New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-20

things other ways are not Gust as GOOD
When they come 10 apply their lnteligehee,
70 the subject they find that the way ina
has been selected is the most expeditious ano
the most effective. and that results are oo
tanned by subordination TO Intelligent direc'
ton and by prompt coordination IN execution
that could be obtained in no other manner
Furthermore, found the general tone OF
the place reassuringly high. | do not mean
that there were no men of rowdy tendency IN
camp or that such men were always sup
pressed. But | do mean that nave never
seen large body Of men, in college or OUT
where there was less of the rowdy spirit and
in which its occasional manifestations were
so easily queled. Nor have | ever seen
large BODY OF men in whose habtual speech
there was so small an admixture of profanity
and obscenity. have been told that state
ments have been published that run directly
counter TO that which | have just expressed
and particularly that it has been said that
the officers were in the habit of cursing at
the men.
Few Excuses.
Naturally, such statements are not the sub
jet of sweeping denial by any individual on
the basis of his own limited experience. But
should be greatly astonished il q canvass OF
the 5000 men who attended the September
camp would develop handful who would not
testify that the conduct of the regular Off
GERS was uniformly exemplary. who would
not ridicule the statement that the officers
were in the habit of cursing the men or that
their conduct was in any way lacking in cour-
tesv or kindliness, and who did not find IN
the quiet efficiency Of the regular officers ar
inspiring example. This would be my testi-
mony and that Of every man who expressed
himself in my hearing while was there.
Furthermore, there seemed TO be little OF
the indulgence in alcoholic or other excuses
such as not infrequently characterize large
gatherings Of men, and while not all the men
conformed TO the advice of the officers 70 cut
out intoxcants entirely during the month OF
training, | knew Of no case of intoxicatior
while | was in camp, and | was not infre-
quently at the cafes and barrooms, wher'
one would expect TO find occasional evidence
Of intoxication il there had been any eXces
sive drinking. There was certainly much less
evidence of drinking and other excuses thar
is 10 be found in the average college commu
nifty, and am persuaded that no one who ia
undeterred from sending his boy TO colleg,
by the fear of "barrack room influences" need
fear the effects of the msssing Of youth that
takes place in the military training camps.
Intensive Training.
The reason for this is not far 70 seek. II
lies in the intensive character OF the train
ing. The life led at Plsttsburg is not such
as would ordinarily be led by men in an
army in times of peace. with many hours Of
leisure and much surplus vitality TO be
worked of in those leisure hours. but approx
imately the life OF a command At front
whore activity is constant and where there is
neither time nor energy for much else than
the military business in hand Hence, the
regime Of the men spproximstes more nearly
that led by the colegian in training for ath
etic honors than that Of the average man in
or out of college. This regime. II applied
as there is every reason why It should BE-