New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-05
FOR UNIVERSAL SERVICE
Better BE Prepared Neediessly than
to Need An Army and Lack II.


To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: The Trbune's editorials are iIlumi-
mating, stimulating and patriotic to the nth
power. Why not now push crusade for
universal service?
After reading the resume Of Senator Cham
berlain's proposed bill for universal service 7
wish to express in your columns my full APP
proval Of and sympathy with the legislation
While in the past the average citizen has
probably been opposed to anything like uni
versal service, and even now the sentiment
has not entirely crystallized in favor Of the
plan, yet | believe that very many citizens
and, what IS more significant, very many who
would themselves be affected either in their
own necessary service or that Of their sons
are coming TO approve this plan. We require
jury duty and the payment Of taxes; these
are not voluntary Why should we, then,
hesitate when the question arises of giving
time and service in connection with duty
which can be only first in the hearts of
patriotic Americans that is, the duty Of ma
tional defence?
The plan, moreover, is democratic; if prop
crly carried out it should make no exception
except for illness or other disability,
or the exception Of certain classes or
professions as ministers, doctors. profes-
sors, etc. It will do much TO overcome or
reduce class feeling; but, better than all, per-
haps, It would undoubtedly be an economic
asset for the nation and for the citizens, in
divdually and collectively. It would bring
about badly needed discipline for the
ho- 80 4
law because they are authority and law. II
would occupy the minds of young men, keep
them off the streets, develop them physically,
mentally and morally, because training them
in habits Of precision, service and patriotic
duty. It would undoubtedly increase the re-
spect for the uniform, which is now sadly
lacking, to say nothing Of respect for the
flag. IL would. in other words, provide
principle, a cause" for the people generally,
and | think | am not too enthusiastic when
say that it would DO a vision Of usefulness
where there is no vision the people per-
ish."
Undoubtedly there will some opposition
mostly from two classes. First, the fem
inists of both sexes, who look upon anything
like military service with horror, though If
their own homes and lives were ever in dan
ger the chances are that they would welcome
an efficient military force as a savior. Sec
end. the type of men whom Colonel Roosevelt
so properly characterizes az "slothful" and
soft; these, engrossed in money getting and
pleasure seeking, dread and deprecate' any
thing that tends 70 stir them up and require
sacrifice or effort, intellectual or physical, in
great national questions 10 which they have
heretofore been Indifferent; not being will
ing to volunteer the time or effort themselves,
they deprecste and oppose any proposal or
plan which would either compel them to such
sacrifice or hold them up to shame and ridi-
cule for seeking to avoid it.
But even such a plan will not take the
place Of moderate, indeed, substantial, in
crease in our regular army Of professional
trained soldiers.
At best citizen army, even where univer-
sal service is required, must be lacking in
experience, in intensive training and in eff
cheney to the degree that the amount Of time
devoted to the training falls short of that
required of the professional soldier.
The professional soldier must therefore
constitute the first line Of defence and be
prepared 70 the minute TO make such de-
fence, while the citizen soldier, with a fair
amount of elementary training. must be ready
organized. ready to be modified; and rel
atively short period OF few months would
serve 20 make him ready 70 join his brother
of the regular army in the first line of de-
fence.
If Germany is successful in this war I
have no doubt that this country will within
the next few years be compelled TO set its
house in order in military way. Far bet
ter, therefore, for us TO look the situation
squarey in the face and make ready NOW for
the possible contingency.