Grand Forks herald., 1916-12-29
(By Florence Corbctt. !

The board of commerce in a south
ern city, believing its functions in
cluded not only the building up of
industries, but devising means to pro-
tect them. held quasi public meet
ing. and introduced the subject Of
military training for high school boys.
There were as many different opin-
ions as there were different COM
plexions among the members and
guests, and the subject was we'll pelt-
ed with objections before being res
cued by its friends. Three educators
were present by invitation, two of
whom refused to commit themselves,
being as 1t were, on the fence, and
both determined to stay there unless
pulled down by public opinion. Sew
eral arguments advanced were as fol-
lows:
idea Seems Un.Amcrican.
Common People speaks: 1.-The idea
at first seems un-American and re-
quires some mental readjustment on
our part before we can fully take it
in. We are nation Of traders, ask
ing only to be let alone but of this
we have less and less surety as time
goes on. How are we to protect the
industries we have builded? A large
standing army is against American
tradition and desires, a useless ex-
pense for people whose chosen ways
are those of peace. We have shown
at times a willingness to take ill-treat-
ment to avoid trouble with other
countries, but the choice may not be
always left to us, for we must admit
that we have of late been following
the path of opportunisnl which leads
downward and away from the ideals
of our illustrious dead who made us
what we are: while hoping for the
best. we do not as we should prepare
for the worst. The fate Of inoffensive
Belgium bids us ask ourselves If the
soothing word peace is with us a
reality, or only an anaesthetic from
which we shall awaken too late.
This is a many sided question: if
adopted it would be radical depar-
attending to his own private inter-
ests, leaving their protection to others.
II military training in the schools is
established, it would mean these flu
ture citizens must also have a part
in the public interests decided step
toward universal service
Would the boy while becoming
efficient in the use of arms becon e
less efficient in his other work?
where are the funds for equip
ment and maintenance to come from ?
Our government has the nationa'
guard on its hands; would 1t stand for
this additional burden?"
Prominent Citizen remarks: "That
his training in arms consists in Just
knowing which is the dangerous end
Of gun. and that was about all, but
he had gotten along all right SO far,
and expected his son to follow in his
thought he had. Continuing, "if a
boy is taught how to fight he is Just
going to hunt something to fight;
handling a gun will develop leaning
toward army life, and he will be no
account for anything else, and Amer
ica would soon be nothing but an
armed camp" That seemed to- se:-
tie everything, but 1t did not.
Punctures Argument.
A young man. high school instruc-
tor in Latin, asks to be heard. "Al-
though the language I teach is a dead
one, l am not The gentleman who
has just spoken did not finish his ar
gument. With all Difference, l will
say this argument is somewhat fraz-
zled, not only from over use, but
weakness of the fabric itself. II his
son Is not to be taught military pre-
paredness for fear he may join the
army. then it naturally follows ne
should never learn to use boxing
gloves. he might become prize fight
er. He should never learn to drive
an automobile, he might become a
professional racer. He should never
learn to swim, he might develop a
fondness for the water and thus get
drowned. His visits to the theater
should be restricted, he might want
to become an actor. Before all boys
with military training become pro-
fessional soldiers, all boys must have
the same temperament and we know