Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-12-04
NJ. T. Kennedu
Asks Support
For "Y" Work
Former North Dakota Man, Just Re.
turned From Calcutta, Speaks at
MONDAY Luncheon on Economic
And Moral Conditions in India.

Before a meeting of Grand Forks
business men this noon, MT. Ken
needy. who has just returned from ac-
tive Y. M. G. A.. work in Calcutta,
India, made an appeal for the support
of the men of this city and state in
the efforts of the organization in the
Orient.
Following a luncheon at the Fred
erick. hotel, Mr.. Kennedy presented
the purpose of his mission in this
country. He briefly described the
of the Czecho-Slavs, and in Greece,
and then went directly to the heart
Of his subject, bearing on the eco
nomic situation in India relative to
the work of the association in that
land.
The great problem in India today"
Mr.. Kennedy said. facing any man or
organization which endeavors to raise
the moral tone of the country. lies in
the economic. situation which now
exists among the masses in the rural
districts"
Mr.. Kennedy emphasized the fact
that the three hundred million people
In India. for the past number Of
years had been under the spell Of the
British democratic principles, and
that in time the result of this influ-
ence would begin to assert itself in
demands for self-government. The
present economic conditions of the
rural people, who form by far the ma
jority Of the Indian population, were
prohibitive to any effort on the part
of the people to gain their rights.
The people are in debt and are unable
to help themselves. the speaker said.
with the result that the moral condi-
ton of the rural class is deplorable.
People May Borrow Funds.
= The British government has al
ready established a bureau in India
from which the farming people may
borrow money. AS a rule. Mr.. Ken
needy said. the people are in complete
ignorance Of this institution. or the
way to make use Of it: If they are not
too DISCOURAGED to take any interest
in such a bureau.
The work of@the Y. NJ. c. A. among
these people has been to organize a
cooperative credit system, and agents
have been sent.by the organization to
study the lives of the people and Sc
cure their confidence. BY teaching
the people the value of such a credit
system and explaining its relation to
their economic welfare the Y. NJ. c.
A. has done a great work in improv-
ing the economic and. subsequently,
tIlC AO SoAiNASAOAA t"S PSoPH&'
Coming directly from the field Of
such activities. Mr.. Kennedy is fair
~ afame with enthusiasm for the
work, and urged upon his audience
the opportunity which the develop
ment of the Oriental civilization
offered to the business people in this
country. He urged the support of
business men in this city as we'll as in
the state. in the undertaking of the
organization, and suggested that in
another year financial support would
be needed from the people Of North
Dakota.
+. In speaking of a definite allotment
for the state. Mr.. Kennedy said that
no such arrangement had yet been
established, and that heretofore this
branch Of the Y. NJ. c. A.. work had
depended on the larger business GER
tiers for support. He said that in the
future, no doubt a great part Of the
support could be gained from districts
like the farming state of North Dako-
Ia.