The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-11-09
SOCIETIES HELP IN WORK
Purpose Is to Convince Citizens in
Communities Adjacent to Camps Of
the Good That Can Be Done by Sup
plying the Proper Environment for
Boys in Camp.


the war and navy department COM
missions on training camp activities.
The report was made by Victor r.
Manning, one of the field secretaries
Of the Playground and Recreation AS
ISOLATION of America, through whose
experienced workers in the field pro-
vision is being made for furnishing
leisure time recreation of all sorts for
the men in uniform at the eighty or
more camps throughout the country.
'aThree dollars for each soldier and
sailor"-a total of $3,750,OO0 is to be
raised for this purpose. A national
committee on which number of prom
lnent men and women are serving has
been named by Secretary Baker to con-
duct the campaign for the war camp
community recreation fund. To bring
camp and community into happy,
healthy contact is the purpose Of this
fund.
Mr. Manning In his report to Mr..
Fosdick shows the relation of the war
camp community recreation fund to
the work which is being done inside
the camps by the Young Mems Chris
tian association, the Knights Of Colum-
bus, the Young Mems Hebrew associa-
lion and other agencies, and in the ex-
elusion Of vice and vicious resorts
from the neighborhood Of each camp.
he shows also how the Playground
snd Recreation Association of Amer
lea, through work done by its repre-
sentatives already has demonstrated
the great value-indeed, the impera-
i've need-of building up all sorts OF
proper recreation and amusement for
establishing camps and communities
IN the best basis.
Objects Much the Same.
"The community organization work"
saRs the report, (which is that of in
teepretfng the adjacent community to
the boys In camp and Of interpreting
Kthe life Of the soldier to the citizens, is
be done by the Playground and Rec
,eation Association of America through
It's workers experienced in this field.
What this service means is explained
% the following statement by one OF
these community organizers, Ira w.
JAYNE of Detroit, as follows:
"The object in each community is
much the same-to convince the citi-
zena that this boy in uniform is still
human being; that he has been up
rooted suddenly from his native soil,
stripped of every social prop and safe
yuard-his family ties, his friends. his
church, his neighborhood, his fraternal
groups, his business connections and
the influence Of women of his kind, and
30 suddenly transplanted without their
gates; that they should become inter-
ested in him as an individual, as per-
eson, helping him to re-establish those
social connections with this community
upon which he was accustomed to de-
pend at home; that he should be nei-
ther patronized nor exploited; that he
was a civilian yesterday, as they still
are. and that he will, let US hope, re-
! turn to his home civilian
AS to the manner In which the work
will be organized, Mr.. Manning reports
that in each city, near camp, social
and recreational forces will be brought
together in one committee-representa-
ives of churches, clubs, lodges, schools,
recreation centers, parks, moving pic
ture agencies, women's agencies-ln
fact, every force for good in the COM
munity that can be used in working
for the highest welfare Of the enlisted
men. A census to be taken will show
the mems church preference, trade or
profession, Of what societies they are
D members, what their special interests
In dramatic, athletics, music or other
auusements or recreatioEs may be,
and what other special interests they
have.
AS to the need Of providing proper
surroundings for the men in camp, Sec
retary of War Baker is quoted as fol-
Alows: "Our responsibility in this mat
ter is not open to question. We cannot
Tow these young men, most Of whom
bilI have been drafted to service, to be
l,rrounded by a vicious and demoraliz-
P;ne environment, nor can we leave any
thing undone which will protect them
from unhealthy influences and crude
forms Of temptation. Not only have
we an inescapable responsibility in this
to the families and communi'
n ties from which these young men are
selected, but from the standpoint OF
onr duty and our determination, to ere
ore an efficient army we are bound, as
a military necessity, to do everything
IN our power to promote the health
ond conserve the vitality Of the men
IN the training camps"
Work of Two Broad Types.
Mr.. Manning's report explains thai
the community work is of two broad
I+vnes. that Of large cities and that OF
4 ismall communities. he says that zone
"A sf the great problems is how to pro