The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-10-12
W. VI. 4 VI. 4. CALLED UPON
To Raise Funds for War Camp Re-
creation Work.

At the suggestion of President Will
son the directors of the Westminster
Merchants & Manufacturers AssOcia-
ton have been called on to get their
organization behind the campaign to
raise national fund for War Camp
Community Recreation Work. The
purpose of this is to inspire the men,
increase the efficiency and help de-
velop the fighting spirit OF the Amer
lean armed forces. Features OF this
big work include the providing of
wholesome, healthy environment ii
the communities surrounding the
ninety or more training camps and
posts.
John n WHY'S, OF Toledo, autOmo-
bile and aerOplane manufacturer. ap-
pointed Jointly by Secretary of War
Baker and Secretary of the Navy
Daniels as chairman of the national
committee on the War Camp Com
munity Recreation Fund, has written
a letter to each of the following, ask
ing their assistance in this vitality i'm
portant war work: T. w. Mather, Jr.,
Denton Gehr, w. Frank Thomas, JOS.
w. Smith, George r. Gehr, Frank G..
Sharrer, Harry p GOrsuch, Oscar D..
Gilbert and Michael Z. Walsh.
The public, it is pointed out, must
be made to realize that they must
help to win the war. The first vic
tories" will be won in America, and
will depend on the way in which those
who stay at home receive, welcome
and hearten the men who are ready to
bleed and die that democracy may
live. The work for the soldiers and
sailors in the communities outside the
camps, should not be confused with
what is being done for their entertain
ment and recreation by the Y. M. {.
A, the knights of Columbus, the Y.
NJ II. A., and in other ways during
their leisure hours in camp.
Mr. WHY'S summarizes the big pur-
pose of the War Camp Community
Recreation Fund when he says:
The spirit of the now American
army is to be made in the next few
months Mere members do not make
an army; millions of soldiers who
lack the fighting spirit can retreat
without a struggle. The American
boys must know that the finest ideals
of civilization are in their hands, that
| ing in their hearts.
imagine your DOy dL Trailing
camp" he says Where shall he go
and what shall he do when off duty?
The cities. big and little, adjacent to
the camps will do their best; but
without the aid of national fund it
will be impossible to supply the
equipment and the trained personal
service necessary to make recrea-
tion system a thorough success.
1t is planned to furnish enlisted
men hospitality in local social circles,
| to promote wholesome amusement in
public places, to supply buildings,
swimming pools, etc, and to prevent
the exploitation of the boys by COM
mercialiZed attractions OF an undesir-
able sort"
Three dollars for each soldier and
sailor is the amount required to carry
on the work for the next year. This
money will be used in hundred ways
such as building and maintaining
clubs for the men, arranging dramatic,
mOving-picture, musical and numer-
Gus other forms of entertainment in
auditoriums. clubs, schools, churches
and private homes; in short to see to
! it that the community around the
camp is as near like home to the
men as possible.