Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-07
Boise Campaign
ABoise Proposition
Statement by Campaign Director
e. 1. Mcgee.

9. I. Mo99e.
I have been connected with Y. NJ.
c. A. work for % years did not
have the privilege OF serving overseas,
but did have real share in raising
over half million dollars over here for
the welfare work among enlisted men
in this country and overseas.
have accepted responsibility as
campaign director, for the securing of
$165,00O in Boise to provide an ade-
quate building for the work Of the Y.
M. G. A. In Boise.
Our workers report hearing much
criticism against the Y. M. c. A. on
account of its overseas war service. In
telligent men and women of Boise re-
fuse to assist this movement for new
home here in their own home city be-
cause of criticism about YIN c. A.
work in Europe.
l have talked with returned soldiers
and Y, M. G. A. workers. l have read
various reports and Investigated criti-
cisms as best l could. l am willing to
admit that some of the criticism is
well founded, but l am also convinced
that much of it is eXaggeration and
hearsay.
! know many of the returned soldiers
say the y" conducted its canteen serv-
Ice AS u 'profteer," but ] also know
that the war department, after rigid in
vestigation, says the service was con-
Quoted at a financial loss.
, | know some of the soldiers charge
othe overseas "Y" workers with incom-
petence and nlsmanagement. 1 also
know that over 1000 "l" workers We're
sent overseas for all types of service
and some We're sent back for incom-
Pstence and lack OF moral stamina.
several were arrested for misappro-
i,rlatton Oh funds and supplies. But
submit that the incompetents and
wrong doors were Il very small number
indeed in comparison with the thou
sands who delivered satisfactorily. No
system of hurriedly recruiting the
large number of men needed to keep
up with millions of enlisted men being
ialshsd overseas could be absolutely
alright. OF course many were ineN-
perienced and the emergency Of the
call left no time for satisfacso cory train
Ing and the men had to be outside the
qualifications for military service The
wonder is that the ''Y" did so we'll I'M
der all the circumstances, and every
fair minded person must consider all
the circumstances. / am well satisfied
that there were many faithful, COM
petent workers in Y. NJ. C. A. service
oyerseas-men like Willsie Martin.
Harry Chase or Ross Jackson of Boise.
l.. J.. Breckenridge of Twin Falls, Ivan
Rhodes of Portland.
l know most of the criticisms center
about the canteen service which was
first conducted by the army. Later,
in order to release hundreds of men
for other army service, General Per-
shing requested the Y. M. c. A. to take
over the responsibility for handling the
canteen, stating that it would bring
criticism to the Y. NJ. c. A. but the
Y. NJ. c. A. was in France not to es-
cape criticism but to render service and
help win the war. The y. NJ. G. A. pa
triotically took over the canteen sys-
tenn.
know the mammoth canteen service
conducted by the y. M. e. A., and
thrust upon 1t overnight, required the
mercantile experience of dozen Wan
amakers, and there is no doubt some
men on this job We're lacking in execu-
tive ability, although possessing good
intentions.
Had the Y. NJ c. A. not taken over
the canteen, 1t would have escaped
most of the bitter criticism made
against it. The minute the Y. NJ c. A.
became shopkeeper to the army it made
a bid for unpopularity and it was hui
manly impossible to meet all of the
million requests made at all places and
at all hours by the millions of our SOL
der and sailor lads-many of whom
no doubt thoughtlessly PANIED the "Y''
when the ~" was compelled by cir
cumstances to disappoint them. The
"Y attempted so much and accom-
plished SO much the boys simply ex-
pected 100 per cent efficiency and they
expected too much, for the army itself,
controlling all available resources,
could not deliver 100 per cent.
l make no defense for the shortcom-
ings of the overseas service--we all
regret It BUT IS THERE ANY PER-
SON IN BOISE, CONNECTED WITH
THE Y. NJ. c. A. OR IT'S CAMPAIGN
TO BLAME OR TO BE HELD AN
SWERABLE FOR THE SHORTCOM-
INGS OF THE OVERSEAS SERV-
ICE?
Has it ever been charged that Dick
Randall. the popular local secretary,
was incompetent or failing to deliver
the goods In Boise?
Are the Boise Y M. c. A. Board Of
Directors-C. c. Anderson, C. A. Bar
ton, r. M. Davidson, Judge +. S. Die
I. Newhouse, w. N. Northrop. DIR. r.
l.. Nourse, DIR. j. M. Taylor, or G. IL.
White--to blame for the overseas
trouble?
II no one in Boise is to blame for the
overseas criticism of the "Y"-if this
is a HOME proposition--if this is for
Boise, handled by Boise men whom
everybody knows and have confidence
In, why use the overseas criticism as
. reason for not contributing to new
Y. NJ. c. A. building in Boise?
II the local Y. M. C. A. Is unworthy,
then 1t should be closed or made wor-
thy OF support. II 1t is rendering COM
petent service to the community. 1t
should .be kept running efficiently and
\ provided with proper and adequate ia
cilities.
The people of Boise are not asked to
subscribe to name-they are asked
TO give to living, vital thing, that
means a chance. q square DEAL an OPP
portunity to the boys OF the Boise
homes. Jews, Catholics and Protestant
boys and young men alike are welcome
to the Y. M. c. A. membership privil-
eyes at a cost within the reach Of all.
Criticism OF incompetent service Is
proper and welcome, but why such a
long distance argument as some fail
ureS Of the "" overseas for not giving
to the home .'Y"? Think well before