Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1940-05-09
Dedication Exercises
of Athletic Field

| Ine QeU1cdJlOn exercises OF the
scheduled for last Friday afternoon
on the field, We're held in the hign
school gymnasium because OF the
cold, rainy weather The crowning
of the May queen was deferred un-
til Wednesday afternoon which took
place in front of football stadium.
At the dedication exercises Su-
perintendent James M. Turner pre-
sided. Rev. Glenn l.. Tennell gave
the invocation. Next was the pre-
senting of those seated on the stage
which included all the members of
the board of education excepting F.
A. He'll, who could not be present
because of illness. Miss Helen Lynn,
of M, C M; Joe Rich, boys physi-
cal education teacher, and Miss Ad-
ans, physical education instructor
for girls. Others locally on the
stage and introduced We're County
| Engineer Fred Smith, Dr. H. p.
Kitchener and Atty Clair Young.
Mr.. Turner stated that a message
was received from Congressman Sc
crest that he could not be present,
| owing to pressing business in Wash
/ ington. Since Mr.. Secrest has been
very largely instrumental in getting
so many school projects and other
local projects approved, it was re-
gretted that he could not be present,
and have part in the exercises.
H. " Edwards, local NYA super
visor, was introduced, and he pre-
sented the NYA boys who were seat
ed in body in the auditorium. Mr..
Edwards spoke in high praise of
their services. Six men from the
Mr.. Edwards They included State
Athletic Commissioner HI. r. Town
send, who brought greetings of the
tOhio Athletic association, and spoke
of the fine services of the NYA, and
the CCC camps. He termed the ath-
letic field as much part of the
ings; and spoke Of the good that
comes from athletics in the matter
of training, sportsmanship and CO.
! ioperation and said the athletic
! field was an investment in good cit
I, izenship. Another speaker was Lew
is S. Moorehead, supervisor Of .physi-
cal and health education, of the
state department of education. He
expressed the wish that every boy
and girl go to the athletic field and
there find the activities and sports
to their liking; and he believes such
, an athletic field as we have here has
much to, do with developing a fine
local engineer who has had charge
of the construction of the athletic
field, when presented stated that it
not only had been a pleasure but a
privilege to work with the NYA
boys, the school board, county Off
Gals, etc. In all 232 NYA boys
have worked on the athletic field.
Mr.. Kraps stated that only $3.50
has been paid out for skilled labor,
calling attention to the fact that re-
gardless of what comes up, he had
found a boy who knew how to do
that work. He was warm in his
praise of the NYA boys, stating that
they came from our very best fam
lilies. He touched on matter that
few people perhaps understand,
when he mentioned that the boys
have been criticized for apparently
being idle at times Mr.. Kraps stat
ed that when the boys are in a hud-
tions, and said that the boys were
being taught how to do certain
kind of work as they went along.
He presented the field (figurative-
ly) to S. Burns Weston, state ad-
ministrator of the National Youth
| administration, who made the long
est address of the afternoon.
Mr.. Weston said in part: The
youth problem" which causes wor-
ry among federal government Off
cials is the problem of unemploy-
ment among youth. Administrator
| Weston, though prematurely gray
haired, is one of the youngest fed
eral administrators, and is a former
Cleveland attorney chosen directly
by the president in 1885 to head an
Ohio program to deal with the youth
unemployment problem. He is a
graduate of Antioch college, Yellow
Springs, O., where his father is an
instructor. Antioch college is ia
nous throughout the world as a vo-
n n 81 tJ1f hnT.n
people work part time, and attend
related classes in their work sub
jects
Weston said NYA does not con-
Germ itself with the typical old
fashioned youth problem" of man
ners and morals, but feels its re-
sponsibility is restricted to the eco
concern is being felt over health
conditions among jobless young
people, he added.
We cannot let the future of this
country become endangered by idle
young people," Weston added THAT
is the basic fact upon which NYA
was founded. In Morgan county you
do not feel any threat, nor would
the people feel it in the next coun-
ty. But when you add up the hun
dreds of young fellows in this area
who might be unemployed and drift
ing, and add up the totals from
every county in the nation, you get
a vast army of youth yariously es-
timated at from to millions
Mr.. Weston said the estimates Of
| unemployed young people used in
planning NYA and CCC operations
are based upon surveys by the
American Youth Commission, "a
fact-f1nding organization headed by
Owen ID. Young, General Electric
company executive The commits
sion's estimates agree with those of
federal government inquiries, in
cluding the unemployment census
taken by John D. Biggers, Toledo
industrialist. Mr. Weston held
worked on the field project. as
stated. The weather prevented the
outdoor coronation of the May
queen, and other events sche uled
to be held at the field.
The Malta -McConnelsvillc field
project has been watched by fed
eral officials in Columbus aud
Washington with lot Of Interest
Weston said. 1t is one of the few
instances in which NYA carfier ont
he complete construction OF an en-
ire athletic field and stadi"-a. Ves-
ton said he could not think of a
better instance for an ILL stration
of how progressive communitie3 CO.
operate with the Youth Admin 5tra~
tion in providing sound hard FORK
for youth
"'rhe experience these bcys have
had out here he said will ever
be forgotten by them arf t IS roi-
ect will be the foundation for heir
future jobs. Working hard. being
punctual, earnest, and of service TO
m