The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-10
TRAINING school BOYS
Places Where tho Military Idea Has Been
Incorporated in School Course
HAMMER IN WEIGH II Is DONE
Opinion OF Colonel E. H. Ripple on
the Subject-Idea Has Found Favor
With Some of the Most Disting.
uished Men in the CountrY-useful-
ness of Military Training to the
Country in Time Of War.

ing made throughout the country TO
school boards by the Grand Army Of the
that military instruction be
aaopted,by municipal, state and national
auG particularly in view Of
the recent suggestion from III, Grand
Army posts OF this city TO the UOdrd of
control, THE TRIBUNE has sought in
formation and opinions on the subject
from several authoritative military
men in Scranton,
The idea ia not new hut has been ad-
vDncet bv many of the most promi
ueut men in the country TO such an sS-
tent that military training in many
cities of the Union is now compulsory
or voluntary.
A partial let Of cities where such in-
structon is obligatory is as followa:
Boston, Brookline, HYDE Park, Lowell,
Lynn, New Bedford ana Woburn, Mas.
sachusetts; Butte City. Mont. Colorado
Springs Col; Concord N. H.; New
rort, KY; Washington, D. c.. ana
Youkers, NJ Y, Military training is
voluntary IN n large number Of muaic.
ipal.tiea, among wnich are the follow
ing Bangor; C'oainnatt; Columbia, s.
O.; Council Bluff and Des Moiuas l.. 4;
GeDeva and Port Jervis N. Y. Jersey
City and Pa5saic; L0Eausnort, Ind ;
Omaha; Seattle; Superior Wis Tauu-
Ton, NJ SIS, and Niuoua, Miu1. From
these lists ii viii be seen that for now
ilea ita practices are very generally in
operation.
COLONEL RIPPLE FAyORs 1T.
Colonel p. II. Ripple is heartily In
favor Of the adoption of military in
sruction in tie public schools Q'
Scranton, and when asked by q IRB.
UNE reporter for his opiuiOn on the pro.
j-ot, said:
"Ihe policy Of the Uuitei States in
maintaining small standing army
caves the defence of tho country ia
time Of wGr to rest upon hasty levie5 Uf
volunteers. but the rapility with which
wars advance nowadays has reduced
the time for instruCting such levies to
a very small period. To provide agaius5
such a contingency is tue main reason
lor Jhe movement 10 train our youth so
.ha. they may be properly instructed
ana prepared to rally to the protection
Of the country 1T short notice. Ga the
other hand such instruction will be of
mental and physical benefit which
will stand them in good stead during a
lifetime in pursuits of peace.
1.-THE position of the Grand Army of
the Republic in the matter is well
illustrated by their endorsement of the
language of General Harrison, who
said: Tho organized army Of the
United SCates, even if we include the
state militia is of insignificant proper
tions when contrasted with the armies
of the other great powers. Our
strength is not in these; it is in tue
great reserve 10 be found in the in
structed young Of our land, VINO come
to its defense in time Of peril
WHAT MILITARY TRAINING WILL DO.
Every properly the Grand Army
recommends tho adoption Of course
Of military training among scholars in
public and private schools, as we'll rs
in high schools and colleges. Il will
impress upon the rising generations
the fact that, as American citiz5us. it
is their duty to bring to the defence of
their country in tins of need the elu-
cation of youthful days. At the last
natioual encampmept Of department
commanders special attention was given
to bring about this object, and posts OF
the various cities are pledged TO ac.
comphsh the result and to cooperate
with school boards in Obtaining, when
required, national aid by provision of
arms, equipments ana instructors"
4 fact which will have much weight
in eventually bringing the matter OF
military instruction into general adOp.
lion by schools throughout the land, is
that the idea is approved by some OF
the most prominent and public spirited
men Of the Republic. Among these
might he mentioned General Harrison,
Governor Roswell p. Flower, Captain
&. l. u linski Joseph J. Little, Cen
eral II. w. Slocum, General George
". Wingate, General Horace Porter,
Whitelaw Reid, Charles A, Dana and
ST. Clair McKelway,
After an exhaustive Investigation,
the CON mittee appointed TO report on
the original resolutions commeuding
military instruction in the schools, rec
ommandod the project without reserve
or conditions. The committee was
composed OF Captain b. L. Zllinski, OF
ihs Fifth United SJatos artillery
Floyd Clatksou and Joseph J. Little.
Of New York Excerpts from their re-
port are as follows: 10 be potentially
strong In men and money docs no
alone ensure effective and prompt nc
zion; organization and military train
| ing are requisite. II is contrary 10 oul
Republics spirit 10 maintain 8 large
standing army; we lock TO the people
Tor defense and they must have mill.
tary training, which by universal ser
vice, as in other countries, is entirely
out of the question with ours b.
causing military instruction to be
given during school years nothing 4
takon from the productive energies Of
the country.
ENCOURAGES MENTAL yIGOR.
ron the contrary physical training
encourages aud enhances the physioa
and mental vigor Of the boys, teacht
them useful habits Of order and SUB
ordination, tends to give executive
ability and sends them into the actiy,
world better fitted to cope with III
difficulties"
The objection might be raised tbo
the military feature Of education woulD
detract from mental studies. From 40
investigation Of the methods employed
generally in cities which have adoptei
tho project, this objection is plaial.
and successfully met.
Boys of all ages ara drilled fiiteol
minutes oach day in setting up exer
cises, facing and salutes aud marching
| by squads, and boys over 12 years o
age are drilled from one TO two hour
per week in the exercises mentioned
1 and In the manual Of Grns and in com
pany and battalion formation. Whor,
| teachers were not familiar with th,
drill the services OF volunteers from
the national guard have been secured
AS proficiency increased, much of tb
drill was conducted by the officers an,
non.commissione force of the schoo
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