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The West Union Argo-Gazette
West Union, Fayette Co., Iowa
Wednesday, June 27, 1919
Page 1 column six

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NOW FOR Y.M.C.A. FUND
Army Branch Asks $175,000 From Iowa, $3,000 
From Fayette County -- Campaign is On
BIG MEETING TOMORROW NIGHT
For Men Only, From North Twelve Townships, For Organization -- 
Mass Meeting Sunday
The campaign to raise $3,000 in Fayette county for the army Y.M.C.A. is being organized in the county by A. Vincent Bennett of Des Moines, and a meeting for men only with that purpose in view is to be held at the courthouse at 8 o'clock tomorrow (Thursday) evening. At this meeting men from, the north twelve townships of Fayette county are invited to be present to take part in the organization work. It is also planned to have a mass meeting in West Union next Sunday afternoon.

The co-operation of citizens in every county in Iowa is needed at once to raise Iowa's $175,000 fund.

The Young Men's Christian association is "prepared by experience, approved methods, and assured resources to serve especially the troops in camp and field", and because this organization "has demonstrated its ability to render a service desired by officers and men", on April 15 President Wilson signed an executive order giving official recognition to this movement as a "valuable adjunt to the service."

From office, factory, farm - from city and country 40,000 Iowa men are soon to be a part of the U. S. army. Many are boys under twenty. In the new surroundings temptations are many. Home-sickness is prevalent. Influences that will help to hold the boys for clean living and the highest type of manhood are vitally important at this time.

The army Y.M.C.A. establishes buildings in the army training and prison camps in both foreign and home war departments. It seeks to hold up high moral ideals and to keep the men away from the evil influences which quickly surround camps of this kind. The Y.M.C.A. shack or building affords a homelike place for the boys, where they are given writing stationery and a place to write, the latest magazines and novels to read, games of all descriptions, entertainments of all kinds, a Victrola and a piano to use. It is the work of the Y.M.C.A. to keep the boys occupied, and above all to keep them as clean as when they left home.
 
Some Must Go—All Can Give
Fayette county's portion of the state fund is $3,000. This money must be raised as soon as possible that the work which has been begun in preparation for our immense state training camp may not be retarded for lack of funds.
 
What It Does For the Boys
Judge C. B. Robbins of Cedar Rapids, captain of Co. D, First Iowa infantry, writing from Brownsville, said, "I wish to state that I consider the Y.M.C.A. organization with the First Iowa brigade to be of very great value indeed, to the men in almost countless ways, in providing, a club house where the men can meet, facilities for correspondence, etc. The institution is doing the greatest good among our Iowa boys here. I do not believe that there could be an institution doing more good to the boys than the Y.M.C.A. * * * is doing here. * * * I trust that the Y.M.C.A. organization will continue its work as a great moral force among the men."

             

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