The Odanah star. [volume] (Odanah, Ashland Co., Wis.) 1912-1916, 1915-02-12
MAY TRAIN INDIANS
FORARMY SERVICE
Military Academy For Red
Men Is Proposed.
Commissioner Sells Looks with Favor
On Plan.

Washington, d. C.--The establish
ment OF school to train Indian boys in
military science along the lines laid down in
the course of study prescribed at West Point
is one of the possibilities of the near future
The main purpose of this proposal is to
Create an Indian reserve for use in the army
in time of war. The plan has the approval
OF army officers and others interested m the
movement to enlarge the national de1enses
1t was evolved as a result of the agitation
for larger appropriations for the army, the
navy and the marine CORPS
The bill proposing the creation of mil
itary school for Indians was offered by Re-
preventative Stephens of Texas, chairman of
the House committee on Indian Affairs.
If enacted into law it would result in the
abandonment of the present academic iinstit-
ion at Carlisle, Pa, and provide for the use
of the Indian property at that place for the
proposed military school.
That Congress in the comparatively near
future will authorize the establishment of all
Indian military school seems to be assured,
but there will be strong opposition to locat-
ing it in the East Members from the West
will insist that the school will be located
in one of the Indian states, near the region
from which such an institution would draw
its student body.
The bill provides that the Indian military
academy shall be directed by an army of off,
Ger under the supervisor of board of COM
troll, to consist of the Secretary of War, the
Secretary of the Interior and high officer
of the military establishment. 1t stimulates
that the students admitted shall be boys be-
tween II and 20 years old. Each student
would be required to sign an agreement
after graduation he would respond to any
can make on him to enter the military sry
vice Of the United sbates.
Indian Commissioner Sells is favofably
disposed toward the plan. but declined to
commit himself until the bill had been re-
ferred to him for report.
''The Stephens bill has elements that ap-
pei to me, but do not care to duScuss it
for publication at this,'' Commissioner Sells
said.
The McKelar bill providing for Federal
state and CO operat ion infurthering military
eduation would give to each state $4,000
annually on condition that the states would
prescribe ilitary studies in one or more
schools agreed further to train 800 students
year along these lines. This measure has
been approved by the Secretary of War and
has been publicly indorsed by Mr.. Hay of
Virginia, chairman of the committee on mil
itary affairs.
Through the medium of such measures
as the Stephens and Mcclellan bills it is be-
lieyed by those interested that trained re-
serves can be created that will avoid the
necessity for establishing the army of the
attacks by those who fear "militarism'' and
by those who fear the huge cost of a stand
ing army of 800, 600 or 400, 900 men. lex.
K. o, T. M. o. T. w. Tent No. 1O3,
meets the second Saturday of each month at
the NJ. w. A. hall at Odanah M. ook,
Commander; H. E. Halliday, Record
Keeper office at his home at Odanah, Wis.
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