New-York tribune., 1918-12-20
Y. NJ. C.. A. Made
No War Profits,
Says DR.. Mott
o,sed SI2.OOO,OOO When
Recent Drive Was Started
for Funds, He Declares
All Charges Are Denied
Chief Executive of Council
Tells of So, 500, 600 Spent
for Movies for Soldiers

Rsnlyinc to adverse criticism of the
NJ c. 4. methods overseas. DR., John
p Mott, chief executive of the ma
tional war work council OF the Y. M.
denied last night that the as
soeiation made profits on sales in can,
.esns In a statement which he said
,.'as the result Of an Investigation by
+he y NJ. c. A. OF its own operations
nv Mott replied in detail to series
- twelve questions which summarize
.hs charges most frequently made.
eMuch of the criticism is utterly un-
,ounded.r Or. Mott said. "but only by
.hallenging such criticism can we give
ths nuhlc clear conception of the
facts in the case
~ denving that the Y. NJ. c. A. over
charges soldiers who buy at its can
teens. Dr.. Mott quoted a telegram from
r. P. Keppei. Third Assistant Secretary
,f War. SAVING that nigh prices were
Sus 20 overhead charges, such as trans
mnrtation and marine insurance.
"The Y. NJ c. A. made no profit, but
Inst thousands of dollars" Mr.. Keppel
+slecraphod arrangements now made
viii enable them to obtain supplies
fron sources that will reduce overhead
charges and keep prices down"
1T is not true that soldiers are COM
rslled to pay heavily for what they re-
reiye from u.s." DR.. Mott said. eve
ak no membership fee for the clubs
ws maintain to give the men places to
rest and read.
Cost of Free Movies
ave spent 81 100000 to give them
free MOVIES Books and magazines fur
nished without charge cost US $4,000
in one month. and between July and
November Of this year we spent $S27,-
900 on athletic goods, of which they
had the free use. No soldier ever paid
TO be entertained or to hear lecture
in naY VI. c. A. hut
Criticism has caused the Y. M. c. A.
10 adopt = general tightening-up pol
icy. Dr. Mott admitted. A commission,
consisting OF George ". Perkins,
chairman OF the finance committee;
Der of the executive council, and f. S.
Brockman has been sent abroad to
clear matters up. Out of the 1000 sec
retaries sent overseas by the Y. M. c.
A. approximately 200 have been re-
called for inability to carry on their
work Dr. Mott said.
The organization was in debt to the
extent Of nearly S12, 900, Dr.. Mott
declared. when the recent drive of
seven war-relef socities took place.
No salary higher than $4,000 year
had been paid 10 any y. NJ. c. A. worker
until a week ago, Dr.. Mott said. Re
Gently we offered $4,000 TO a man who
had been getting that much in his old
position" ne added, "but we finally en-
ployed him at a salary only two-tbirds
as large
Replying to charges that the Y. M. c..
A failed to keep in touch with the
wounded and i'll. DR.. Mott said:
'ln order to prevent any duplication
of effort overseas, an agreement was
reached between the American Red
Cross and the Y. NJ. C. A. This pro-
Tided that the American Red Cross
should concern itself with the care of
the wounded and i'll; the Y. M. c. A
and kindred organizations were to con-
cern themselves with men that were
well Thus, it is perfectly possible
that a wounded or i'll man would see
no Y NJ. c. A. worker from the time
he entered the hospital until he left"
Overseas secretaries did not avoid
service in the front line, according to
Dr. Mott
"since the Y. NJ. C. A. went ovet-
seas he said, "nine Of its workers
have been killed by shell fire while
on duty and twenty-nine were seriously
gassed or wounded. In addition to this,
thirty-one have died in the service
chiefly as result of exposure and
overwork. 1t will be of interest to
add that ten have been cited for BRAY
cry, or decorated
Dr.. Mott denied that ministers OF
e1eligion in the service of the Y NJ. e.
"A overseas refused to attend to the
Amaterial wants of soldiers until these
soldiers had answered questions as to
their spiritual attitude or condition
Never Heard of Such Case
~T personally have never heard Of
such case" he said. Moreover,
have made diligent inquiry of my as
sociates and of others who have in
spected the Y M. C. A work overseas
and they can recall no case of this
kind which has been brought to thell
attention.
Replying to the question whethe,
msn were chosen for Y. NJ. C. A. worl
who were Of draft age and fit for arm,
service. DR. Mott said:
During the first months of the wa
some men who were physically fit bu
mad not vet been called for servic
were sent to France. Within a fey
months most OF these men had volun
nered for military service. The com
paratvely small number who RENAME
as late as August of the present calen
dar year practically all divinity stu
dents, and thereby exempted). were the
notified that they must either enlist o
leave the service of the Y. M. c. Az
IN few cases gift tobacco WAS sol
al \. NJ. c. A canteens overseas, Dl
Mott admitted Some portions of tn
tobacco sent abroad for free distribu
uon we're sold by the Y. NJ. c. A. to tn
quartermaster. he said, because tn
containers were not clearly marked
Later. when soldiers opened the pal
eeis, it was found that they had bee
intended as gifts.
In every case where these were re
lurned to the Y. NJ. c. A." DR.. Mot
n,eciared, cit furnished free an equiv
.ent amount of tobacco from it's ow
Ssuppies. The quartermaster concerne
mas 1ully investigated the matter an
eSonerates the Y. NJ. C. A"