Omaha daily bee., 1915-11-23

its citizens their proper share Of COM
mercisl and industrial growth. without
providing American vessels TO carry
abroad the products Of their energy and
enterprise. There are many ways In
which ships may be provided. but they
must be built, manned and maintained.
IL we are to live up to our rcsponsiibu-
ties and our opportunities
The Navy.
When we take our proper place as a
great commercial and industrial nation.
we must have a navy powerful enough
to protect our commerce and our coasts.
The dreadnRught seems TO have had its
day. The submarine and the aeroplane
have come TO stay. We should be care
ful not to sink too many millions In old
line battleships, but we should build a
navy, efficient for defense along modern
lines.
The Army.
We have no need OF large standing
army. We do need 10 provide the ma
terial and the machinery for the crea-
uon OF an army. When the European
war Is over, the nations engaged IN Il
viii be exhausted physically and finan-
cially. and we will be safe from attack
Tor generation OF for q decade at least
II is not the immediate future, but the
more remote future. for which we must
prepare. Why not provide military train
Ing for the boys and young men In the
high schools. normal schools colleges and
universities of the country The govern
meut could furnish the instructors and
the equipment; otherwise there would be
no expense. The training should be vol
untRry, so that Il would be OPTIONAL with
the student and his parents to take Il
or leave It, Nearly all of the students
would take It. Such course would
strengthen the boys physically. mem
tally and morally. 1t would straighten
them up, teach them obedience and make
them more manly; and Il need not take
them one day out OF agricultural. com
mercial. industrial or professional pur.
suits. At the end OF the school or college
course, they would go back to theiI
homes and their business. no more sub
ject to military duty than any other
citizen. large standing army IL alway,
burden upon the backs of the people.
II is Of necessity an idle army. II Ia
alien In spirit, and not in contact or
sympathy with everyday business inter-
ests. The young man who would receive
military training in the schools. colleges
and universities would be and remain
part of their own communities. They
would represent the spirit of the home
They would not be a burden, but bene-
fit, and they would have instilled into
them. through the training received. a
spirit of loyalty and patriotism difficult
for them to obtain in any other way. I'm
der such a system, In due time-in ample
time-we would have millions of young
men trained for defensive, but not Rg-
gressive, warfare. In the meantime
business men are organizing TO take mill
tary training on their own account, which
will be an excellent experience for them
and an additional protection to the coun.
try.
Mexico.
"War is the worst OF the remaining
brutalities OF life. SO far as the Euro
pean war Is concerned, we have main
tanned an impartial attitude of neutrality;
and the country generally. regardless OF
party has rallied to the support of the
president in his efforts to maintain peace.
In it's attitude towards Mexico the admin