The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1912-08-29
AMERICA BOASTS POSSIBLE
ARMY OF TWENTY MILLIONS
Rapid Increase During Last
Decade Of Males Of
Militia Age.

T is a comforting thought that I'm
Gle Sam could put into the field
IA an army OF 20.OOO,0OO men.
Folks who know this should be
able to sleep better of nights.
A preliminary statement giving for
the United States, by divisions and
states, the number of males compris-
ing the natural militia of the country
as shown by the returns Of the thir-
teenth decennial census, taken as of
April Is, 1910, has just been issued by
Director Durand of the census
In the total population of the United
States. exclusive of noncontiguous ter
ritories or possessions, there were in
1910 20,473,6S4 males of militia age
that is, males from eighteen to forty
four years, inclusive. In 1900 the
males of militia age numbered 49,
182,702. The figures for 1910 exceed
those for 1900 by 4,290,9S2. While the
total population of the country has in
creased during the decade q per cent
males of militia age have in the same
period increased 26.5 per cent. and as
a consequence they constituted a
somewhat greater proportion of the
total population in 1910 than they did
In 1900. Of the total population of
both sexes and all ages in 1910 22.3
per cent were males of militia age the
corresponding percentage for 1900 be-
ing 21.3.
The fact that males of militia age
increased more rapidly than the total
population is accounted for in part by
immigration, which has been during
the last decade to a greater degree
than in earlier years predominantly
male. Among immigrants the proper
ton eighteen to forty-four years of
age greatly exceeds the proportion in
those ages among natives, and conse-
quently the northern and western
states, to which immigrants chiefly go.
have. as compared with the southern
states. a greater proportion of their
population males of militia age. The
eastern divisions. however, lose some
portion of their adult male population
by migration westward, and an effect
of this westward migration appears
in the higher percentages shown for
the states of the Rocky mountain and
Pacific coast regions.
Western Percentage Highest.
AS compared with the general aver
age noted above for the country as a
whole Of 223 per cent. males of mill
tia age in 1910 formed 22.S per cent of
the total population in the four north
ern divisions taken together. % per
cent in the two far western divisions
and 1919 per cent in the three southern
divisions taken together. The percent
ages in the individual northern states
are. with few exceptions close to the
average for the country as a WHOLE
In the far western states they are
generally considerably above and in
the southern states generally below
this average.
Among the states the percentage for
Wyoming is highest. males of militia
age in 1910 constituting 374 per cent
of the population. Other states with
nigh percentages are Nevada. 35.9:
Montana, 1913; Washington. 1913: Ari-
iona, 2S.9: Oregon. 2S.3; California. %.
all of these states being in the Rocky
mountain and Pacific coast regions
The percentage for North Carolina,
IT'S, is the lowest
Of the 20.473,684 males of militia
age in 1910, 2,15e361 were in the sin
gle state of New York Of the in
crease for the decade, amounting to
4,2909S2. nearly one-fourth. 1,O74,424.
was in the middle Atlantic division,
comprising the states Of New York.
New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The
male population Of militia age in New
York state increased 516.966. in Penn
L ~a.a.A