Evening star., 1942-11-18
Conference
On War Fitness
Is Approved
III
Hospitality Committee
Acts on Recreation
Congress Plan

brlng togetner all interested agen.
cies In Washington concerned with
strengthening people here for tht
stress Of war, was approved las
night by the War Hospitality Com.
mittee at a meeting in the Labo
Department cafeteria.
Proposed by Harry S. Wender
general counsel of the War Hos
pitality Committee, the propose.
previously had been adopted by the
hospitality's Executive Committee.
The plan, Mr.. Wender said, came
directly from the recent war recrea-
tion congress in Cincinnati. where 8
plea for greater physical fitness o1
Americans had been made by Maj
Birch Bayh, now of the Army Ali
forces, formerly of the District pub.
lie schools.
Pointing to the necessity of Amer
lean young men knowing how tc
swim. for instance, Mr.. Wender saio
thousands of soldiers, sailors anc
marines were being sent all over
the world, and some of them were
being drowned because they did no,
know how to swim. He said there
were IA indoor swimming pools ir
the city where program could be
developed for teaching more people
to swim.
Cites Tunney Program.
Praising an Evening Star story
yesterday about Comdr. Gene Tun-
ney training naval officers in physi-
cal fitness in the gymnasium OF
the YMCA. Mr. Wender deplored
the lack of Federal gymnasiums
He wondered why the fine gymna-
SUM" of the Agriculture Depart
ment was not being brought back
into use for its original purpose
He thought more war-fitness train
ing should be given young men who
are about to enter the various serv-
ices.
The War Hospitality Committee
approved plan for broadening the
scope of home hospitality in Wash
ington, to bring together the serv-
icemen who would like such enter
tainment with the homes which de-
sired to take care of the men.
A report of a preliminary COM
mittee headed by Coleman Jennings,
presented in his absence by Charles
H. Cunningham, proposed a perma-
nent setup to utilize functional
groups such as department stores,
churches, fraternal orders, labor
unions and Government bureaus.
Civilian mobilization area commit
tees also would cooperate. An ex-
ecutive committee of not more than
seven persons would be set up to
function as policy-making and
executive group, and a, central Office
would be established
Mrs. Martin Vogel, chairman Of
the present Home Hospitality Com
mittee, who reported on her activi-
ties. has offered the use of the
library of her home for such central
Office. An executive director would
be appointed to give full time to
operating the program,
Improvement in the facilities for
housing servicemen over the week
end was reported by 1t Comdr
w. A. Corley. u S N retired, who
said 600 cots had arrived yesterday
from the Federal Works Agency
They are being marked and will
be distributed today to churches
the YMCA and other agencies
Comdr. Corley reported with salts
faction that there were plenty OF
beds now for visiting servicemen
the number approaching 5000.
Special Committee Named.
Floyd D. Akers, chairman of the
War Hospitality Committee. an
nounced appointment of a special
committee on organization and ad-
ministration. consisting of Mrs
Henry Grattan Doyle, James A
Councillor and Milo F. Christensen
The new committee is to effect a
refinement of organization and ad-
ministrative procedures"
John R. Pinkett asked that in
reorganization of the War Hos
pitality Committee he hoped there
would be integration of colored
members so that white men would
think of Washington and colored
men would think, of Washington
and not in segregated groups.
Mr.. Akers assured him it was most
important" for colored members
to be represented in the work OF
the War Hospitality Committee.
In this connection Mr.. Wender
bespoke generous representation OF
colored people in the forthcoming
war fitness and physical fitness con-
ference.
Mr.. Akers, who is campaign chair
man for, the Community War Fund
campaign pointed out that all funds
for the War Hospitality Committee
which are administered by Recrea-
ton Services. Inc. it's operating
agency. are obtained through the
War Fund. He called for volun-
teers to help complete the cam
paign which is still short of its goal
of s4,141,0OO
School Program Laudcd.
1t. w. D. Thompson, U. S. NJ. of
the Potomac River Naval Com
mand, praised the War Hospitality
Committee not only for it's func-
tional activities during the war, but
as means of bringing together
so many different agencies in CO.
operation. He also praised the pub
lie schools for their new expanded
physical fitness program.
He hoped the city. would open
more of its physical fitness agencies,
such as golf clubs and swimming
pools.
Miss Elmira Streets, reporting on
colored activities, said total attend
ance for October was 6,12l.
On recommendation of a report
eigrled by Joseph c. McGarraghy
and presented by Winfree johnson
Of Welfare and Recreational Asso-
citation, the War Hospitality Com
nittee approved plan for care Of
sean1en in Washington through
committee facilities.
L.aJoseph Calm. executive secre-
tary of Recreation Services, Inc,
presented his mimeographed report,