Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-02-13
RIFLE PRACTICE.

The boys of the nlgn scnOol die VI
ganizing rifle club and Will apply 10
the federal government for rifles and
ammunition in accordance with law
which is aimed to encourage the youth
of the land in acquiring skill Win
the rife-that last resource OF nations
in protecting themselves from enc
mics. The boys deserve encourage
ment in their plans. Learning to
handle rifle is not developing war
like spirit: it is simply adding an
accomplishment which may come IN
very useful at some time and which
will have undoubted good results In
diyidually. Organization of school
rifle clubs should not be frowned upon
q. conducive to militarism, but should
be looked upon as sport IN Wnlcn
a true eve and steady nerves are
cultivated and developed. And If the
rife clubs were more numerous, IL
dozen or so of them existed IN every
community this country would De IN
better shape to continue it's present
dependence upon "a citizenry trained
to the use of arms" instead or IN q
huge standing army as Is the case III
most other countries.
Opponents of q larger army are
prone to point to the American revo-
luton and to the civil war TOT ex-
amples of the type of soldier that the
American citizen makes. The MARKS
manship Of the Americans who fougnt
the soldiers of King George In 70
undoubtedly won the liberty which
Is this country's proudest boast and
the Workmanship of the federals and
confederates in the civil war made
that war the bloody contest it was.
Ant the American of those days was
different from the American Of today.
Then the bulk of the country's popu-
lation lived in rural communities
where hunting was an everyday mat
ter AZ much q part of the days work
os ANYTHING else for hundreds of
thousands of Americans. That the
men of '76 and 81 should nave Deeh
good marksmen is no wonder. iney
grew up with guns in their hands ana
like Daniel Boone felt that the SOUR
rel which had not been shot IN the
eve did not count. In the days strins.
But today the country IS more mick
" settled, the bulk of population IS
urban and hundreds Of thousands OF
the men who would be expected 10
defend this country from foreign
foe have never even shot rlne at
target. Men can learn to drill and TO
carry guns in a few months, but un-
less they can send bullet to the
mark when the time comes for shoot-
dne they are useless as soldiers. Inc
real problem Of getting up an army
on short notice Is not to get the men
but to get men capable and prepared
to really fight If President Wilson
issued a call today for million vol
unteers to fight off an invader, the
million would be forthcoming In Few
hours. but it would be months Delore
thev would know how to use efhclent-
" the weapons that would be placed
in their hands.
But with the youth of the land train
ed 70 handle rifles during their n1gn
school and college days, there would
be more reason to place dependency
In the "citizenry trained to the use
OF arms" than is the case today.
Let the boys have their rife club.
Encourage them to want to excel as
marksmen. In order to DO SO tney
will have to be sure of steady hand
and sharp eyes and they can't nave
steady hands and sharp eyes unless
thew avoid many bad habits that are
lying in wait for idle boys. And If IN
addition to their rife practice, they
form drill team and learn something
about military maneuvering, better
still. Would that all the boys IN the
nation were familiar with military
drills and the handling OF rifles. IL
would greatly relieve the minds OF
those who realize that the army upon
which the nation today depends for de-
tense is only about twice the size OF
the police force Of New York City and
that with the additions that have been
asked for it by the secretary OF war,
it could still be comfortably seated
in the Yale athletic bowl.
DEPRESSION IN THE EAST.
An Ottumwa business man who has
lust returned from his spring buying
&ho ooe+ ron0rtS that this sec.