Atlanta Daily World

An Essential To The War Program,
71
Say Top-Ranking Leaders About The
True Worth Of The USO Program

By EMORY O. JACKSON
(SPECIAL TO WORLD)
WASHINGTON, D. C. - (SNS)
Military and civilian USO officials and exponents at the USO War Activities Conference held Sunday at the Mayflower Hotel characterized USO as 'an essential to the war program.'

USO work was reviewed, its need demonstrated, its case documented and its preservation assured in this conference which was a national kick-off to the second fund-raising campaign which will get under way shortly.

No angle except that of the American blend appeared in the speeches of the afternoon session. USO, a six-in-one organization, during this conference, put all discussions on a oneness plane.

Representation of Negro by delegate and attendance was extremely light and by actual count, seven. Every one had to pay his own expense. Had it been otherwise, the size of the Negro contingent doubtless would have been greater.

USO is operating in 43 states, has 1,283 workers and 428 centers or units in 305 communities. Some of the units are mobile, reaching those service men who cannot handily reach one by any other means.

Three essential social services are now being provided the men in the armed forces. Inside the camps, the Army and Navy takes care of it; USO sees after off-camp activity and USO and the Red Cross provide for the service men in transit.

As one speaker said, "There is not a single community in this country that is not affected by the USO."

Three features of the USO should be pinned in the minds of the citizens. First, it is an economy formula for providing social services for the men in the armed forces; second, it offers a good social program superior to those of a commercial nature; and third, it provides the civilians with a direct participating connection with the soldiers and thus builds both war and civilian morale.

Men like Robert P. Patterson, under secretary of War; James V. Forrestal, under secretary of Navy, Lieut. Gen. Brehon B. Somervell, chief services of supply, USA; Rear Admiral Monroe Kelly, assistant chief of naval operations; Charles P. Taft, assistant director, office of defense health and welfare services; Brig. Gen. Frederick H. Osborn, chief, the special service branch; Commander John L. Reynolds, director, welfare and recreation section, Bureau of Navigation and ex-Governor Paul V. McNutt, FSA, all testified to the good achievements of the USO, telling the fund-raisers to 'carry the message to the people. They will not let you down. They will not let the Army down.'

Then there were Harper Sibley, USO board chairman, Mrs. Maurice T. Moore, chairman of the USO women's division and Prescott S. Bush, national campaign chairman, USO war fund campaign, who explained the mechanics of the organization and its efficiencies. Theirs is unpaid.

Each state or community is given permission to conduct its campaign in its own way. The governor of each state has accepted the invitation to be honorary chairman.

USO has expanded with the war effort. It has followed the boys over seas. It plans to continue to expand with the war effort. For that, a budget of 32 million has been set. It must be raised.