Bisbee daily review., 1918-07-07

Henry Ford, who has been deeply interested in a variety of war WOfk, contributing large sums of money to the different campaigns. recently un- dertOOk to follow up a contribution of S50.0O0 he made Co the Y. M C. IA, with an investigation by his own per scnal staff to see how the money was spent The investigators went to the thirty-twO cantOnments in the United States, mingled with the men and care fully watched the r M C A. activity and then retmned detailed report to Mr Ford.
 The r. M. C. A. has just issued a statement in which extracts from the Ford reports were presented. with the conclusion that the investigators found an active, social, recTeatiOnal, educational, and religious program un- der way all for the benefit Of the sol diers in each Of the camps The re- port made to Mir Ford states that 'in every military centre the funds con tributed to the Y. M. C. A. war fund are being efficiently administered
 The principal objective of the Y. M. C. A." the investigators report continues. "is the morale of our men dealing with them during their leisure time in camps. furnishing wholesome and constructive recreation. entertain ment, and educational features. That | they are successfully accomplishing this is brought out by the feeling of the men toward the Y. M. C. A. and the fact that they avail themselves of these privileges and features habitu- ally They are unquestiOnably doing wonderful work. and the soldier in camp today would be lost without them
 "There seems to be no eXtravagant expenditures of money on the build ! ings. The privileges are open to all enlisted men at all hours of the day i No evidence of discrimination was to be found The impression gathered | from observations and conversations with a large number of the soldiers is | that the r. M C. A. organization well merits hearty cooperation and support. During the intervals of training on | the fields boys are taken in charge by one of the Y. M. c. A. physical GiTec- | tors, who puts them thrOugh a course of stunts, such as handball or indoor | baseball This has been brought about in this camp through the efforts Of the military men to keep the boys from participating in blackjack or shaking dice Athletics are promoted by the | Y M. C. A. under the supervision oi the Division Athletic Director. who is an army appointee. The organization of the Y NJ C. A for this work. how ever. is so complete that the army ath letic director relies almost exclusively upon it for the conduct of these activi ties. and exercises merely provisional authority.
 The report says that the religious work Of the Y. M. c. A. "is sincere and earnest, and is not being thrust down their thrOats"
 A unique figure in the religious act
 ivities is Fighting Parson' Wedge, al | Camp Grant, who, in pugilistic eos
 tune fights three spirited boxing bouts
 with the amateurs and one profession al, and then Tetires to private room and hOdls a Bible class
 Both the administrative staff and the staffs of each building are com. posed Of men of a high order of intel ligence and temperamental qualifica | tiOns for this work. We were especial | ly impressed at practically all camps visited with the type and character oi these men. There is every evidence that they are being Selected with an unusual degree of disCrimin5tive care. They show love for and a loyalty to their work that far transcends the us- ual mental attitude Of employees. Most of them are devoting their entire time to this work at a sacrifice. and are be- ing paid little more than Q living ex- pense.
 "The Y. NJ. c. A. is performing an in