Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1917-11-19
The Y. w. E.. A. War
Work and Girls

To girls in general every soldier
seems a hero. Girls inexperienced or
socially unframed. approach the men
In khaki with the same confidence one
feels in the presence OF police ofhceF.
They address them with the casual
ness one uses in asking information .
from an Official That their interest .
ia personal is due 10 the fact that tney
are eager 10 know what the men are .
like who quit home. occupation ana
friends 10 20 10 war. Dressed in KHAKI,
they no longer appear ordinary what
are they thinking How do they act
What will they say If spoken tot
And because many of the men are
not vet officially trained To an imper-
sonal attitude with il developed sense
Of responsibility for the safety OF IN
protected individuals. they are apt 70
meet such advances with the time
honored freedom permitted their sex
For him. the Uniform of his country
will not prove an armOr sufficient TO
protect him against o subtle foe, ana
for her. the demolished barriers of
convention leave her without defense.
No ordinary judgments M the case.
without time 10 adjust their thinking
men find themselves separated from
home. friends. church, and all the IN
stitutions and influences by which
their conduct has been regulated.
Their homesickness is intensified by
the anticipated risk OF liie or physical
disability
The Young Woman's Christian assoc
citation is peculiarly favored IN us
present opportunity 10 work in the
camp communities In close cOopera-
ton with the representatives OF the
recreation section Of the federal com
mission on training camp activities
Leaders aim 10 create among women
sentiment in favor OF high moral
standards and TO promote true pa
riotism expressed IN terms of woman
" conduct and of loyalty 10 tine no
tional aim in entering the war
What War Means 10 Girls. Leaving
home for the first time. living in room
ing houses without supervision, ply
steal and mental strain from over
work. loneliness
Economic responsibilities IdNn-
places i'm the business and the indus
~ trial world. scll-support, ASSUMING
mems places in the support of the ram
Nv.
Changing Industrial Conditions
t'nemploymcnt occas'oucd hy nep
standards of thrift, tasks usually dom
hv men: work i'm munitions factories
Industrial Exploitation Rush Wort
and speeding up, overtime work unde
guise of patriot SIN inadequacy OF lac
Tory inspection. neglect Of education
because Of false IDEAS OF country
need
Unsettled Standards. Responsible
ty for citizenshp tendency TO lie
down personal restraint on all KIND
OF high ideals: false ideals Of reia
t.onship occasioned by the presence @
soldiers; the girl helps or binders IN
moral life OF our soldiers ana mere
, fore the efficiency OF the army; grea
danger from the menace of the soci5
evil
The war work council OF the natleI
al board of the Young Women CHRIS
tian association has voted TO raise
budget Of S4,0000O0 for work anon
women and girls in communities &C
Joining United States army trainn
camps and mobilization centers,
nunition factories employing slr
and in forc'gn countries affected I
the war
The attention OF the oifcers OF II
army and of the y NJ. c. A. is centert
ON the men within the camps II
essentially woman's problem TO SAT
Fuard and protect the girls outsi'
the camps
The organization which in times
peace and under ordinary circur
stances is able to carry out pr
gram. is naturally the one to viii,
the community may turn in time
emergency.
The Young Women's Christian ass
citation has the machinery, the equi
ment and the motive to make til
work effective.
The emergency program of f
Young Womens Christian associ
4 tons in detail is,
Protection through association bull
patton in communities near army a
navy CAMPS. travellers aid America
foreign service bureau: publicity
rho experience of Great Britain a