El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-20
WITH LOCAL Y
OVER 10 YEARS
Secretary H. B. Durkee, Co.
ing Abroad in War Work,
Tells of Work Here.

"At the board meeting OF the Y. "
c a held at Hotel Sheldon Monday
noon. my resignation was read. and
a years leave Of absence was granted
me- said Howard B. Durkee, sec
rotary here many years. 4 am
under orders voluntarily taken for
overseas work. and will leave Mon
day for the east Mrs Durkee viii
accompany me TO New York, with the
hope that her former business educa-
ton may be used overseas I am now
studying French, though snail not
know my destination or position until
I have reported across the ocean.
People have as-ed me why
younger men, with less roots here
in the life OF the community have
not been taken. The answer is that
there is a fine set Of men over there
already, college graduates and pro
fessors, physicians. chautauqua men,
all ready and willing to do all they
can, but they are not trained in or
ganiation- Trained men are being
taken from the Y service here who
have had yeors OF work in the or
ganization- Trained men are being
stabilize the overseas organization
ShipP Picks HIN Thrice.
C w.ckir shrdlu shrdl hrdl hrd1 hire
Il shall haev been in Fl PasO just
ten years and five months when /
leave. a rather amusing coincidence
is this. Fred 3. Shipp first placed me
in the " at St Louis. No, in 1903
Just seven years later ne was the
skilled advisor Of the FL Paso board.
and he placed me in the general sec
retaryship here Now, just seven
years later, 1 report to him again.
Charles G. Titus, my predecessor here,
the man who directed the campaign
TO raise the money for the FL PasO
building. and who planned the build
ing. went overseas just q fortnight
ago
Fine Spirit OF brotherhood.
Nv hen I first came here the build
ing was one story high. and I was
concerned with raising the funds for
its erection. was concerned with
directing the religious and educa-
tional work until 1910 This associa-
ton has been notable for the stability
OF its employed staff. changes being
less frequent than among many as
sociat.Ons because Of the fine spirit
Of brotherhood which prevails among
the employed men. As a result we
have been able to assemble at this
time the choicest group OF employed
men that this association has ever
had and their high competency show s
in the stable. consistent work to be
AtAAAA AA ever uENaA AlALEA4L OF LIle As
ISOLATION today Fl PasO is one Of
the few associations in the southwest
which could lend its general secretary
to the war work fund for a year
" ithout rocking the boat.
Many NatiOnalities Enrolled.
Another Of the outstanding fea-
lures Of this association is the fine
between the directors and
the employed men The almost total
lack OF friction or OF the spirit Of
domination from any quarter has
made II a delight to serve here. FL
Paso is noted fer and wide for its
splendid Split OF democracy and its
open door. Here on the border there
Is an abundant opportunity for a very
different spirit unless sincere ktndli-
1eSs IS felt for the foreign born and
those with foreign ways. It has been
a great satisfaction to see this FL
POso spirit prevail in the Y ". c
4 On repeated occasions a poll OF
the membership has shown from L
TO is ntionalities. Generous repre-
sentauon from the great republic TO 1
lur south has frequently puzzled Z
visitors who had not yet come 10 IN I
ierstand the hearty democracy OF
Dur community. While now our Mex 7
can hranch claims the great bulk 4
)f our Mexican membership. the city 1
association keeDs a fine body OF Mex |
can born on its rolls
Speaks Of Future Building.
The future OF this association will /
prove a challenge TO call all its /
friends. The vacant lot to the south I
Il the present building is held await I
nc the right time for the immense !
expansion that our ranidly growing ,
,ity demands Among the interests Of F,
he ssOciatiOn program OF activities b
which are clamoring for more elbow I
-oom is the bows work, which easily .
stands first. Just at this time the I
special quarters OF their own in our
building, and by all means should
rave them. The employed bow group .
our city IS rapidly increasing. and /
s most appealing 70 any thoughtful
observer Of present conditions. In
'tead Of their present meager room .
hey should have generous quarters
md attention.
Should Rulld For MexieanE.
Put Of all the developments OF the
Il PasO association, none hold a
arFe- promise than the branch I
established for Mexican young men
Provision for II thus IA has been
10 limited as 20 allow Il TO make no ]
-reat showing, but for the op1ortun'-
les th@t II has, no project of the as
location has ever made a finer show
ng- A fine building for the Mexican
work is one Of the projects which
must be develoned in the near future
These are all my projects. nursed
With care and love-how 7 hate 20
cave them. Yet there is a bigger call
Ehlch for year. two years. or as
ong as the war lasts 1 must answer
Concluded Mr.. Durkee.