The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-07-29
By w. T. Ellis.


In recounting the nations assets, its
latent forces at the beginning of the
war, there were few, perhaps, who re-
garder the Yung Mems Christian Asso-
citation as a national defense. 1t is
fact, however, that no other single or
ganization has demonstrated itself so
well prepared so able to deal with a big
emergency, so ready to prove its latent
powers, as the Y. NJ. c. A.
Before Pershing's army had begun to
move toward the seaboard for transport
to France, supplies and men from the
Y. NJ. G. A. had been mobiliZed by the
international committee to accompany
the soldiers. Before the men of the ex-
peditionary force had stretched their
sea legs, the army Y. NJ. c. A. head
quarters was established in their camp
in Europe. Men and money were ready
for setting up and equipping associa-
ton camps in the national army canton.
ments weeks before the draft was com.
pleted
The most spectacular examples of
Y. M. c. A. preparedness to meet the
national emergency, however, are found
outside the army and navy work ire
mendous as the Importance of this work
is. One rather expected the interna.
tional committee to be ready to under.
take this work. It's record in past emer-
gencies, its recent accomplishments on
the Mexican border, attested that be.
lief
But now bankers have called on the
Y. NJ. c. A. for aid in a gigantic finan.
cial campaign for the war. Army Off
GERS have conscripted association secre-
taries from their desks to serve on the
drill field. The association camp has
followed the plow as well as the flag. It's
buildings have become navy barracks
and its organizations have furnished the
ground work for numerous branches OF
patriotic endeavor.
1t was a Y. NJ. c. a. man who manag.
ed the national campaign to raise $780,
600 900 for the American Red Cross and
he had sixty Y. NJ C. A. secretaries
among his corps Of helpers in various
centers Of the country in charge of
sectional campaigns. The leader was
Charles s. Ward loaned by the inter
national committee to the Red Cross for
the duration of the money raising cam
paign.
"Whirlwind" Helps Red Cross.
Mr.. Ward owed his conscription to
the service to his remarkable record in
financial campaigns for association
buildings in the larger cities. He has
raised approximately s5O,OOOOOO in
these so-called "whirlwind" campaigns.
He directed the effort which brought
$4,000 900 in contributions to association
work in New York city. He let the
volunteer workers who gave 81 1000 900
in ten days for new Y NJ. c. A. build.
ings in Philadelphia. In Toronto. $780,.
O00 was subscribed during a campaign
which he supervised
In campaigns of this sort. there is al.
ways a share of the spectacular, com
bined with we'll directed publicity It
was Just this sort of a campaign that
the Red Cross needed. Whatever crit.
icism there may have been Of such
methods In association work in the past,
the experience Of Mr. Ward and the six.
ty other Y. NJ. c. 4. secretaries In sim.
liar endeavors has served the Red Cross
and the country we'll
Another emergency which drew the
Y. NJ. c. a. from its usual effort in be-
half OF the army and navy occurred
when the training camps for the off.
GERS reserve were opened. Army tutors
were busy drilling these young volun-
teers in the rudiments OF the manual.
There was need that they be drilled at
the same time in the rJdiments OF
health and physical we'll being Young
men had stepped out OF offices and
banks. class rooms and laboratories,
without releasing themselves from Of.
flee and class room habits. They had
entered a new life where these habits
must be reformed. and reformed with
as little detriment 10 the future officer
as possible
Gymnasium Methods for the Army
For years the Y. NJ. c. A. had been
accomplishing results identical with
those the army desired. II had been
teaching men from the office and the
class room new habits. Training the
body" is one side OF the Y. NJ. c. A.
triangle. The men who visit the asso'
citation gymnaslums are of the same
type enrolled In these officers training
camps at Fort Myer, Fort Niagara and
elsewhere.
The call came to the Y. NJ. c. A. to
furnish physical directors for these
camps. Secretaries trained In this work
left their offices for the drill fields. They
have helped TO remove the kinks from
muscles knotted by long marches
trench digging; and. as a Y. NJ. G. A.
physical director is trained by expert
once to do. they have accomplished this
through an ingenious combination OF
work and play which has furnished rec
reation for the young officers the while
II has accomplished results.
When President Wilson called the ma
ton TO increased endeavor In raising
food crops. when school boys were mo
bilized throughout the country as farm
helpers. the Y. NJ. c. a. met another
emergency. Each association has It,
boys department, usually with its camp
in the country for n summer outing II
was only short step to organize these
boys In the food army and the outings
Tor recreation became outings for work
Leaders In boys work followed these
.s.,tvsr Ia tho Fupfng nd no