The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-01-11
THE INDICTMENT OF THE
- - Y M c. A

s,zo '--- '-- 2. M G. A
pendent OF the New York Times. ana
Szes the failure Of the Y. n C. A or
Franco as was anticipated. and the re-
/. sgltant causes Of complaint against that
organization From the review that MT
James gives, many Of them were JUS
tiled. Many men whom the Y. N. c,
"a sent to France, according TO Mr.,
a James, were unfit for this work They
assumed an attitude OF condescension
towards the soldiers. apparently being
under the impression that they were
rendering a great service for which
= they should receive special thanks and
high pay, instead of enjoying a privil-
age in being allowed to operate the can
teens for the benefit of : he soldiers In
many cases this attitude OF condsscen-
sion became SO offensive that soldiers
vtolently resented it. In every case it
was a source OF irritation. Moreover.
supplies furnished by the Y. ". c. A
canteens were always high and often
{. usent. or TO conditions which sometimes
y might have been unavoidable. Y. N. c..
. A, supplies were often bought from the
army connissary. carried across the
street and sold al higher prices than
the conrnissary charged Mr.. James
y Also states that there were large
number OF cases in which 7. N. c. A.
men arbitrarily refused to furnish sup
80, soldiers who were without
money. having been in the trenches for
:: many days. and to other soldiers who
arrived al the Y. VI. c. \. huts at a late
hour having walked many miles for
=, that purpose.
80 In particular. the correspondent
thinks, The Y. NJ c. A. men were two
much imbued with the thought that
their mission was to supervise the NOR
ais and regulate the Conduct OF the
doughboys. instead Of administering to
their comfort. The American soldier is
very independent animal. He has a
good opinion of himself and of his per-
sonal character, and he does not relish
unnecessary restrictions. and more or
less constant criticism OF his language
and hts conduct by sissy-boys who keep
safely out Of range OF shot and she'll.
The astounding information is given
out that the Y NJ. :. A. organization
has on hand upwards Of 100000. 100000
contributed by the American people for
tho purpose Of administering to the
-no1mort and welfare of the boys in
France The war has ended and this
money has not been used This is moth
ing less than a laInentable mistake of
administration Instead Of charging
high prices for supplies furnished the
soldiers, the 2. M. c.. 4. should, as we
expected, have made the most strenuous
efforts to provide for the comfort Of the
soldhers. In view OF the sweeping in
6ictment made by SIR. James, the Y. NJ. c
A. organization owes 10 itself. and to
tho millions who gave to its support, a
-rnast strenuous effort TO correct past
mistakes. The millions which it has on
hand were contributed for the benent Of
American soldiery and in the time re-
manning. those millions should ba spent
~ with all the wisdom and all the care
{. that the Y. NJ C. A can command ror
v that purpose-
b; Among other things. Mr.. James sus-
gests the establishment OF bureau for
! the purpose Of finding satisfactory en-
4 ployment for every returned soldier
= There is still much work to be done in
i Europe. and in the camps. and II the 7.
NJ. c. ~ management puts its entire ef-
y forts in this work. great deal will DO
y: done to lcsscn the effects Of unfortunate
$ mistakes and to correct resretable
! errors.