Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-01-14
Army Of Peace and War.

Army Of Peace and War.
How shall we protect ourselves from
foreign attack and maintain our ma
tional honor?
Would it do any good to have .
standing army Of a million men?
II so, on what basis?
Could not such an army be self-sup-
porting?
Is 1t practicable for such an army
to raise everything It needs to eat and
a surplus besides?
Would # be impossible TO have all
OF our boys (and there is an equal ar
gument for our girls) begin this edu-
cation in our primary grades, basing
the three Rs" upon the practical prin-
ciples OF life, so that at the average
age Of II. those whose parents would
not or could not provide that they may
finish their academic course, be trans
ferred to preparatory vocational schools
until the average age of II or is
years?
Would II not be much easier to re-
cruit an army of vigorous young men
by offering them education than the
present method OF attracting a lot OF
seeing the world" which in reality re-
suits in their being treated on the plane
OF servants?
Why not have every enlisted man
learn a vocation. always including as-
riculture and Its various branches. ami
NAL husbandry, veterinary science.
biackemithing. farm and other ma
chinery. saddiery. spinning. dyeing.
weaving. tailoring. building his own
barracks. cooking, baking. medicine and
surgery beginning with first add,
etc?
Suppose at the age OF 81, a million
young men could be thus graduated
back to civil life fully equipped for
their life work. and that instead OF APP
pointing friends OF our congressman to
learn snobbery. that our officers be
promoted from this army vocational
school TO merit. their finishing work to
be taken up At West Point or Annap-
oils?
Would 4, not be better national
guard to have this million young grad
yates become our first reserve. each
man being assigned to his company
and regiment and mobiIixed occasion
ally in FIRE drill?
Is there any reason why our govern
ment should not have q merging OF
interest OF our agriculture. labor. COM
merce. war. navy and other depart
,nents which are all CO. ordinated In
the Presidents cabinet?
Is there any reason why one gov
e-nmental department should not draw
strength and information firm the
Others?
Would not boys OF certain type from
preference gravitate to coast defense,
TO submarine. aviation service, cavalry.
field artillery, etc, who might prefer
20 re-enlist term after term in case
Itheir brains were not sufficient to lit
them from the ranks? Would not this
maintain the efficiency Of the regu-
lars?
Land grant colleges receiving gov
ernmental help are now required to
| include military science and have a
military office assigned for that pur-
pose Why not reverse the PROPOSE
IGon? Is there any reason why agrf-
cultural colleges should not be
strengthened and called upon for in
structors IN agriculture and farm me
chanics. etc, for the army?
The navy. the coast defense, the cav
airy. and other branches OF the service
are already training their men not
only to maintain but to manufacture
equipment. Is there any reason why
agriculture should not be made the
basic education OF the infantry?
| Every county wants not only a
county agricultural agent but as soon
as the people see the wonderful adj
vantage Of the county farm bureau
system, trained men In all technical
lines will be added to the bureaus. Why
mot train them for leadership as well
az technically while serving in our
army OF peace and Wharf.-The County
Agent.