The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-11-01
'5Srd Regiment Is Unique Unit
< at Camp Funston.
EVery County in State Has
Representatives in 1t.
.BNS Want RECREATION HALL
Officers Start Campaign To
Raise $4,000 for Bldg.
G9yernOr Makes First COntri-
button of 500 to Fund.

I FJlnston, Kan, Nov Here is an
appeal both to your patriotism and
your state pride. 1t is an appeal that
should come closer to the heart of ev-
cry Kansan than any other that has
been made for any other purpose con
neeted with the war, and this is be-
Cause it affects the moral and physi-
cat welfare OF those Kansas boys
noF in training at Camp Funston, ana
I in particular, the boys in the 553rd IN
fahtry to raise the sum of $4,000 as
a regimentai fund for the moral and
physical com. prt of the boys of this
coehmand.
This regiment, above all others in
the enJIre army, is unique in the tacf
that it is absolutely representative OF
I evtry walk in life and industry that is
TO .Do found in Kansas, and also in the
faI that every county, bal none, mas
a representative in this regiment. rms
means a solidarity and montgomery
tIlat no other regiment If no other
stale possesses. There are other state
REGIMENTS national guards and other
wine, but none that embrace p
Y se1tatives from every town and every
coEnty; one can almost say a repre-
seHtatfVe from almost every arm. Inc
resord of the 353rd infantry Tor physl,
cas- fitness. for eagerness to learn anu
Willingness to serve, surprised even
se4Noned army officers, and in return
fors the kind of service these boys are
giaing. the officers are trying to give
sotDething equally as good
Need Special Attention.
The government clothes houses anu
feSas its troops, but there are mil
III and a half of them, and one fegl-
maht is as another regiment me
YIN. c. A and the Knights of Colum.
bti4 trv to remedy this deficiency Oh
special attention by seeking IN every
1.-afv to make the life of soldier nap
INLAND easier and more moral, but
there is a limit to their efforts. Thcre-
fofR, each regiment seeks IN us own
Hsyav to safeguard it's morals and IN
erase the physical and moral effi-
4 ciancy of it's men: this is most gener-
aIn done by the raising and ma1nte-
mace of a regimental fund.
Vow, in the east, almost every ma
tidnaI guard regiment that has been
sem forth for service has gone
edaipped with a substantial Iegl-
rn&htal fund, in most cases about
$4,000, administe red under the d1Iect
suf,ervision of the commanding Off
GERS safeguarded and checked as re-
gaFds. it's expenditure by government
4 retaliation. This regimental fund fur
nf9hes a recreation hall, equlpS atm
Iettc teams provides musical enter
fafAments and maintains reaJing
\ roF5ns for the troops. After ten hours
4 offs intensive physical and military I
drs1l a soldier wants recreation, and
If ne cannot get the right kind. he
VIII get the wrong kind.
The 353rd infantry wants the right |
kind. It's war strength is 300 men,
IL therefore wants the people of Kan
saa to contribute $40 for each man in
the regiment. Each man in the regi-
ment has promised to give SO himself
ASA starter, which will make total,
If abe people of Kansas come across,
oftalmost $4,000
Want Recreation Hall.
IL is proposed to spend this money
fra by erecting a recreation hall
y wherein will be found reading and
rests rooms a basketball court, concert
stage, facilities for writing letters and
an old fashioned fireplace There will
be a rest room for ladies'; there Will
be hooks and corners where the
friends and home folks that come
down to see the boys can see them
with some pleasure and privacy in
stead of having to stand around in the
wind and dust as now. There Will
also be provision to eat Sunday din
ner together. Such a recreation hall
will therefore, serve both Kansas and
the regiment and make for both in
body and spirit. And when the $3.50
infantry goes across, the buildings will
still remain for those subsequent
Kansas troops that will take its place.
Thus. the buildings will always re-
main in the cantonment for the use of
Kansas men, and as a monument Il
Kansas people and their generosity
The balance of the $4,000 will be
used always. here and abroad, for
promoting those amusements and
pleasures that the government cannot
provide and the boys themselves can
not find.
This is not a charity: this is not
even a benevolent enterprise that is
to be administered for a distant peo-
pie in a distant land. 1t is a necessity
that helps my boy, your boy, and ev-
cry boy from Kansas to serve his
country
A campaign will be started in every
county in the state to raise the re-
quired amount. The cooperation OF
every commercial club, every Kansas
newspaper, women's club, and all 9TH
err civic and commercial organizations
will be enlisted in the campaign to
raise this fund. An officer familiar
with the work will go to any Kansas
town within twenty-four hours ride
from Camp Funston to explain the de-
tails of the plan and answer all ques-
tons. He will have plans and
isketches of the recreational building
with him. Brig. Gen. Frank L. VIM
177th infantry brigade commander
has given the plan his most hearty ap-
prevail and support
The .regimental funG for the $3.50
infantry was started this week by
Governor Arthur Capper, who has
given 500 himself Can YOU do like
can Your check may be mailed to
the editor of this paper, in care of
the 353d infantry fund, or to the COM
handing officer. Col. James H
Reeves, 353d infantry. Camp Funston.
Kan. The fund must be in by No
vember 20. so that on Christmas, the
regiment can hold open house to the
people of the state
a