The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-04-04
ANNUAL REPORT OF SECRETARY
ARNY Y. II. @. A AND FARE
WE'LL. ADDRESS.

was asked TO open down town place
to accommodate the enlored soldiers at
Fort Des Moines and Camp Dodge. Mr.
Parsons, State Secretary, called a mum
Der of men and formed what is known
as the Citizens Advisory Committee or
Board with Atty S. Joe Brown chair
man and Wade Fl Mccree secretary
The other members of the committee
were Rev. @. w. Robinson, Atty. j. B.
Rush. Rev. s. l. Brit. Atty. John l.
Thompson, Ebert B. Hall, C. S. Stew
art, Harrison Gould and A. NJ. White
The location was secured at Tenth
and Park streets In the Congregational
church basement. This place was
wholly inadequate to do the KIND of
work, but ii was the best that could be
had at the time and the committee pro
eeeded to make the best Of it The room
was furnished with reading tables and
chairs, library with plenty of reading
matter, books, papers and magazines,
one photograph. The room having
been put into shape, the building was
opened On January ist, 1918, to the
general public with reception.
! AT this time I was in Camp FUnston,
telegram came to report at once to
Dies Moines to take charge of the work
here. You are practically under the
same discipline as the army. You
must obey your superior officer, SO
arrived in this city on the 18th of Jan
uary. On the 10th of January, Mr..
Parsons invited me to luncheon at the
Central Y. with the advisory board. 1t
hat at Tho m
with whom have worked this year and
was given cordial welcome. From this
time until now the work has been
pleasure. We tried to do all we could
for the soldiers and to add to their
comfort We found at that time sleep
ing accommodations were bad and pat
in cots for the men who desired to stay
over night at the small cost of twenty
five cents and later we charged thirty
cents so as to make enough to cover
the cost of the laundry. As small as
the accommodations were, we feel that
number of men were helped. We may
not stop here as little as we may think
of it this place has served as a social
center for the people of Des Moines:
While it was intended only for soldiers,
it served a number of organizations.
The ministers held their meetings here,
the Charles Young Auxiliary Of the
Red Cross, the Home Makers League,
the National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People. As often
as twice a month public meetings were
held and some Of the best speakers OF
the city and persons visiting our city
were on our program, thus affording the
citizens an opportunity to hear and see.
This building has been of some help
to the boys Of the city. Even with the
little accommodations for young men,
some Of them have used the rooms, one
bible class was organized, two young
men decided for Christ, consulted TWEEN
ty young men about their personal life
and habits. We feel at least that some
Of them have been helped.
We have written card of thanks to
all Of these people who have been so
generous to us and we take this occa-
sion to thank you and especially the
Jones Piano CO., who donated the piano
for the use Of the room, the ladies OF
the D. Y. w. K. Art Club for the sash
curtains which helped SO much to give
our room that home-like appearance,
also Maj. s. G. Garrison for the dona-
ton of one hundred volumes and Mrs.
j. F. Marion of Grinnell, Iowa, the
Christian Science Pub. Co., and Mr..
John Baxendale Of Indianola, Iowa,
Graphophone and records.
The first of April marks the closing
Of the army work for the soldiers, but
we are glad that the closing of this
work ushers us into larger and greater
work, that all Of the citizens may have
part in the making of the future men
of this city, race and nation. This will
be done in proportion as each one Of us
lend ourselves unselfshly to the tasks
that lay before us.
We cannot say just at this time where
our lot will be cast, but at any rate,
we will be separated from each other in
this work, but hope with pleasant
recollections of each other and the
work. We have with you and for you
and the community to the best of our
ability. And again we wish to thank
the advisory board and the state com
mittee through their secretary, Mr..
Parsons, for their hearty desperation
in this work.
At this time I shall give you a brief
statement Of the transactions of this
place since January 16, 1918, to April
LIST, 1919:
Soldiers stopping in the night, 1875;
public meetings held, Is; total attend
ance, soldiers and citizens, $500; week
" organizations using building during.
the holding regular meeting, 4; the
Ministers Association, Charles Young.
Auxiliary Of Red Cross, Home Makers
League, N. IA. "a. G. r. and other small
groups and special committee meetings.
Total collected from rent of cots and