Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-08-24
The Pueblo Y. M. c. A.
BY Frederic J. Haskin

Pueblo, Colo, Aug. The largest
Y. M. &. A. in the world is located here IN
Pueblo. II il also the most remarkable
fY" in existence, for 1t Possesses many
novel features that no other Young men
Christian Association ever fhouRht o'
having among other things, a. large
feminine membership. But u ~ reaiiy run
for the benefit Of Pueblo's steel Wofkefs.
About q block from it's doors ~ the
giant plant Of The Colorado Fuel and lIop
Company. This plant, which - famous Ior .,r
its iron and steel, is equally famous ior ~
skilful industrial management III - saio
10 be the first concern IN the country 70
introduce employees representation, wnicn
has set new Example -to the industrial
world by hitching the Y. NJ. 9. A. to us
star, or vice versa, as you prefer;
In other words, it has adopted the sys-
tern originated by the government dunng
the war In all Of it's mining camps ~ nas
built clubhouses and furnished them COM
pletely, even to heat, light and Wanf,
after which they turned over TO the J "a
G. A. TO run. II deficit occurs IN tne
operating expenses, the plant makes ~
up, but otherwise it figures In the manage
ment not st all, being particularly ANXIOUS
to avoid the appearance OF paternaiisnl.
The camp clubhouses, however, are not
reserved for the miners alone but are also
open to their families. The women come
10 the "Y" during the day for their patns,
and in the evening they compete with tne
men for the best armchairs and bowling
alleys. 49,.
The Pueblo 'fY'' is Just larger edition
of the camp clubhouse The steel plant
built if at cost OF hundred thousand
dollars, with the idea Of making 1t com
rnunity affair While the steel workers
are accorded special rates and privileges,
their grocers and doctors and landlords
and BARRIERS can also become members,
by paying twice as large a. membership
fee. This broad membership policy has
been adopted because IL has been found
that men yield more satisfactorily 70
Americanization as communities than
they do as individuals. First the men
alone were taught, but with little success
since their homes still used the old Ian
guage and customs. Then, the women
were induced TO attend the classes, Yhien
proved greatly 70 facilitate the WORK. AND
now the Americanization campalgners are
going after the foreign shopkeepers who
appear TO be the only obstacle left 10 tnt
path Of democracy.
TEACHES ENGLISH TO AMERICANS
And one Of the chief duties Of the PueblC
'fY'' is to teach the English language anc
the American Constitution to groups OF 81
different nationalities; for among th'
z 900 men employed at the steel plan'
every imaginable race and nationality 4
represented, with the possible exception
OF the African Bushman. In addition Y
a . he a ra1fQnf
mestic science.
The first floor Of the massive bricl
building which houses this educatlona
club contains a huge lobby, with large
fireplace, hundreds of small readins
tables and comfortable leather easy
chairs. and a soft drink fountain. A
2 30 O'Clock in the afternoon when tn
steel plant changes shifts and about 3,up
men are released, this floor IS crowded
with blue-overalled workmen, loilInl
back in the easy chairs after the best man
ner of Fifth avenue clubmen, or quaftlns
the latest thing IN soft drinks with dis
tinetlv audible enthusiasm
At the end of the lobby Is a large billiard
room containing SIX or eight tables, wnlcf
are the joy OF the steel workers, many OF
whom have become experts. The rest OF
the floor. which extends on and on fol
another half of block is devoted to
huge auditorium, or theater, with seat
ing capacity of 200 persons, and a speela
entrance opening on the street, so that tbs
audience may enter and leave without dis
turbing the occupants OF the rest OF th'
building. Movie performances are glver
here on four nights of the week, whll'
during the cool weather it Is used ex
tensiyelv for amateur theatricals, toll
sings and concerts. ''Pinafore' and othe
light operas has been given with grea
gllsto and a surprising show OF ARTISTS
skill by the members.
THE SOUL OF THE ORGAN.
But the glory of the theater is its grea
electric organ, which, according 10 one o
the Italian workmen, have a soul.
Less soulful, but almost as precious IS
yentilating system which hurls $4,000
cubic feet of fresh air into the auditorium
every minute.
On the second floor of the building ST
the gymnasium, the ballroom, 8. banque
room and various classrooms. In on
room a class of 200 women and girls, mos
of them the wives and daughters OF th'
foreign workmen, are taught sewing
Sewing machines are provided, but tbs