Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1916-04-27
P0oIlo sEMTlmeMT GROWING
FoR SWISS DEFENSE PLAN.
6llitary Experts and Famous Et-
ucators Advocate the Principle
Of Universal Training Of Coun-
try's Youth-Dr. Eliot Under.
eoss q Change Of Mind.

try's .Youth-Dr. Eliot Under
eoss q Change Of Mind.
GIRO mthe Spokane Spokesman
Review
Major General Leonard Wood
told the senate committee on mil
nary affairs that the fundamental
basis of any policy of adequate
national defense must he the
principle that with suffrage goes
an obligation for military ser
vice.
General Woods Judgment is
corroboratcd by Tho csncrt jude-
ment of practically every author
lily in the land. Major Genera,
Hugh L. Scott, chief of staff, is
for obligatory service.
what do you believe should
be done if this continental army
plan fails?" General Scott was
asked when testifying recently
before the house committee on
military affairs.
I'VE must then resort to COM
pulsory military service" he re-
piled. II believe that all civ
ilized countries today which are
In danger of invasion are being
forced to adopt this policy. Eng
land has been forced to il even
at this late date"
but England only resorted to
1T in time Of war, suggested Rep
resentative Quinn of Mississippi.
ut would have been far better
for her if she had reached that
point before the war was de-
clared," returned to chief of staff.
Secretary Garrison would pre-
fer compulsory military service,
and only refreins from urging it
as he frankly admits, because he
doubted that congress woAld as
sent TO it at this time.
Former Secretary Of War for II.
Former Secretary Of War Henry
l.. Stimson is for. it. In a recent
letter to Brigadicr General F. H..
Crowder, judge advocate general,
Mr.. Stimson said:
~ lina very rapidly growing
and already widnsmroad Viii
ment that universal military
training, or at least UNIVERSAL
liability TO military training, is
not only the most effective. hut is
g 30 the most democratic and fair
way of treating the subject, and
4 shall keep myself free to preach
that, with a view tn what be-
licsc to be the certain neccssi-
ties of the future, as we'll as the
only ultimate safety Of the re-
public.
Senator Chamberlain, chair
man of the senate committee on
military affairs. is for it and has
introduced n Hill modelled on tho
Swiss plan of national defense.
When he introduced his bill it was
avowedly with an educational
purpose to arouse interest and
stir discussion. hui he now hc-
licvcs that il would have public
approval if passed at this sos
sion.
Q. w. Es'et ras Change Of naind.
Anprova! OF the principle is
cominc from unexpected sources.
For example. TN" note deducator,
Charles w. Eliot. president emcr-
titus of Harvard college, has no.
come convinced, aeans! his pre-
,9~ions belief. That universal mil
itary training and liability 10
sservn ntime OF war should ne
the hest so',tion of our military
problems. The distance Travelled
by Mr.. Eliot's mind in recent
months is striking!y measured by
The following:
Before the Massachusetts Com
mission Last October.
II am a believed in the volun-
,tarN system OF enlistment anC
therefore a voluntary system iI
training for war. and also fol-
peasr purposes. believe that
superior efficiency can he oh
tanned under the voluntary sys-
tenn, both in fighting and in in
dustr:cs II seems to me there is
very great objection to inter
fering with the personal liberty
of the American citizen. II is he
cause of the personal liberty o1
the American citizen that this re-
public EXISTS.
esoent Letter 10 New York rlmes
Moreover the kind of arm,
which the United States has thus
far maintained has become obso-
~letc. If competent army is to
be maintained by tho I'nitct
States it must be filled and KEEP
full on the principle of universe
service as a duty to ones coun.
Try and tn VI" cause of dcmoc.
-racy throughout tho world.
at this moment tho American
lpeop'c do not seem to have mad,
sup it's minds that it need TO or
Eanizc and sunnort a competcn
army in the modern sense; bu
whenever it decides to do so II j!