Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-01-28

abiding citizens of our city. With a
community consciousness which is alive
and watchful, public officials dare do
nothing but fulfill their duty, public in
stitutions and organizations will bend
every energy to minister to the highest
good Of everyone, especially the young
people.
The youth is as hungry for recreation
and the social contact as for food. His
pep and energy must find an outlet some
where What is Willmar doing to satisfy
this hunger or guide this excess energy?
Little or nothing. Other cities smaller
than Willmar do so at least in winter by
means of skating Kinks. Litchfield and
Morris for instance. We turn the whole
matter over to individuals to exploit for
private gain. The result is the pool
room, usually with no facilities for VEN
tilation; where cigarette smoking is as
sidously cultivated to the gain of the
proprietor and the detriment of the boy.
Here the boy learns the primary lessons
of gambling. Yet we pay little atten-
ton to the pool room atmO sphere, either
moral or physical. If the boy is not to
go there, where shall he so to meet his
chums? Churches and lodge rooms are
closed or cold. No other place has been
provided to satisfy the desire for re-
creation.
During the war, we expended much
energy In pIOFlu1IS recreation LOT the
boys at the front and camp, thru the
War Camp Community Service, the Sal
walton Army, the Y. M. c. A., the Red
Cross. Why should these splendid facil-
tiles languish and die during peace time ?
Why not rather unite these forces in
furnishing a big home institution where
the spirit of fellowship, hospitality and
good cheer for which the Red Cross and
Salvation Army became famous during
Community Home furnishes the oppor-
tunity
During the last few months we have
seen an epidemic OF dancing sweeping
the country, The public dance hall is
another great danger to the character of
youth In this regard let me quote Judge
Frank T. Wilson, of the University of
Minnesota: THE dance hall is the open
gate to a broad highway which leads to
destruction. 1t has many times been the
means which swells the population Of
places not discussed in polite society.
Pool room. saloon, dance hall, brothel
are but the prototypes of unsanitary
diaries and markets. And yet fathers
and mothers of the community do but
little or nothing to improve conditions.
In the name of Heaven, why is the COM
munity so Indifferent? Is the answer,
greed, habit and ignorance?
Let us arouse the people to a con-
seriousness that play and recreation is a
community problem and a community
heritage. There is no solution but a
practical one of business. Let US Or
ganize the forces we have: Red Cross,
American Legion, Salvation Army, School
Board, Churches, establish a Communi-
ty Home, put some one in charge who
knows how to run the business of play
grounds, social centerS, community rec
reation, boy scouts, camp fire girls
Study, advertise and arouse the public
sentiment over the matter. Preach the
gospel of wholesome recreation as a
| means and help to destroy vice. pro-
| mote better citizenship and bring high
err type of Christianity and we shall at
| least feel satisfied we have done our
| share of directing the energies of youth
SWAN W. MATTSON.