The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1919-10-29
TELLS BENEFITS
LOCAL Y. M. c. A.
Citizen Gives Summary of Work and
Tells Why The Organization Should
Have The Support Of All.

Did you know that during the past
twelve months a total of 757 gather
ings of the boys and young men of
the city Of Greenwood and other COM
munities of Leflore county were held
with IN attendance at all gatherings
totalling 45,492? Do you know the
purpose of these gatherings and above
all do you know the results?
No, you didn't know that these
meetings were held, neither did you
know that the attendance was so
large, neither did you know the pur-
pose Of the meetings, o do you know
the results. Further more you do not
know the agency responsible for the
good that has been accomplished in
this county in winning back the young
manhood from loose living.
Any agency that tends to make of
our boys better men is building to-
ward a greater community "a greater
county, a greater state and a greater
nation in the next generation because
the boys of today will carry the bur
dens of citizenship tomorrow.
The agency responsible for the 757
meetings alluded to above and which
offered such an appeal that 1892
young men and boys of their own vo-
lition attended these meetings in pref
erence to idling about pool rooms, etc,
is doing more toward building up an
ideal community than is the fear of
the law, of the sheriff and his Jail,
that is instilled into youngsters from
the day they learn to comprehend the
language of their parents. Why is
this true?
The law, the sheriff and the Jail are
necessary to the welfare of the COM
munity but the work of these agencies
is primarily done through fear of the
punishment to be exercised-punish-
ment that these agencies have the
power to exercise-should one do
wrong. But there is that element of
chance in dealing with the law, the
sheriff and the Jail hat in someway
appeals to growing Americans-the
possibility of doing something and
not being caught, which when accom-
plished only leads to other misdeeds.
On the other hand the agency which
drew 45,492 young men and boys of
Leflore County to attend a total of
757 meetings is not vested with the
power to exercise punishment for
wrong-doing; it has no "big-stick" to
wave and threaten; it has no author
ity to seek out the wrong doer and
to demand decent behavior-it has
none of these but it does have an APP
peal that reaches the boys and makes
them, through social intercourse with
others, want to live clean, be manly
and grow into good citizens. That
agency is the Community Y M. C. A.
If you are a broad minded man,
and most of the Delta people are
broad-minded you should investigate
the work that has been accomplished
locally. If you are a loyal citizen you
should appreciate readily the effect
" CIlC 1uluIe LIS "Olh accomplished
will have. If you are liberal you
should contribute to the support of
the work for the Forthcoming year.
Yes, there is a financial drive on.
through the thirtieth of this month.
The sum wanted is $4,000. 1t is a
small amount compared with the good
that is being done. No one can tell
in a few sentences the work that
is underway. l would not dare at
tempt to do the work justice in an ar
ticle of this kind. But if you are skep-
teal l defy you to ask those who
know of the work-ask those who are
acquainted with task them one at
a time and you will find hat each
will give the work their hearty sup
port, that each will feature some
peals to them and that all branches
of activity in Leflore county are re-
sulting in good.
No man can be brazen enough to
uCiy tidI any oSCISy CIldI CcIlOS IT,
ward a better country in the future
any agency that attracts the young
men and boys of the community away
from the paths SO often frequented
by growing boys, any agency that
makes the boys of the community
pick out the best men of the COM
munity as examples to follow rather
than the daredevil gamblers and
loose-living fire brands that most
boys at a certain age have a banker.
ing to follow, is not worth supporting
I have been a boy myself and
know. My experience is lot unlike
that Of yours. 1t was the general un
~derstanding of the boys growing VI
that they had to do certain things o.
, else they would grow up "sissies" AM
, not men. They prided themselves il
the manner in which they performed
the viceS ~s1nnoSed tO make mon n