Arizona republican., 1921-07-21

other organization quite so well fitted to meet the need of our young men in America as the Young Mems Christian Association. As power in the development of good citizens not only among our native born. but among the foreign born, there is no agency that surpasses the Young Mems Christian Association. Here there opens up "a large field of en- deavor, wherein many of our own people need not only the spirit of Christianity. but the spirit of pa triotism as well. which is. in fact, much the same thing. Instead of one million members of this association in America, there ought to be ten million.
 Tt was in the World war that we came in closest touch with the or ganization. Your representatives were already in the field when our ad- vance troops reached France. They were ready and anxious to be of ev- cry possible ser vice. Supported by our patriotic membership here at home and under the leadership of that able administrator, Mir Carter, the organization began to expand at once to meet her needs. We all had our hands full in those trying days. The army had to be organized, and a great general staff to be built up to handle the multitude of details as to plans of operations, supply and transportation. It was in the midst of these preparations that I called up MT. Carter and asked the Young Mems Christian Association to take charge of the army canteens to fol- low our troops. He responded prompt ly and entered upon the work as a duty.
 This placed the Young Mems Christian Association on a business basis. involving direct responsibility to the A. E. F. for an immense under taking. They had to buy and sell without profit just as the army would have done. At first MT. Carter's re- quest for certain allowance of ton mage was granted. but as time went on and our limited shipping became less and less able to carry our ac- tual needs in war material. his quota of monthly tonnage was very much reduced, even in. the face of increas- ing demands So through lack oi transportation facilities, he was un- able to provide canteens with all they
 required. Furthermore. the person
 nel of the Young Mems Christian
 Association had to be expanded ir almost the same proportion as the
 army. had to be organized to conduct
 this large business, which was only one of its numerous activities. with
 such untrained personnel as would
 be hastily mustered here at home.
 "All these things were tremend- ous handicap and when it's wori
 came to be compared with that oi other welfare organizations operat- ing with far less responsibility and covering only special areas. there arose some unjust criticism of whicf other organizations too often took ad- vantage. But, as a matter of fact this feature of the work of the Young
 Mems Christian Association deserves great praise. ant I should like tc express here my dsep appreciation of the results obtained.
 "In the field of education. athletics
 and recreation after the armistice tn, Young Men Christian Association took the lead, without any sort O question, and as a matter of fac about nine tenths of the welfare worl that was carried on in the A. E. F
 was carried or under the direction 1 and guidance of the Young Men. l Christian Association. Due largely t, l its efforts, our men were given op.
 portunities for improvement, trave and entertainment that aided us ma l terially in upholdins the high stand. ards of conduct always maintained in our forces abroad. Finally, I wish to express the be. lief that this association will early
 become universally recognized force in our national life against which tho powers of evil may not prevail.'