The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-06-06
SAID INTEREST Is LACKING
GENERALLY IN The MILITIA
APATHETIc ATTITUDE OF PUBLIC
TOWARD SoLDlERY.
EXISTING CONDITIONS NOT AT
TRAcTlVE

meut take. IL any. 10 put new life and
vigor into the National Guard? VIII
the bill allowing the national guards
man one-fourth the pay of a regular
army officer prove an antidote To the
wiles OF the modern social features
and other things that are eating out
| the interest the young man of today
might otherwise have i'm things mill
tary?
These are the questions that are
puzzlng every NationaI Guard officer
today. Never in the history OF the
country has there been such a lack Of
interest on the part of the young
men I'm the National Guard. not only
I'm Michigan but all over the United
States.
There are many reasons given for
this. Since the enforcement of the
Dick bill, which made actual work
of the militia, membership has de-
creased. The cutting out Of the social
features has made military life less
attractive to the would-be soldier. He
looks into the thing. sees work and
then more work ahead of him, and all
the patriotism i'm his make up is not
sufficient to tempt him TO enlist In
an organization that pays nothing for
drilling once a week, and fines him
500 IL he misses a drill, as i'm the
case i'm some states.
Means Hard Work Now
There are many influences to con-
tend with i'm securing recruits de-
clares Major Earl r. Stewart. 'ln the
days when there was a bright social
side To the National Guard, IL was
easy enough to get enlistments. But
things are different today. The Ma
tional Guard is looking 90 young men
who are, earning their living, many of
them working 10 hours day, and
after a days work do not feel like
going down To the armory and drill
ing hard. They are given 10 days
vacation which is spent i'm camp. This
is also hard work. Trey start I'm at
i'm the morning and work until 3
at night. There is nothing easy in
the work either II is hard discipline.
When they receive their pay they must
put So back to keep up the organiza-
ton through the year. Some years
ago clerks and others of similar lines
we're interested, ana enlistments from
this class were many Today ii Is
the young man from the factory who
is going i'm. and not of the highest
skilled labor eitrer Yet withal he
must be physically perfect and have
at least average intelligence.
There are so many more things 10
attract the young man of today that
the military officer is up against n
hard proposition when it comes to re-
cruits. There are the clubs, the
amusement parks and thousand and
one other things to divert the atten-
ton of the young man. Then, too, the
union men as rule are against the
National Guards. not as an organized
body, but as individuals"
as matters stand today" said an
other militia officer, Gin the militia
there is not a man, from the highest
officer to the private. who is not out
of pocket, financially. by the mere
reason of his membership i'm the mill
tia.
Now, as to army officers needed for
instructors of the militia, they are
needed very much, but let us have
the militia first.
1--WE are obliged TO acquaint each
man with the duties required of aim
before he enlsts; also the laws and
regulations which govern his acts.