Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-11-12
GREAT AUDIENCE
WAITED PATIENTLY
TO HEAR FOSTER
President Reed College Did
Not Arrive Last Night
Until lO:45 O'clock

. When the Salem folks want to hear
a famous speaker the mere fact of
waiting two hours and half in a
chilly building doesn't seem to worry
them.
Last evening at Sis the armory was
comfortably filled with those anxious
to hear man direct from the war
zone-President Foster of Reed col
lege.
1t so happened that Mr.. Foster mNde
an address yesterday at Newberg and
in travelling to Salem the conductor
failed to- tell him where to make train
connections. He was carried on to Cor
wallis and from that place he made a
quick trip to Salem by automobile, ar
irving at the armory at a quarter IN
til eleven o'clock, where he found the
building filled with those who didn t
mind little thing like waiting some
thing over two hours.
However, the waiting throng at the
armory were well entertained. The
Masonic quartette was obliged to re-
lspond to several encores. Mr.. Mitchell
one of the Portland workers in the Y
NJ. G. A. was called on for several So
los. The Flying Squadron, male quar-
tette organized by DR.. H. C. Epley for
the war drive of the Y NJ C. A. pleas
ed and was obliged to respond to sew
Ieral encores.
The result of a conference in Port
land with several Of the head workers
in the Y. NJ G. A. work was told by
the Rev. James Elvin, pastor of the
First congregational church.
AS he stepped ON the rOstrum at
10:45 last evening, President Foster
complimented the staying qualities of
the citizens of Salem. He first told of
his drive from Corvallis, saying that
although he had travelled hundreds of
miles on the war front crossing sheS
hole craters, he had never travelled
over a worse road than the one lead
ing from Corvallis to Salem.
Describing the French people, he
said they were not warlike but just
wanted to be let alone to pursue their
regular life. There was nothing cruel
about them as he said he had seen
many French soldiers share their bread
with German prisoners.
As far as the American soldier was
concerned, President Foster thought
the folks at home need not be worried
about him. he found them conducting
themselves in the right manner. What
the poys needed most was plenty of
letters from home and then the home
care the Y. M. C. A. could give them
at the front.
DR.. Foster was one Of two observers
sent to secure information as to the
activities and needs of the American
he
after making thorough investigation
Every facility was afforded him by
the allied governments to inspect care
fully all the branches of the military
service. He said in part:
Throughout the zone of the British
forces in France / found the Y. M. G.
A. regarded as an indispensable branch
IF the army did not find a single of
ficer or private who had any other
view of the Y. NJ. c. A. war zone ac-
tlvities The American Y. M. c. A. was
getting under way most effectively
with the American troops when | Wis
ted their camps in France. General
Pershing asked NE to assure the people
IF America when | returned that the
Y. M. G. A. had won its place and
would be entrusted with the recreation
If well men. He particularly urged the !
of our services to the French |
soldiers. From my personal observa
tions l am positive that recreation
will be one of the vital problems of
he coming winter in France. The one
zig way for us to aid in meeting that |
problem is by contributing to the Y.
". C. A. war fund"
Graphic stories of the wanton devas
alton OF French villages and ccmmuni-
les by the German army and the hard
hips and suffering to which the peo-
lie of France are subjected were told
IS they only can be told by one who /