The Watertown news. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1917-1919, 1917-11-16
INTERESTING TALK
ON Y. NJ. c. A. WORK
BY DIR. FRED PERRY

The patriotic meeting held in the
ing was a success from every view
point. Dr. Fred Perry, who spoke on
the work of the Y. NJ G. overseas.
spoke with an assurance that con-
,inced his hearers of the necessity of
this great institution that knows moth
ing too good for the soldiers who are
lighting for all that is held and has
been held dear to American hearts
since the inception of our govern
ment.
The City band played on Main street
before the meeting and also in the
hall. The Elks quartette rendered
three selections and were obliged to
respond to encores, Keep the Home
Lights Burning" America" and
The Star Spangled Banner
Judge w. H. Woodland, who has
charge of the local "Y'' work, intro
duced the speaker. He said:
1--WE have many activities and many
demands, but we must keep the home
fires burning if we wish to keep the
front strong. We have a man with us
tonight who has spent the past sum-
mer with our boys at the front and
leave to him to tell of the work to be
done"
Dr. Perry in. opening his talk re-
yiewed the change that has taken
place in the American people as a
whole since last spring when he lee
tured on the Red Cross. A change that
is deep and wonderful, from the boast
jul spirit of patriotism and of early
victory last spring to the resolute
,quaring of shoulders to face reality
the task of wiping out autocracy in
Germany that is now prevalent
''The " is asking 100000 to
carry on it's work at the front" said
the speaker. why is the Y M. G.. A.
justified in asking it," asked the
speaker. Because this work is as i'm
portant as manufacturing munitions
and other war materials. If we do
not send men with poise, moral cour-
age and ideals it is useless to send
men to discharge the munitions sent
over
I'VE are in war whether we like it
or not We have to live to see Ameri-
ca defeated or victorious, and any
person who goes about talking the
right or wrong of our being in the
war, is doing harm and killing our
soldiers. The persons who are not
getting into their job should be made
to shut up. We don't want a long
war How long is it going to last? 1t
is not to be decided at the front, but
on this side. All power of America
must be mobilized-money power,
brain power, man power, and NUM-
tons power
The speaker then told Of the round
about world conquest by the Kaiser,
eliminating in the greatest war in
history. He then told of the German
army and people being kept in ignor-
ance of our being in the war He also
told of the misery and suffering over
there and that we as a people don't
want it to drag out over a number of
years.
Unless we get together prospect
i've of religion, social standing or any
thing else and do more than we have
done before the war will be drawn
out for two or three years." said the
speaker. Just a few men brought on
this war. Can few men get armies to
fight to win where these are compell-
ed to fight, or will an army that is
rnn cd o,1
spirit pervading it win over autoc-
racy"
Germany gained doom when she
thought that the submarine would
bring world dominion" said the
speaker. "And through America for
the submarine brought the war to
America. The largest peace that we
can have with that government is the
peace we can have with a rattlesnake
when he is dead
"Our boys get homesick once in
while. They wouldn't know what to do
if it weren't for the Y. M. G.. A. in the
camps. 1t relieves the lonesomeness
bit for them. The American soldier is
splendidly clean man and the Y. NJ
c. A. wants to keep them so. The
barracks are crowded from morning
until night with jolly crowd and the
other armies have asked for secretar-
les to establish the "Y'' in other bar
racks said the speaker. Are you
going to remember that the work of
the ~" is to try to make them think
there is a God amidst that scene of
carnage, misery and suffering. am
asking you to throw out a life line
across the water to help some of our
soldiers who are lonesome" conclud-
ed the speaker.