Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-04-27
WOULD COMPEL
MILITIA SERVICE
Captain w. F. Purdy, Head Ma
val Reserves, Says Army
Is Necessary.
INsPECTs LOCAL DIVISION
Lack of Interest by People of City In
Local Organization DepIored
by Commander.

Compulsory service in the state NIL
litia and naval reserves Is advocated
nv Captain w. F. Purdy OF chicago
commanding the Illinois Naval he
serves. who was a visitor in ROCK Is
land this week. Captain Purdy, VINO
is a splendid physical example Of what
military training does for man, ex-
plains in detail the plan he would IKE
TO see adopted throughout the nation.
He says:
every young man who reaches the
age of IS years should become mem
Der of the naval reserves or state NIL
litia. | advocate three years OF COM
pulsorv service in these military or
CARNATIONS for every able-bodied young
man in the nation. This service Will
devotion his character and make him
moral, Iaw-abiding citizen for the re-
mainder of his days. 1t will teach
him patriotism and respect for his
country and flag.
sThis compulsory service would not
inconvenience the young men IN any
way. They would be required TO de-
vote only one or two nights each week
to il. and this is no more than many
of them will devote to their lodge
when they become a little older.
realize that my view in the matter is
not the view of many, but compulsory
service would mean much TO the
young men, TO the nation, to the ma
tionaI guard and the naval militia"
Laughs at Disarmament.
Captain Purdy smiles when the ques-
ton of disarmament is brought up IN
his presence. Instead of dlsarmlng ne
thinks America should arm itself all
the more strongly and should be ready
for events of the future.
"Our nation is a great nation, put
If is like a big man with fabby mus
cles. 1t won in its war with Spain,
but in my opinion the victory came be-
cause the Spaniards did not play their
cards right Had Cervera remained in
the harbor of Santiago just few
weeks longer the typhoid fever which
was eating away the ranks of our
army back of the city would have com
pleted its mission. The result would
have been different.
Were Not Ready Then.
1--WE were not ready for war then
Our boys had oId-fashioned muskets
ians picture it. l was there, and
know. The army is in ten times bet
ter condition now than it was then
The nation has awakened somewhat
and has come to realize that 1t must
be ready. There will be another wal
in the future and the enemy will moi
be weak Spain. My fear is that this
country will get a licking that viii
teach it a hard lesson"
Captain Purdy is proud of the Illinol:
Naval Reserves. 1t is now composed
of 10 divisions and has the reputation
of being the best naval militia in th'
country. The Rock Island and Molin'
divisions are the only ones below
standard.
DepIOres Lack of Interest.
Monday night he inspected the loca
division. 1t was found to have only 3
members, when it should have "a
Lieutenant Kemmerling and the men
bers of the division are enthusiastic
but Captain Purdy says that the Who'll
city must be back of the division If
is to succeed.
Rock Island promised to do thing
for its division five years ago and
is still promising" were the words c
the commanding officer Il would Xix
20 see the city help the local organ
ization. In other cities of the stat
the best families of the community ar