The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-01-13
Y. N. c. A. WORK
DIR. Mott Refutes the Story that the
Organization is Unpopular
With Our Soldiers


New York, Jan. 13.-The Y. NJ. C..
A. has no fund of $10O,000,OO un-
spent and is today operating on bor-
rowed money, declared John r. Mott,
chief executive of the Y M. G. A. Ma
tional War Work Council, replying to
the dispatch of Edwin l.. James, pub
lished in the New York Times, which
gave the reasons why the Y. M. G. A.
was unpopular with the American
soldiers.
"The very first thing that impressed
me with Mr.. James story" he said,
"was the fact that people reading it
would get the idea that the Y. NJ. c.
A. is rolling in money, and that it is
likely to have a surplus. The facts
are these: We had used up by Oct. l
last all of our fund, which was so
generously given by the American
people in our financial drive of the
autumn of 1917. We then had the
United War Work Campaign of No
vember last, and in the interval be-
tween the campaigns we had to con-
duct our vast work on borrowed mon
ey.
GAS will be recalled, the United
War Work Campaign brought in
$203, 900, 900 to the seven organiza-
tions participating. OF that sum,
only about $45,0OO.O00 has so far been
paid into the campaigns treasury. 1t
was decided recently to pay 20 per
cent of each organizations pro rata
share of the SITE, 100000 originally
asked for in the campaign. The Y. M.
c. A. received as it's 20 per cent about
$40 100000. This was all expended on
Dec. 81, and we had also borrowed
100000. Since then we have bor-
rowed $1,50O,000 more, and have ar
ranged to borrow, within a few days,
another $1,500,000. Thus with ten
days we will be paying interest on
So, ,OOO, 900.
GAS for the criticism of the 'Y' can
teens" DR.. Mott continued, Gin all of
them we have brought down the prices
of articles. AS result we had lost,
up te Oct. 81, about 100000 francs,
and we expect heavier. losses for No
vember and December when the re-
ports for these months are in hand.
Beginning on the first of this month
we started to purchase our canteen
supplies from the quartermaster and
we sell at prices fixed by him and we
have an agreement with General
Pershing that, should there be any
profit, all income above our outlay
will be devoted to the good of the men
in the service.
"Point number two," said DIR. Mott,
relates to the personnel. / want to
express in the strongest manner pos
sible my agreement, and the agree
ment of the entire association, with
Mr.. James position that mistakes
have been made in the choice of GER
tain workers, the same as he will
freely admit has been done in all
agencies called upon to recruit large
numbers of men and women on a sud-
den call to meet untried and difficult
conditions. We have no object in re-
| tanning incompetent workers, and /,
for one, weed them out as soon as /
hear of them.
"In regard to the complaint that
the Y. nj. c. A. is devoting too much
time and effort to moral welfare
work, I'd say that if safeguarding the
morals of our soldiers and sailors is
ground for criticism and unpopular
ity, then the Y. M. c. A. is ready to
plead guilty. We are willing to await
the issue of time and the impartial
| judgment of American homes.
"Mr. James refers to seeing a
group of Y NJ C. workers drinking
with women If this case is traced
down, the chances are that the work
ers to whom he refers have already
been discharged, because that is our
policy and practice. l am glad to add
that cases such as these have been
few"
"Mr. James," DR.. Mott continued
"raises the question of why the Y. M
C. A. doesn't plan to spend from
SIC, 100000 to $30,O00,000 in finding
ljobs for the returning soldiers and
sailors. In reply to that, would say
that this is not at all necessary be-
cause every branch of the Y. M. c. A
has already indicated. its desire and
purpose to place the employment de-
partment at the service of returning
veterans without charge for at least
three months after the soldier oil
sailor has been demobilized.-