Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1916-03-01

have been bit startling to the coun-
try to learn that much more than one
fifth Of these boys were slated for
return to civil life
The ships of the navy constitute this
country's first line Of deferEs. The
ships must be Offered by men trained
to the work. So it follows that the
United States Naval academy where
the officers are trained is an important
factor in the solidity of the first line
Moved by a desire to learn some
thing about the real conditions in the
case. ] went to Annapolis. II may be
gratifying to the public to learn that
the middies' misfortunes are not so
great as they have been chronicied Il
10 true that 220 of them in one way or
another have been found to be not
quite up to the high-tide mark in some
study or other. but unquestionably it
will be necessary to discharge only
about fifty Of the young sailors from
the service. II is not large number
when consideration is given to the
high standard of the study and dis
cipline requirements of the United
States Naval academy.
Many Officers Are Necessary.
There are about 400 ships of all
kinds. classes and conditions in the
United States navy. On one of the big
ships alone between thirty or forty
officers. irrespective of chaplains, doc
tors and marine officers, are required
for duty. OF course on the smaller
ships the number is much less, but 1t
can be seen that huge number of
men trained to command is needed for
the service.
In addition to the officers on ship
and sea service, hundreds of others
are needed for the construction and
other bureaus and for service in the
department at Washington. The Uni
ted States navy has not enough off,
GERS for its service as it stands today.
1t is expected that before congress adj
journs legislation will be enacted to
increase the attendance at the naval
academy by 300 students. The house
has passed the bill When this legis-
lation is complete there will be 1900
youngsters studying modern seaman
ship in all its branches, and even then,
with the ship increases planned for
the navy itself, Annapolis will not be
able to graduate enough officers to fill
the needs in the case.
Take it all in all. the discipline at
Annapolis is nothing like as strict as
ID is at West Point. although it is vast
ly stricter than it is at any civilian
school in the United States; and yet it
is not strict enough, as some people
view it. for the good OF the service.
Child Labor BilPs Prospects.
The child labor bill has been passed
by the house of representatives 1t
is the belief that the measure will
pass the senate and If so it is GER
tain to be signed by the presi-
dent. The friends of child labor legis-
lation say that it is a at companion
for preparedness measures. and the
argument made is that legislation safe
guarding the health of the children
will insure that real manhood and real
womanhood are TO be treasures of the
nation in the future.
The basis of the child labor bill
which the house of Representative has
ssed by an overwhelming vote is to
forbid the entrance into interstate
commerce of any goods in whose
manufacture the labor of children I'M
der fourteen years of age has entered.
1t also forbids interstate commerce in
goods which children under sixteen
years of age have helped to make. pro-
vided they were compelled to work at
night or longer than eight hours.
Child labor legislation has an inter-
esting history in congress. Some eight
or ten years ago strong effort was
made by one or two senators to secure
a patient hearing on a bill much like
that which has just passed the house.
They could not get hearing. When
the proponents of the bill spoke in its
behalf senators left their seats for the
cloakroom or for the restaurant. In
the house of representatives there was
every evidence that child labor legisla-
tion would be given scant considera-
tion. Republicans and Democrats alike
were against it except in some rare
instances.
Great Change In Sentiment.
It was said that the legislation
struck at the roots of state rights, that
ft invaded the sacred precincts of the
home and robbed the father and the
mother of the right to do what they
wanted to do with their children.
Actually it was intimated by some Of
the members of congress that II the ia
ther and mother wanted to work their
children "a hours day. the state had
no right to interfere.
What a change has come over con-
gress since the day when child labor
legislation was sneered at and spoken
of as unconstitutional, disruptive OF
the home life. and. as an army officer
might put 1t. "pretudicial to good or
der and national discipline. II some
one eight years ago had suggested that
such a measure eventually would go
through the house by majority which
made the minority look like a fly
speck. he would have been put down
as lunatic. and yet this very thing
has happened. Democrats, Republic
ans. Progressiyes voted for the child
labor bill and only a handful of irrec-
oncilables was TO be found to vote