The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1917-11-13
Local Men Banquet At Pres
byterian Church
Friday
THREE ENLISTED MEN
LAUD WORK In ARMY
Campaign Inaugurated In
Pep Meeting; Drive
Starts Next Week

Outstanding among the host of
tributes paid to the Y. NJ. {. A. work
in the army, at the banquet Friday
evening at the Presbyterian church
under the auspices of the Knox coun
ty war work council, by three enlist I
e men in uniform was the fact that
the "Y" in soldier camps is HOME
to the boys and goes far towards sup
dying this very vacancy in their
hearts, souls and spirits.
The banquet, which was a pep"
meeting preparatory to- inauguratfng
next week Knox county's big drive
for 100000 as her quota towards the
army camp fund, was attended by
over 100 representative citizens of
Mt. Vernon and Knox county. An es-
pecially fine four-course dinner was
served under the auspices of the
ladies of the church.
Judge Lewis b. Houck presided ov-
er the assembly as toastmaster and,
after pointing out the position which
the United States and all of her citi-
2ens must occupy in the war, pre-
sented George Eden Ritz as Nor
row county boy adopted by Knox
county"
Mr.. Ritz was one of the first two
mem sent from Knox county to Camp
Sherman Chillicothe, for training in
the new national army. lie is a mem
ber OF the 320th Machine Gun Co.
you cant mention Camp Sherman
without thinking OF the Y. NJ. G.. A."
Mr.. Ritz started lie outlined days
work at the camp which starts at
$50 in the morning and ends at q: Is
in the evening, emphasizing the two
hours-one in the morning and one
in the fternoon-devOted to games
over which the Y NJ. G.. A. exercises
an extremely important supervision.
"It looks as II there would he an
ether draft" said Mr.. Ritz, "and If
don't worry; they'll be well taken
care of at Camp Sherman Mr.. Ritz
stated that he had gained ~ pounds
and never felt better in his life.
"'rhe food is better, the clothes are
warmer and" he added, the disci.
pine Is stricter than at home"
"The Y. NJ. G. A. is our home" he
said, "the only one we have in the
army and there is nothing dearer,"
, lIo outlined the "Y" work which in.
clules furnishing stationery, ink and
pens to all who desire the same, fur
nishing the camp with baseball, bas.
ketball and football equipment pro
; yiding Halloween games of fascina'
| ton. and interest and. all in all, en-
= ercising a general supervision over
9 the spiritual selves of the men,
, The pep feature is emphasized
at Camp Sherman, he said, and they
f have paraphrased the old rhyme as
{ follows:
1 EARLY to bed, early to rise, puts
/ pep in your step and spark in youl
eyes"
4 He said the boys ut Sherman would
Il more than appreciate n Knox County
:. Day there and urged that this be put
through.
DR. Walter A. Dixon, captain of Tho
second bunch of selects to leave
Knox county, was next introduced
Dr, Dixon is attached to headquar
ters of the S29th regiment and plays
in the regimental band, DR.. DiXor
declared that the army Y. NJ, c. A, Il
one of the biggest factors in winnins
the war, pointing out that It is TIL
I HOME of the men in that II helps
bring them in closer relationship will
, the homes they left. Tho Knox coun
ty boys use the "Y" building desig
mated as -" There are nine regu
lation buildings in camp and an aud
j, tormm capable of seating 1000 Me-
are taught English, If necessary
while elementary and advance
!" French courses also are offered. Fror
d, $4,000 to 10000 men visit the builC
s ings during a single week In OC
-. tobor, the attendance was SOi,i9'
Two million, five hundred thousan
- letters We're written, there were Ii
s' entertainments, II lectuers, ll6 reli;
al ious meetings, 81 Bible classes an
de S,325 books used, Each building col
ia tains a piano, a talking machine an
-. o small library,
- Elton Faddis, who enlisted shortl
after war broke out, is home on