The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-07-26
The Y. M. g. A. Seeks Recruits

To keep pace with the rapid expansion OF the
nations military establishment, and to satlsfy
demands upon the association for workers in the
French and italian armies, the National war
Work council Of the Y. M. c. A. has undertaken
a comprehensive campaign to fill the RANKS OF
that other army that army without which
the winning of the must be delayed with
consequent increase in loss of life and drain
upon natural resources. The immediate call IS
for 1000 workers, women and men above the
draft age. The Y. M C. A. cannot send to
France any man who Is not more than 81 years
old.
Appeals for volunteers for that other army,
o-caed, intended primarily for that man
who feels that he belongs to the skipped gen
Grafton" the man whose father gave his all more
than half century ago and whose sons now are
fighting the western front. DR.. John R. mott
general secretary Of the National War WORK
council, who recently returned from France,
declares that in all his experience he never has
seen such opportunities for the middle-aged
to render patriotic service are offered by the
work which has been intrusted to the organiza-
ton whose emblem is the Red Triangle.
Some Of the biggest men in the United States
are now working enthusiastically in France at
what they would have considered small jobs
year ago. One Of them. Herbert l. Pratt, vice
president of the Standard Oil company, has
summed up his impressions in these words:
There is job in France too small for the
biggest man in any American community. No
president of a railroad a bank a college,
no lawyer minister, is too big for the job Of
taking care Of our boys overseas.
Others who have been willing to make sacri
fees to go over with a bit of homeland for the
American boys in France are E. Fl. Cluett Of the
Cluett PEABODY company; e. j. copper, VINO mas
resigned his position as vice president OF the
MunsingWear company; President Matheson OF
Georgia School Of Technology, and President
Shanklin of Wesleyan; the Rev DIR. Ernest M.
Stires, rector of St. Thomas's in Fifth avenue,
New York; William H. Danforth, president Of
the Ralston Purina company Of ST. Louis; and
others too numerous to mention.
These men and the more than $500 others
who are in the ~ service in France and Eng
land" said DR.. Mott, must have many, many
companions before this is won. In fact, we
ought to recruit 1900 before July l. and thou
sand month in July and August merely to do
the work that is now presented to US. After
that, no one tell what the needs will be.
We need all kinds Of men. The post exchange
business, which General Pershing has Entrusted
to us, presents opportunities for skilled execu-
tiVeS, transportation experts accountants, clerks
of all kinds, warehousemen and the like In
our motor transport service we need automobile
drivers and mechanics This branch Of the work
should be especially attractive to the man who
owns his and drive it and make minor
repairs. Athletic directors are most important
The relaxation which they provide for war weary
troops has a value which cannot be estimated.
Hundreds Of men who can direct mass play are
needed today in France and Italy.
1T is not fair to ask the workers who are now
bearing the burden to carry the load alone.
Secretaries serving alone at the front are break
ing under the terrific strain. They should be
relieved as soon possible. We must provide
successors for men and women who have done
their bit and must return to America. The ma
jority Of these, I am happy to say look forward
to the time when they can adjust their affairs
and return to the western front.
I'VE here in the United States must settle
down to the belief that this is going to be a
long war Therefore, we must have great
reserve force of workers to be prepared for any
contingency. 1t is not fair it is not Christian
it is not just to ask those who are giving IA
and more hours day to the work Of making our
boys comfortable to continue their work unaided.
We who are too old to fight should deserve to be
called slackers if we fail in this obvious duty.
On this basis the Y. NJ. G. "a is prepared to
wage campaign that will have it's units in every
state, every county and every community in the
United States. These local recruiting commit
tees are going to make it their business to reach
the man who can be spared from the job he is
doing for the biggest job that the war offers to
him who is too old to fight.