The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-10
YMCA SECRETARY
 UPHOLDS YOUTH
Older Generation Must As= sume Responsibility for
 Moral Delinquencies

General Secretary Herbert s. Smith, speaking last evening at the meeting of the board at the Y. M. 0. A. remarked: we hear so much about youth and crime that one would think new generation had suddenly become perverse. The blame for the crime record in America cannot be laid to present day youth. The basic causes of crime were laid in the social, eco- homie and political systems of previous generations. Youth is not to blame for broken homes, cestitu- tion, unemployment, slums, social conflict and political graft.
 "Our responsibility is to create decent living conditions, which would give youth a chance. We need not expect magical goodness to spring from an environment which begets crime. In all civilized countries across the world, youth is unemployed in large numbers. The exception to this is found in the backward countries, where life is lived on a primitive basis, and men live in huts and close to the soil, and boys and girls marry in their teens.
 Educators
 Both youth and adults must be educated to wisely use leisure, and success in our democracy must come to be measured not financially but in terms of citizenship and service. Flag waving and red-baiting will not satisfy generation of youth kept in idlness. We need real training in democracy. Too long have we assumed that youth would acquire the Democratic process of good citizenship, without having a chance to practice it in the home or school of other organizations like the Y. M. c. A. The Democratic process needs to be put into prac- tice by all organizations attempting to deal with youth. Youth is O. K. The trouble is with us adults, and our faulty leadership"
 The general secretary stated that the local Y. M. c. A. staff is study ing as never before to keep abreast of the times, and have Q knowledge of conditions affecting youth. He said: "In 1920 there were 2,70C, ,000 children five years old in America, but there are 100000 less in 1888. In 1940 for every 1000 youths under In 1880 for every 1000 youths under 16 there were 889 adults over q. Today for every 1000 youth there are 2,10O adults. The birth rate is highest in those areas least able to properly rear and educate chil- dren. The birth rate is high in the slums, in industrial communities and the poorer farm areas, and low in the better areas. AS our popula- ton becomes older, the percentage of employables becomes larger.
 Democracy
 "The times and the problems call for the intelligent practice of Democracy, because only an intelli- gent Democracy has 8 right to en- dure. The program of the local '. M. c. A. has greatly improved ;.nce self government has become the order of the day. Young folks will not grow either in ability or charac- ter as they are led around by their elders. If we are to have Democ- racy, men must learn how to practice 1t while they are young. This is what the local Y $ doing"
 The Y. M. e. A. has spent $s0,S28 during the first seven months O. its fiscal year to Dec. 1st, against a budget of 2,967, but its receipts have been less than estimated, so it is $1,956 BEHIND ITS BUDGET as of Dec. 1st. The dormitory re- ceipts are down $l,933, but since November the dormitory has oper- ated at 938o of its capacity. Mem bership receipts are $l,000 behind the budget. There are more mem- bers than a year ago, but there is a large amount of dues outstanding. The membership report shows B. 922 regular and affiliated members at the three branches.