The Mena weekly star., 1917-11-01
\ WORK FOR OuR ROYs.

| day attended the SeSSlOnS or state conference of the Arkansas Y NJ. C. A. War Work organization, after wards being favored with a visit to Camp Pike and a closeup view of the working of the Y. NJ. C. A. among the soldiers. There was in attend ance delegates from all but very few counties in the state, each be- ing represented by from one to four or more men.
 And to the greater number of the delegates the session and it's lessons came as a distinct revelation. Ger tainyl there were but few who have not come in touch with it who have an idea of the scope and value of the work.
 Fully two hundred citizens gath cred in a convention hall in the Marion hotel, and from the time the meeting was called to order about 10 o'clock in the morning, to the end of the afternoon session, there pre- vailed an earnestness and tense- ness that the writer never has seen equaled in any assemblage.
 One of the early speakers was Colonel Louis J Van Shaick, a bat tle-scarred veteran of the Spanish American war He brought out in | language that flashed white hot from his heart and soul the awful ness of the conflict in which our country is engaged He pictured the men as they went over the top and into the trenches of the enemy. where, hand 10 hand, and even breast to breast they must fight and kill or be killed
 Then he told how the Y. NJ. c. A. brought to the soldier boys almost their only touch with humanity and brother love and home; how it was the ono saving grace in holding for better things and for sanity in thinking and living.
 One after another strong virile men, some fathers of sons already in the service, told of conditions that exist and plead that the people of Arkansas do their part fer their sons and the sons of other men. There were times when it is doubt nl if there was a dry eye in the au- dienee, and in the end each district of the sixteen into which our state is divided, had given assurance that it would do it's share or more. Sev- eral districts increased the quota given them by sl0,00O or more, with a result that Si97 GOO was pledged by Arkansas as it's share in carrying on the work to July, 1918.
 A visit to Camp Pike but drove the lessons home. Here were viewed the splendid buildings provided for the soldier boys, where on every night in the week some form of up- lifting activity is provided for thousands where for trifling fees splendid dramatic entertainments can he seen, where the greatest lee turers can be heard free, and where on one night each week efforts are made to have every soldier write to his homefolks. stationery being furnished free; and where, in sim gle room and in a single hour some times a thousand sons are writing to mothers, fathers and other dear ones this keeping in touch with home being estimated as one of the best influences on the young men
 And here one night week hun dreds of boys who cannot read or write are going to school that they. too, may reach the home and haN Q a wider vision opened before them. In the harrenness of the haze camp, the great barracks. the mill ing everywhere of hundreds and thousands of our boys. where aside from this humanizing touch there Is naught but stern discipline, and hard work alternated with hours when strictly army life furnishes naught but chance for homesick- ness, breeding or temptation and mischief. the great and far-reach- ing influence of this huge man-say- line enterprise is beyond comprehen- sion it can only be realized by go- ing where il exists, and then by striving to become in mind and heart, a part of the restless multi tude
 1 Polk counly was given 5000 as iis quota to provide; Sevier county si.25o By agreement seyier and Polk counties agreed 10 work to- gether on equal basis, si,625 each,