Arizona republican., 1919-02-07
The Lions Mouth
years ago,

The Republican has just received the following communication in which the most casual reader can not fail to detect note of sarcasm:
 Arizona Republican: Fine editorial you have on the Y. However, why interview the boys that are coming back that have had their experi-
 with this bunch of godly grafters. See-who is here. See-and publish their statements. This
 you won't do for the reason that your spneess
 backbone is like jely-fish.
 Tn order to get at the subject matter as quickly as possible will hurriedy pass over the fact that whatever may be the unfortunate physical pecuiari- ties of the jelyfsh it is not charged that he is coward. though he may be. but it is universally agreed that the who withhods his from insulting note he addresses, is coward But that is neither here there.
 We know that it is widely reported that the Y. NJ. c. A. in France and in the training camps of this country guilty of charging the soldiers cXtor- tionate prices. We have doubt that there instances which justified such accusations We have heard the experiences of enlisted men and of fcers who embittered by the treatment they had received and we do not doubt the accuracy of their statements to their own experiences
 This has been the subject of much discussion in the public prints. The Literary Digest and other magazines have gone into it quite freely and the Y. NJ. C. A. itself has taken up these charges In some cases it shown that what the soldiers believed eXtortion not; that the prices charged were low could be charged without mourning actual loss Perhaps in instances there was what our correspondent calls grating. But have the word of General Pershing and other high officials most aighy commendatory of the Y. M. C. A., abroad as a contributor 10 the morale and comfort of the soldiers
 The editorial to which the correspondent refers though related solely to the Y. NJ. C. A. of Phoenix concerning whose usefulness to the community believe there is dispute. No one has ever sug- gested that there is any grating there. It's has been given freely It has excelled in deeds of charity. It has been the support financial and moral, of many young man and it has picked up many a one who has been cast down; whose outlook upon the future hopeless, and it has set him on his feet, seadied him and has given him an upward and hopeful view.
 Granting, only in order to clear the brush away that there were cases of "Y" grating in the army camps and abroad surely our 'Y' had no part in it; could the ''Y" anywhere have derived any ad- vantage from it. If there any profit it went into he pockets of unworthy individuals.
 That there was grating by government officials and even by government organizations has been charged. That through incompetence or worse many millions of dollars dssipated is beyond dispute Yet no one would hold the government morally re- Sponsible for this; would condemn the gov ernment and propose to withhold support from it.
 The great usefulness of the Y. NJ. c. A. has be- recognized that it would be as foolish to attack it institution because of the fratv of member here there even a unit, as it would he to attack the government because now and then an official has gone wrong.