New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-09

have shown how absolutely untrue is
such charge Only the other day it
was pointed out that ten Y. NJ C. A..
workers in France were killed By shell
tire or gas, at least forty others were
gassed or wounded, thirty-nine more
died as result of wounds or accidents
or as result of disease occasioned by
exposure or overwork in front line
service, and that many had been cited
or decorated for special bravery in
their work in most dangerous posi-
tlons.
Women in Danger Zone
During the fighting in the Argonne
700 Y. NJ C. A. workers, fifty of whom
were women canteen workers, were at
tached to the different fighting units,
with which they remained in the dan
ger zone, and frequently under shell
lire. They were also in large numbers,
over 200, helping the men under SINH
lar conditions in the Chateau Thierry
and st. Mihiel drives.
"The attitude of the Y NJ C. A.
with reference to criticisms is to well
come all honest and constructive criti-
clsms, no matter from what quarter
We judge of the honesty of critics in
two ways: First, is the person who
makes the criticism ready to give us
the name. date and place? He should
at least be willing to do so in strict
confidence. | need not add that we
carefully guard any such confidence,
but 1T is impossible to deal adequately
with criticisms unless the critic is
willing to be thus definite. If he is
unwilling to afford you a handle of
which you can take hold. is it unfair to
assume that there is something Ill
terror or unfair behind his criticism?
"The second way by which we judge
the honesty of a critic is his attitude
and action after he has shared with
clsm is based. If, after he has given
you the definite facts and his best per-
sonal advice and you have assured him
that you will give the matter prompt
and thorough attention, he goes behind
your back and continues to knock and
to spread distrust, you can make up
your mind that he is not playing the
game and that there is something sim
lister back of it all.
Request to Critics
"Our request of all sincere critics.
and by that I mean all those who really
desire. to have the grounds of criticism
!, removed for the good of the service
on behalf Of the men in the army and
! definite. Secondly, be constructive.
No critic should be content with deal
ing simply in negatives. If he is a
true patriot he surely desires to have
every American institution become
stronger and more efficient. Thirdly,
play the game; that is, when assur-
: ance has been given that the complaint
viii be investigated and that it will be
dealt with conscientiously, give the
,, organization the benefit of the doubt.
! Fourthly, let him tell all of the good
things he knows about the association.
I'VE do not expect to escape crt-
cism. One day our chief secretary in
!. France went to General Pershing. when
there were number of criticisms be-
cause we were not getting supplies
overseas fast enough and were not
4 getting them up to the front as quickly
:, as desired, for the simple reason that
the government itself could not give
US the necessary tonnage owing to mill
tary necessities and that they had been
obliged to take over a number of our
motor trucks for pressing military
\ needs and said to the general: I'VE
Y are having many criticisms, General.
The Y M. c. A. is not in this to
avoid criticism, is it? but to render
as much service as possible to the men
under the limitations under which we
are all working in this war;, Pershing
replied.
the whole business in nutshell
! 1t would be difficult, fancy impossible
to mention an organization or to name
n department of our own government
or of any other government which has
not during the war and during the
postwar period had it's shortcomings
weaknesses and grounds for complaint
I'm the long run, no organization and
no individual will suffer from criticism
provided it has the right attitude
toward criticism, and that attitude,
need not point out again, Is to welcome
all honest, constructive criticism and
to deal as promptly and thoroughly as
possible with it at its sources. Lincoln
was criticised right up to the time OF
his death. At one time a friend came
to him and said that Stanton, one OF
the strongest members of his Cabinet
had spoken about him as that stupid
old fool When the friend reported
this to Lincoln, he replied: Stan.
ton is level headed man. There must
be something in his charge. I will
speak to him about it, Jesus Christ
was criticised all through His public
I ministry. You will remember how His
good was evil spoken of and how His
enemies traced the greatest things He
wrought to an evil spirit. May we
like Him, meet such charges with
humility, unselfshness and courage
Then we can be trusted with larger
things.
"If men lose their desire to prof
by experience and to improve; if the,
lose their confidence in the truth ant
its ability to prevail, no matter wha
may be done to cloud the issues: i
they lose their genuine optimism, ther
they suffer; but if. on the other hand
they meet their criticisms with ope,
and responsive minds and deal will
them positively, constructively an,
hopefully, they ana the cause the,
represent will come forth stronger an,
y more serviceable than ever"