The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1917-11-12

FOR FUNDS TO BEGIN TODAY-$3,-
100000 GOAL SET FOR CAM
PAIGN THROUGHOUT U. 8.
Workers Appointed In Every County
Mass Meeting at Washington
Opera House Yesterday Well
Attended-MasOn To
Give $3.50.

Plans for the nationwide drive for
the big fund with which, through the
Young Mems Christian Association,
the needs of American soldiers and
sailors will be met, have been an
nounced at the international head
quarters of the Association in New
York City. The drive will begin to-
day and will close November 10. The
sum to be raised is thirty-five million
dollars. Every state, city, town and
rural district will contribute to the
raising of the fund, the amount of
which was fixed by a national con-
ference recently held in this city,
composed of representative men from
all parts of the United States.
Not only will the comforts and care
which the big fund will make pos
sible be extended to Americas fight
ing men, but to the men Of France
and Of the other allied nations with
whom our troops will soon be fight
ing shoulder to shoulder. Every pen
ny Of the fund, 1t is announced, will
be used in caring for the needs of the
troops. The work will be done
through trained men which the
Young Mems Christian Association
will provide.
The object of the fund is two-fold;
to provide comforts, care and recre-
alton for the men in camp and thus
to keep up the morale of Americas
fighting forces. This the military
authorities and those who have WIS.,
tied the camps in France regard as
Of greatest Importance to the sue
cess of American arms. The sud-
den change from domestic to camp
conditions, the distance from home
and the necessary rigorous routine,
observers say, call for kind of care
that the army authorities are not in
position to provide.
General Pershing, in Auguest, au-
thorized the statement that the great
est service America could immediate
ly render was to extend the Young
Mems Christian Association work to
the soldiers of the French army, tired
and worn out by their valiant and
successful resistances to the repeated
waves of Teutonic attacks. Antici-
pating similar conditions among our
own troops, the Young Mems Chris
tian Association began early in the
war to prepare to care for our SOL
diers and sailors. The offer of serv-
ice the Association made was ac-
cepted gladly by the government au-
thorities, and hundreds of men train
ed in "Y" work were soon in camp.
There are now $500 of these men,
serving American soldiers and sail
ors. Many Y. M. c. A. men were
called in the draft and shouldered
their rifles, since no man is accepted
for Y. M. c. A. work unless he has
been exempted by the Government or
whose name is so far down the list
that he is not likely to be called for
some time.
With the hundreds Of thousands OF
men the draft called to the colors, the
Y. M. C. A. was overwhelmed with
work and responsibilities. From the
camps came a cry for more help, not
only from the soldiers themselves, but
from the officers, who value the work
the Association renders. According
ly, a National Conference was held
and it was decided that not a cent
less than $35,000,00O would ade-
quately meet the war needs con.
fronting the Association, for not only
was there a call for help in the
American camps, but from camps Of
allied nations as well.
A large crowd was in attendance al
the Washington Opera House yester'
day afternoon to attend the mass
meeting in the interest of the Y. M
lC. A. war relief campaign which
starts today. Judging from the in
terest and enthusiasm. displayed al
this meeting there will not be any
trouble for the workers to secure Ma.
son county's apportionment Of $3,54O
which is part of the $35,OO0,000 tc
be raised in the United States this
week for the Y. NJ c. A. work at the
training camps in this country ant
abroad. A certain per cent will also
be used to cheer up the captives In
the prison camps Of Europe.
Mr.. w. H. Rees, chairman for Ma.
son county, had charge Of the meet
ing yesterday afternoon, and after
making few brief remarks he called
on the audience to stand and sine
"The Star Spangled Banner" which
was led by DR.. P. @. Smoot. The Rev
W. B. Campbell, pastor of the First NJ
e. Church, South, then offered the In
vocation, praying for the success o.
the campaign this week and for the
Y. NJ. c. A. work.
Interesting talks concerning th,
work the Y. NJ. c. A. has been doint
at Camp Taylor were then made BY
Corporal John Lysle Threlkeld, Ser
geant Henry Helmer, Private Alber
Thomas and Sergeant-Major Roberf
Lee straus.
! dad" Bailey, ono Of the secretar'