The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-02
John -. RbckereHer, Jr., on Army
ana Nayy Welfare Work.

and NAVY w Netfare Nork.
Chairman of the joint commit
Tee 81 6sreater New York, charged
NTH the fesponsib ility of raising New
York quota Of the LIZ, coo. 00e
which these organizations are goins
out il early November to secure, it
may not be inappropriate for me TO
mentien some of the activities and
services which they are rendering in
helping to win the war. This am
tie better able TO do since have
visited many OF the cantonments and
army and navy training stations. have
nvad for al-prief period in a number
I of them and have seen most Of these
s6rganizat.l Ions at work at close range
me- say at the outset that gen.
afa1 spSak5ng have found the per-
sonnet OF the organizations, in 50 far
as ssSe had opportunity for obser5
vahon; possessed OF finest spirit and
ready TO do literally anything, direct
" or indirectly, to help the boys La
uniform.
One man; the leading citizen Of a
large city IN New York State. we1l-to-
do successful, highly regarded at
sRSShe feund cleaning rhe washroon
as fhes T beadquart.ss;s one
nj n7aEn as thougs that had always
Eesns IS paf OF his daily duty. The
niERE bsfSag I aadsssen hirngo out in
a$3saaaang aint 70 help extrlcate an
attcnobNa true from the miry road;
AnSshsr hose only son was at the
froa had Sold MS business and his
hone and taken up work in one OF
the camps. MS wife boarding in a
nearly city. IN explanation he said
fhaThe vas too old TO go to the front
and this seemed 30 be the way IN
whseh he could keep nearest to his
son and best do his part in helping
+ To swin ma the war a third was a. sue
cesfuI lumber merchant who hao
abandoned his business and thrown
: himself into camp work. In another
cantonnent Il found a former mecha-
uicaah driving an automobile as a hui
secretary and performing counties:
friendly services for the soldiers II
carnp. Another worker was busl'
ness man OF high standing, presfden'
OF the Chamber of Commerce IN III:
home city; another banker. Man.
are ministers, professional men, arte
educators. Almost every walk in LIE
lis represented.
IN a hostess house one day l saV
8 among those in charge mothers!
woman with iron gray hair ard win
ssiIig smile, wearing a service PIN VIII
three stars. Her three boys were a
he sfeorst. It is easy to understand
how such woman would quickly vii
f.erswax into the confidence and at
feeEion OF the boys and be readily &C
cepfed as a substitute mother by
large number of. soldiers who yis1tes
her house daily. Many women !,
hostess houses and capteens are from
g prominent families in nearby town
9 ana cities. Many are less well known
All are doing their part.
Some Of the workers have bee'
trained tn social work and are par
scuIarly valuable; others with higl
y,uruose and native ability, althougl
uatfasned, quickly learn to fill tn
positions in which they are placee
NaturaNy there are some less compe
tenf. some who are misfits. AS
rn,ea these are quickly discovered an
advised TO try other fields of service
49, think it can be said with conf
denee that the boys of our America
= homes who have responded to tn
eaMs Of the colors are in daily asso
cation in the hostess houses, tn
huas. the library buildings, and othe
social centers with some Of the. be:
men and women this country has pre-
anead. These boys are having cor
facts which under normal condition
fhey. might never have had good fo'
tune fe enjoy, with people who az
making their comfort. their well-be
IND their physical and moral welfar
S tfaa supreme business of their live
FROM service to Our Soldiers an
Sailors By John D. Rockefelle
~ ii Hle American Rev.ew OF RI
views for october.