Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-09-26
WAR RECREATION
COMMISSION MEETS
Enthusiastic Gathering In Old Sen
ate Chamber at the State House.
MR.. JOHNSON OUTLINES WORK


Strange Make StlrrIng speeches
In the old Senate Chamber, hailow-
ed by historic memories. and a more
appropriate place for such meeting
there is none. a largely attended and
enthusiastic meeting was held last
night under the auspices of the
Maryland War Recreation Commits
| sion.
A portion of the Naval Academy
band furnished music from the gall
lery, and played patriotic airs before
the meeting was called TO order and
between the numbers on the program.
State Senator Frank M. Duvall
presided at the meeting, and intro
duced the speakers, following the
tune America" during which the
audience rose. The audience in
cluded the clergy of all the churches
| in the city, Chaplain Evans, of the
Naval Academy; President Fell, of
st. Johns College; DR.. Elihu S. Riley,
and other distinguished citizens, as
we'll as many patriotic women of the
city and county.
After stating the object and pur-
pose of the meeting, that of pre-
senting the needs for a recreation or
rest room for the soldiers and sail
ors who may come to Annapolis dur
| ing the war, State Senator Duvall,
chairman of the meeting, introduced
Mayor Strange, who made an earnest
talk. He pleaded with the citizens
of Annapolis to aid the authorities in
| Furnishing those who sell liquor to en-
listed men and those in uniform He
said no law can reach those who take
| these young men into their homes, or
Offices, and treat them, but this is
as reprehensible as selling them in
toxicants He urged every one who
knows of these offenses against good
government to report same to the
proper authorities
Mayor Strange asked for the CO.
| operation of all Annapolitans in help
ing to make Annapolis morally clean
and wholesome for these soldiers and
! sailors who are sure to visit here
from the cantonment at Admiral from
| time to time. The Mayor was warm
ly applauded at the close of his
| splendid speech.
As Governor Harrington entered
the Chamber the band played Mary
| land. My Maryland" The Governor
made one of those stirring speeches
for which he is famous. He is pa
| triotic through and through. and
every word he uttered inspired pa
triotism. The Governor is a busy
man. He said he had not time to pre-
pare speech, so he spoke ex-
| temporaneously. He said he was with
| this movement heart and soul for
| giving the soldiers and sailors rest
room, and recreation and comforts of
home when they come to Annapolis.
He endorsed all that Mayor Strange
had said, and told the audience the
armory, he believed, was the fitting
headquarters for the visiting soldiers
and sailors, but committees of men
and women should be there to look
after their comfort and to offer them
the proverbial Maryland hospitality.
At the close of his address, the Gov
ernor having previous engagement,
withdrew.
Fredk. II. Johnson Talks.
Senator Duvall introduced Fred
erick r. Johnson, Of the War Coun-
ell of Defense, and member of the
Maryland War Recreation Commits
sion
Mr.. Johnson started off with the re-
mark that 1T means great deal to
have the Mayor and Governor with
you' in any movement, which seems
to be the case in this.
Mr.. Johnson referred to the con-
| dition on the Mexican Border when
the soldiers came home the victims OF
the ravages of disease. The Secre-
tary Of War made an investigation
and appointed commission on
Training Camp Activities to counter
act the cause for former conditions
of the men, and to provide them
wholesome community life; moral en-
tertainment and dSenvironment, and to
do all possible to suppress vice and
eradicate its leading conditions. To
this end it is necessary to establish
and develop sources of recreation for
l the men whose family ties have been
rudely broken, whose church aff1lia-
ton has been suddenly cut off, and
whose home ties are broken. To dc
this, recreation features will be de
veloped at all the cantonments. The
lY. M. c. A. will have four buildings
at Camp Meade. The Knights Of
Columbus, a hall, also the Jewish
Board, all of which will be given
Official standing.
Games, writing material, libraries
moving pictures. victrolas. records
all will be a part of these. and there
will be athletics and skillful physi-
sal instructor All of these things
will contribute to military efficiency
Forces Of evil are apt to follow can
tonments. but there is a 5-mile zone
law to prevent this if possible. Mer
AT these cantonments must have
wholesome recreation when off duty
and the question is What can a com
munity do to help the boy in campg'
The churches have their work 10 DO
-r.1..rl ,.ol~a fhoip services Re-