The states-graphic. (Brownsville, Tenn.) 1???-1984, 1916-09-29
NEW YORK SETS
PATRIOTIC EXAMPLE
Governor Whitman Signs Laws Mod
eled on the Swiss System and the
Plan Proposed by President Jeifer-
son More than Century Ago.
(From the spOkesman-Reyiewl

4 Bills passed by the New York leg
islature and signed by Governor Whit
man, write into the statute law of that
great state the principle of compulso-
ry military training and service. One
law authorizes the board of regents
to provide the compulsory physical
training for all public and private
school pupils more than eight years
old.
This, of course, aims at training di-
vested of military aspect. 1t seems
roughly modelled on the Swiss plan.
where physical training is compul-
sorry, but military training is kept out
of the schools. Wisely, as in Switz-
erland, this training is for the girls as
well as the boys.
at is not military training at all, !"
explains DR.. Theodore Christiau, a
former captain in the Swiss citizen
army, when testifying recently before
the senate committee at Washington.
these boys at the school never see
rifle. They take their gymnastic ex-
ercises with wands, and have body
bending exercises, right and left turn,
etc, but it is not really military.
rs this physical training by teach
er who does nothing else"
"Oh, no." replied DIR. Christen. an
country village which has only two
teachers each must be able to teach
gymnastics"
Where does he learn that?
He learns that first of all in his
school teacher training, the so-called
normal school, and he learns it in the
army in that company of school teach
ers such as were trained at Lucerne."
There is no bar to the employment
of women school teachers?"
"Oh, no, absolutely none. There are
a great many, but not as many in pro-
portion as here = *The CEN
trail government has the right to de-
mand certain gymnastics. First of
all, there is place around the school
house where gymnastics can take place
Second, few simple apparatus, hori-
zontal bars. You see them around ev-
cry school house."
Governor Whitman also signed the
Welsh-Slater bill for the compulsory
training of the male youths Of the
state between 16 and 10 years Of age.
excepting those regularly employed as
a means of livelihood, the course to be
given after school hours.
These measures, however, aim at
future preparedness, for the physical
training,f first, of the child, and after
that military training of the youth
is a matter of several years. For
immediate resources the Legislature
passed and the governor signhd 4
third messss.~ thaai--ra-fss ~
~ the plan proposed by Presiddt JEFF
ferson more than a century agA It
authorizes the governor to order the
enrolment of all male citizens between
the ages of Is and As; and from this
time he may order a draft at any
time, whether the country be at peace
or war, in order to bring the national
guard or any detachment of it up to
the full and required strength.
In these laws, signed by Governor
Whitman after he had given careful
hearing to protesting pacific delega-
tions, New York has set a sagacious
and patriotic example as to the other
states. They are fundamentally sound
in EMBELLISHMENTS, just and de-
pendable. If. the other states will en-
ulate New York, the national defense
will be lifted out of the mists and
swamps of uncertainty to the solid
ground of the mathematical fact.
Under the volunteer system every
thing is left to unknown and unknow-
able response. Few are trained, and
none required to serve. The nations
manhood goes flabby in peace and in
efficient in war. 1t has taken the Brit.
ish Empire nearly two years to make
ready to fight, and if France and Rus
STA had depended on the British plan
of voluntary service the war would
have been over long ago, with Ger
many the conqueror of all Europe and
casting about for new worlds to con-
quer across the seas.