The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-07-26
THE CRUCIAL POINT.

yica uyill no continued in Pensacola.
The interest of the people as expressed
through their cooperation in the move
ment and the support they give the
committee of business men VINO VIII
call upon them will mean that Com
munity Service will continue It's work
in this city, or that the work here
will be discontinued, not temporarily,
but permanently.
On it's face, this may not seem a big
thing. but in many ways in making It's
decision Pensacola has before 1t its
greatest opportunity. PenSacola is at
the place today in world affairs which
may mean its turning point. The
United States Navy is looking to Pen
sacola as possible naval base. This
has been frankly stated by several
naval officials, high in the councils of
the nation. These men have also
stated that whether or not this city will
be chosen as a naval base VIII large
ly depend upon how the men of the
navy are treated in Pensacola, during
their hours of recreation and what in
fIuences are thrown about them.
Secretary of the Navy Daniels is
open in his praise of Community Ser
vice, finding in it an agency for whole
men of the United States fleet. He
has commended the work of Commun-
ity service in public and other Off
Gals have been equally outspoken in
it's favor.
Looking, then, at the movement
from an entirely selfish standpoint,
we find that if sacola loses the
Army and Navy Club and the other
means of recreation for service men
which Community Service has made
possible it lessons materially its
chances as a naval base.
One of the officers who was in Pen
sacola last winter when the fleet of
torpedo destroyers was in the harbor
frankly stated to the writer that what
was needed to make Pensacola a naval
base, was to make Pensacola the kind of
town where the officers CT the navy
would feel that the boys who We're
in their charge had thrown about them
the right sort of influences while they
were in the city. He said that since
the war and the consequent change in
the personnel of the fighting force of
Uncle Sam, many of the sailors on the
United States war vessels are hardly
more than lads. That these boys crave
amusement. just as other boys do.
That they want to meet nice girls, in
social way, just as other boys do.
And that they want some place to
hang out" where they may find
wholesome companionship, just as
other boys do
This officer said that the men of the
navy liked Pensacola. That he be-
lieved that they would like to make
this naval base. That they would
like to bring their families here, and
make this a homecoming port, just
as is done by the British navy in some
places on the coast of England-a port
where when off duty they could rem
devious. He said that he believed that
this wish would be granted, if the peo-
pie of Pensacola would work towards
that end-not only to get the ships
here, but to make Pensacola Il good
place for the sailors after they get
them here.
Pensacola is known all over the
country now as a community centre.
Not only for the work of its Army. and
Navy Club but for it's playground
work as well. 1t is the only city in
the United States, according to Mr..
X. d. Widdemer, of New York Com
munity Service, that has taken the
people. instead of the people to the
playground. In Pensacola the play
grounds work has been organized not
in one part of the city, but in all sec
tions, and it has back of it the COM
bined effort of women in every neigh
borhood in Pensacola.
This work is growing, it is broad
ening out until it embraces not only
the children. but their elders, as we'll
And it's influence is felt in many indi-
rect ways, as well as directly.
If Community Service in Pensacola
is discontinued, much of this work
will necessarily be dropped 1t cannot
be continued without funds.
Four thousand dollars is necessary
to be added to the fund, if the work
is to be carried on. 1t will be re-
membered that when the last cam
paign for funds was made ten thou
sand dollars was the goal, but the sum
was not reached, and the drive is not
for an additional four thousand, but
for that which was lacking to complete
the ten thousands dollars, set as the
original goal.
1t is hardly conceivable that Pen
sacola will let this Community Ser
vice work fall through. Should this
be the case it will mean retrogres-
sion and this Pensacola can hardly
afford
Pensacola has a reputation to main
tain. 1t is a reputation well worth
maintaining. That of one of the best
functioning of the branches of COM
munity service in the country, of
which there are 1870.
The work of the Community Ser
vice has proven so vital and so valu-
able a part of community life that
not only has it been endorsed by the
army and navy, but by organized labor,
all over the country. and by the Amer
lean Legion, as well.
Shall we fail, then?
The committee is a strong and able
one, and upon it rests heavy respon-
sibility. On how this responsibility is
met and how the people of Pensacola
cooperate in the appeal that is made