The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-01-26
REPORT ON WORK
interorganization Committee
Works Out Details.
MANY CONCESSIONS ARE OPEN
DIR. Kennedy Helps With the
5 Athletic Affairs.
Y. w. and Y. NJ. C. A. Are Play
ing q Big Part.

ing-a Big Part.
| Camp Funston. Kan. Jan. ga
central organization of all camp and
environs activities has been effected at
Camp Funston to harmonic efforts of
the separate activities in making the
camp and adjacent cities places of
clean and wholesome entertainment,
amusement and recreation
The interorganization committee is
composed of the heads of each de-
including the Y M C. A. singing
school, athletics, Knights of Columbus,
Jewish work, library amusement zone,
| military police, Y. w. c. A. and heads
of local committees from Manhattan
and Junction City. cities nearest the
camp.
O. B. Towne, representing the war
department commission on training
camp activities, outlined the manner
in which the organization should CO.
Get Report From All.
Each activity was asked to report
work accomplished to date. upon
which Mr.. Towne makes his report to
the commission.
The Y. NJ. C. A. report showed
| work in Camp Funston is far ahead of
that Of any other cantonment. Four
teen buildings have been erected four
under construction, as compared with
ten in the next large cantoument.
More than one hundred programs are
rendered each week, including moving
picture shows two nights. an educa-
tional lecture, French classes, light
entertainment, religious services. Some
OF the educational lectures are expIa-
nations of motives behind the war To
them is accredited much of the en-
thusiastic willingness to fight to the
n. a
and more.
The Y. M. C. A. assists materially in
the athletics employing DR.. A r.
kennedy, former K u and Wash
nurn coach to assist the division ath-
letic. director. Between thirty and
th1rty-five thousand letters are mailed
IN their buildings each day. More than
12 million dollars in money orders to
send home have been Sold
Teach Negroes to Write
The report showed work in the ne
gro division in teaching the more
| ignorant negroes to write. The report
was circulated every man must be able
to sign his own name to obtain his
monthly pay. A rush for pens and ink
followed. Then the negro wanted to
show folks at home he could write
The Y NJ. c. A. helped him learn to
spell and write a letter.
| The singing instructors showed the
| ideas Of Major General Wood to teach
each man to sing a means of hold
| ing up his spirits In time of stress, are
being carried forward with success
| Men have been taught to sing on the
march, by regiments with band ac-
compartments. and plans are being
| made to gather the division on the pa
rade grounds for an enormous chorus
before they entrain for the point of
| embarkation. Directors admit the i'm
possibility Sof gathering for a singing
| me of xxyif1 ,nr al ri
| way, Hello France" for it is the SOL
diers' favorite. >
| The Athletic Report.
l. The athletic report dwelt largely on
the lack of proper equipment and ia
| cilities for indoor work. but showed
good progress even under the handi-
cap. Athletics as a means of giving
men confidence and poise in personal
contact with the enemy was set out.
The report of the library workers
showed twenty thousand books on
| hand, and current magazines without
! end. Every call for magazines has
! been supplied. Magazines have been
sent SO freely by home folk there is
not an issue of any publication not
received here within ten days of its
/ date.
The value of cooperation was
shown il the library report. A league
was formed with the Y M C. A
authorities to give comfort to soldiers
confined in hospitals. A plan of al
ternating men and combining to save
time made it possible for them to
send men to the hospitar each day,
distributing magazines and books to
the sick and personally visiting each
| man at least twice a week. The. e
| visitors read to him a portion of the
time and write letters home
Authorities representing the amuse-
ment zone make their report complete
aud explicit to those acquainted with
the history of the camp by one. SEN
| tence. The desires of General Wood
| to make Camp Funston distinctive as
| the Only camp with complete amuse-
ment zone are about to be fulfilled
Many Concessions Open.
The zone is nearing completion, ap-
proximately one-third of the conces-
! sions being open for business. In
! cluded in what the zone will be are
| two shows, a vaudeville and a stock
! company, pool hall, two restaurants.
an arcade with fifty booths for every
! form of little store Imaginable, four
clothing stores, a shooting gallery,
bank and number of concessions for
lunches and amusements- Conces-
! sions are sold and the proceeds go to
the division exchange fund. expected