El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-06-29
KEEP boys Tit
To GOVERN j. s.
This Is George Perkins,
Argument; Pauses Here
on Way to Conference.

govern America" declared George W.
Perkins, former chairman Of the ma
tionaI Republican committee, now in
terested in y. " c. A. work who
passed through e Paso Friday after
noon Just as the veterans Of the
Civil war have ruled America In the
past so years so will these boys
rule US during the next 50 years The
big work Of the Y. ". c. A is TO see
that they are kept fit to govern, wise
~ and well"
Mr.. Perkins and his party, en- route
TO san Antonio to attend Y. ~ c. A
conference Of the southern depart
ment there. arrived in El Paso on the
Sunset limited Friday afternoon at
2;45 o'clock. and spent the 15-minute
wait in the union station In the
rarity were DR.. John r. Mott, one OF
the heads Of T. N. c. A activities and
former member Of the Root mission
to Russia; Bruce Barton, publicity
manager. and George Martin, formerly
Of the Washington bureau OF the
United Press. James G. McNary, OF
Fl PasO, Joined the party here.
No Time for Politics.
Asked his views concerning the pO-
litical outlook for the next presi-
Dental campaign, Mr.. Perkins said:
Il do not believe that this is a time
for politics or political talk. The job
Re have on our hands is great enough
TO take all our attention without di-
verting any Of it to politics.
Must Safeguard Youthful Soldiers.
But I'm willing to talk about the
Y n c. A One OF the biggest de-
partments OF our big job is the work
which the Y. H. Q. A. has laid out
for itself in this war. We must fol-
low the youth in his early twentiesi
right off the farm where he has prob
ably been all his life. into the great
HHsnH -
he meets with young fellows Of his
own age from all over the country.
and across the seas 10 France Most
Of the boys are right in the most i'm
pressiOnable part OF their lives the
experiences they rass through now,
the things they see, the things they
hear, and the people they know, VIII
have a tremendous influence over
their future careers.
Takes Care OF Them Wen.
The I. ". C. A must be with these
boys IN the training camps over here,
and in the trenches over there. They
are doing that Right in the fight
ing lines in Europe may be found the
Y II. c. A hut with its reading and
writing facilities. The Red Cross
takes care Of the sick. but the work
OF the Y NJ c. A. among the well
and hearty is no less important. and
deals with a IA, greater number.
Keep Boys for Future.
1--WE must keep our hold on these
boys OF ours across the sea. and fit
the in spite Of the war, to take
the places which they inevitably viii
take as the nations leaders when
they return We must keep them in
touch with home, keep them in touch
with the affairs OF their country. and
keep the home fires burning When
they come back they viii have talked
to men Of all lands, they viii be
broader. and better for It, but in the
meantime their qualities Of sterling
manhood must be maintained.
That is why 1 say that the Work
Of the Y. " c. A. in the army now,
is aimed just as much at the security
and prosperity Of our country In
future years. as II is for the com
fort and diversion Of our boys at
present"
ssFs Hut Soldiers Home.H
IF the average man who gives
dollar to the Y. N. c. A. could follow
his dollar clear through, he would be
amazed at the variety Of things
which it accomplishes for the boys
over there The ~ hut Is the sol
dier's home. often in those little
French villages where our men are
billeted in barns, sheds and outhOusess
the hut is the only place where a SOL
der can be dry and warm It Is the
only place where he can write a let
ter. And millions OF letters come
back from France every week on ~
letter heads.
''The hut Is the soldiers church
Catholic priests, Jewish rabbis and
protestant chaplains gather their con-
greEations in Il one after another
Religious differences count for little
in the face Of the grim realities OF
the battlefront
The hut is the soldiers theater-l
the leading actors and actresses,
headed by Winthrop Ames, E H
Sothern and George n Conan have
volunteered their services on the hut
circuit It's the greatest motion pic
ture theater in the world. The film
which the "T' exhibits every week
would reach from New York to Chi
cage.
and the hut IS the soldiers library, I
his lecture han. his university and
his club. All the elements that are
best in American life gather inside
the walls under the sign Of the Red 4
No other agency could have
done what the 'Y" has done, and i
feel that the leading business men. Of
all sections Of the country are ap-
preciating that fact, and welcoming Z
the chance 20 win the war through I
strengthening the arm OF the
Increases Efficiency 10 Per Cent.
In a letter received this week from ]
his headquarters, Gen. J. J. Pershing
estimates that the work OF the
7. n. c. A. in France adds 10 per cent [
10 the fighting efficiency Of the I
American troops on the western front. /
This fact was made known by Dr. ]
Mott. general secretary Of the Y n /
2. A
The letter grew out Of a report OF
one Of Gen Pershing's subOrdinates ]
who had had the work Of the "Y'' IN
der observation for some months" |
said DR.. Mott. "In reporting his OBJ I
5ervations to Gen. Pershing he said: I
Give me my choice between 500 /
men who have the "Y" and thou
sand men without it. and I viii take I
he 500 and the "Y" They will be /
! more effective fighting force
an directing that the report De /
TO u.s." said DR.. Mott /
Cen Pershing added that it represent
headquarters
we shall need more money in the /
ALL said DR.. Mott Lots Of IL Well /
over a hundred million dollars. But /
svery dollar means an acauu increase Z
10 the fighting effectiveness Of our /
PIE are for the kind OF effectiveness I
hat means happier soldiers, better l
lighters and a quicker victory.
Needs Men Also.
The "Y" needs men as we'll as /
money, according to DR.. Mott In fact I
the need for men is quite as import
int at this time as any other.
The "Y' service is the greatest op-
Dortunity for the middle aged man."
be said, "the man who feels that he
belongs to the skipped generation
5is father fought in the Civil war,
md his son fights IN this; but he him
lef feels he was born out Of time
IL