The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-03-22
EXECUTIVES SAY
~ IS NECESSARY
IN BOYS LIFE
Officials on Eve of Budget
Drive, Outline Means of
Spending Money.

Spending Money.
An explanation Of the manner in
which the money to be subscribed to
the Y. M. c. A. budget during cam
paign Tuesday, Wednesday and Thurs
day of next week, was given out this
morning by officials of the organiza-
ton in the form of a formal state
ment. The statement was signed by
Adam H. Bartel, John H. Johnson AMI
Richard Sedgwick, of the executive
committee.
1t is set forth that the Y. M. C. A. is
strictly a public institution. support.
ed by the public to give the boy and
the young man what the public owes
him. 1t calls attention to the fact
that the membership fees are not suf-
ficient to maintain the organization
and that consequently, the public must
assist financially. Some questions
asked by dubious public are an
swered in the statement, the text of
which follows:
those not informed as to why the
Y. M. c. A. must each year secure
subscriptions for it's budget of ex-
penses when it is charging member
ship fees and receives rental for dor
mitories and operates a restaurant
and also makes charge for some of
it's games. Why is it not self support
ing? To perform the service rendered
requires specially trained leaders, and
large amount of very expensive
equipment. We think any one would
be fair to say that the fee of $5
year would not provide for the boy all
he receives in benefits, such as expert
teacher in all athletics, the swimming
pool, games, magazines, books, baths
and hundreds of little personal SER
vices.
Fee Is Not Sufficient
''The Senior membership at $40
year would not possibly provide all
that is required at the hands of such
institution. The selfish will say
why don't you charge more dues and
make those pay for the services who
are getting the benefits. Well, let us
see. What is the city of Richmond?
Just people, that's all. 1t depends on
what kind of people it's citizens are
as to what kind of a city it is. Shut
up the Y. M. C. A. and the churches
and take out the people who support
them with time and money and ho"
long do you suppose the town would
be here. Not a sane man would in
vest dollar in town property. People
would shun it as a place of residence
as they would shun pest house.
The Y. M. c. AS Functions.
"The church has its functions, so
have the schools, and it is the busi-
ness of the Y. M. A. A. to relate young
manhood to these institutions and pro-
vide wholesome training for the boy
and young man during the many hours
he is outside of the church and school.
The boy must play if his body is to
be developed. This play should be
so directed that it will develop his
body, mind and morals. The Y. M.
c. A. provides tactful, trained leaders
to direct him in his play SO that it
will develop him into the proper kind
Of citizen. 1t Is just as important to
look after the welfare of the boy from
the humble home as from the better
homes for from these boys must be
made the future citizenship of the
CITY, 1t is to this special task that
the Y. M. G. A. is dedicated Every
good citizen who has the welfare of
his city and his home at heart, is
interested in developing every boy in
the city to become good citizens. We
call your attention to the advertise
ment elsewhere in this paper for the
manifold activities of the Y.
Fee Within His Reach.
"This being the character of the
service performed by the association,
it could not possibly succeed if 1t
charged membership fees sufficiently
large to cover the cost. Boys and
young men who need this service the
most could not pay it. A small fee
is charged within his reach, and this
gives him a claim and right to the
service, and he is not put in the atti-
tude of recipient of charity. 1t Is in
no sense a charitable institution, it Is
strictly a public institution, supported
by the public to give to the boy and
the young man what the public owes
to him, an opportunity to develop him
self physically, mentally and spiritual
ly, so that he may become a fit citizen
'Those who are able to assist and
refuse to do SO for selfish reasons
are in the same class with the man
who refused to contribute to the war
funds because he had no sons in the
war.
(Signed)
"ADAM H. BARTEL,
JOHNSON H. JOHNSON,
RICHARD SEDGWICK."
A meeting of the leaders of the Y.
NJ. c. A. budget campaign to divide the
territory between the four divisions
will be held Monday morning at 8
o'clock, and announced Monday even
ing at the supper when all the solicit
ors will meet to make plans for the
campaign. The supper will he at Is
o'clock Monday evening.