The Sentinel=record., 1918-12-20
HEAD OF Y.M.C.A.
 DEFENDS ORGANIZATION
DENIES THAT THE cANTEENS HAVE BEEN MAKING A PROF
 IT OUT OF SOLDIERS.

New York Dec. 19-Dr John Mott. chairman of the war work council ol the Y. Nj (. A.. discussed in detail here tonight adverse criticisms d. rected against the organization by soldiers here and in France He viz orously defended the work of the or ganizations as a whole but did not deny that in isolated cases there was just grounds for complaint. Dr. Mott said that 200 men and women workers had been recalled from France because of uffitness and an. nounced that there would be a gen. eral frightening up" to correct con ditions which have resulted in Criu- cisms. He stated that George W. Perkins, Mortimer Schiff and F. s. Broclgman have gone abroad for tnc express purpose of eliminating so far as possible any further cause for complaint.
 Dr. Mott then took up in question and in answer from the criticisms most frequently heard He explained that r. NJ. C. A. had not concerned itself specifically with the wounded and ill, because it had been agreed this work would be done by thhe Red Cross He denied the complaint that the assOcoation had been profiting by the operation of it's canteens over seas Canteens have been conduct ed, Dr. Mott said, on a cost basis, but in fixing prices it has been necessary to reckon on such overhead charges as transportation and marine insur- ance with the result that prices were much higher than in this counIry. Not only has the organization made nc profit, he declared that it has lost thousands of dollars. Arrangements HOW have been mado, however, which will enaCie it to obtain supplies from sources that will reduce overhead charges and keep prices down.
 Dr. Mott also asserted that it was not true that the r. NJ. c. A. furnishes free to the men overseas nothing but writing paper, although he said 1t was the policy of the organization to rive free service and not primarily free supples. He added however that $75,000 worth of supplies were distributed gratis in September Of this year in addition to S150000 "ex- cess of cost over selling prices on sup plies sold," besides giving away vast quantities of supplies in front line works, he added, the Y. M C. A. sup oiled the army overseas between July and November with $29000 worth ot athletic supplies and not to mention "hundfds of thousands of dollars worth Of magazines and educational supplies
 Dr. Mott admitted that in cases Of gift tobacco was sold at r. M. C. A. canteens but said 1t was due to the fact that shipments were not prop erly marked and were sold to the r. NJ. C. A. by the quartermasters. In every case where this tobacco was returned the Y. M (. A. gave the purchaser the equivalent from is own supplies.
 Denial was made bv Dr. Mott that "a holier than thou attitude was typi- cal of Y .M C. A. work. lie said also that if overseas secretaries were brusque in their dealings with sold iers, it undoubtedly was due to the fact that many of them were on duty for IS hours at a stretch, sometimes without meals.
 Dr Mott did not deny the charss that the Y. NJ C. A has taken scores of men from gainful occupations anu after promising overseas service turned them back without occupation. He said. however, that the govern ment of the United States and other civilian organizations had done the same thing.