-
Capt. Linstad said that the SOC
souls in San Benito, Tex, grew tc
1000 in two months after the sol
diers got there. There was no lacl
of opportunities for the men to spenc
their money. Every possible way o.
getting between the soldier and tbs
government gold was ~resorted TO
Every vice and gambling game was
opened, and the only restraint wa.
nerve of the operator.
A northern mother addressed {
meeting in that town, beseeching pro
lection Of the men whom the nortl
had sen to help their southern
brethren in the protection of theil
homes from the raider-and the elec
ton went Is to l for a wet, or worse
town.
Men must have recreation, declar
ed the captain. The officers can no
direct or require it. 1t must be from
outside-the constant dinging of of
ficers' orders become hateful to tn
- IL zapfnsn nstal 49,