The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1916-12-27
'lDtUIRY fAvORS
MILITARY TRAINING
Referendum Taken Shows SIS
Per Cent Favor CompuI.
sorry Service.

Endorsement OF universal military
training was given this afternoon by
Gov. Whitman and Senator Wads-
worth of New York at a special
meeting of the National Association
for Military Training, called by its
President, Lieut., Gen. S. B. M.
Young, to consider plans for the
adoption of this principle by the
people of the United States.
Proof that national military train
ing is increasingly demanded by peo-
pie in every part of the country was
furnished by the association in the
results of a canvass which indicates
an overwhelming majority in favor
of some system of compulsory mill
tary training.
The figures show that S7.5 per
cent. of those embraced in this ref
erendum favor system of univer-
sal military training. Emphasis is
laid on the fact that, whereas year
ago the cry of compulsory training
was met with opposition wherever
it was raised, today it is meeting
with unqualified support by all
classes of citizens.
Gov. whitman called specia; at
tention to the work in the public
schools of New York State as an ex-
ample to the rest of the country of
how to face the problem of adequate
national defense.
1T is easy to give figures" said
Gov. Whitman, ito show our nation
al helplessness and to show how
easily we would become a prey to
f5reign powers, but it is quite diff
ferent matter to present construc-
tive plan of action. What We have
done in New York is largely in the
nature of an experiment.
81 have been accused by many Of
being a bloodthirsty monster, simply
because I have advocated military
training for boys. / also have been
accused of trying to instill in the
youth of the State love of blood
and slaughter, simply because I ad-
vocated their learning how to use a
rifle and to shoot straight.
"One of the good by-products Of
the war in Europe has been that 1t
has aroused us to a sense of physi-
cal weakness and national unpre-
paredness. The great need of war
Is physical fitness and the willing
ness to obey, which is not a very
general American trait. Our COM
pulsion is not the compulsion which
comes from the within of a monarch.
but 1t springs from the will of the
whole people.
"Of course. We have a right to de-
mand that a citizen do something to
protect his country. There Is moth
ing more ridiculous than the sugges-
ton that compulsory service is in
consistent with American freedom
and American ideals"
Senator Wadsworth laid especial
emphasis on the undemocratic ma
ture of the present system OF volun-
tary service as one of the chief rea-
sons why he is a supporter Of COM
-7,ufs6ry training.
THE more opportunity I have of
! studying the military system Of the
United States, the more convinced
am that the volunteer system is I'M
fair and Unjust" he declared. THE
recent calling Sdt of the military for
work on the border has been largely
Q failure. because the militia Is a
force recruited in time OF peace by
voluntary methods.
ut is composed of selected few
who have chosen to do the work of
the many. Most of the men who
have been ON the border have made
great personal sacrifices, and al
though the training has done them
a lot of good. they know that they
are carrying the burden of the ma
jority. Universal training will do
lot to help solve the political and
social problems which are coming up
In the country. .
"One of the greatest of our ma
tional dangers is the creation Of q
fhss feeling. As the country grows
I'm size and population this danger
will continue to increase. ! think
that there would be no better pre-
ventive of the growth Of this spirit
than to put all young men Of the
: Nation under canvas for say six
months of their life. am a sincere
advocate Of compulsory military
training."
Adjutant General stotesbury. Of
New York. argued that compulsory
training is really an American prin-