Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-03-02
BOyce Explains Economy
and Efficiency Of His
Army Training Plan


Chicago, H.. Mar 2.-An outline of
how his proposed Vocational Army
training school plan, endorsed by Pres
ident Wilson, may be economically, eff
ficiently and quickly started throughout
the country. mas been written by W. D.
Boyee of tne Boyce publications. In
brief, Mr.. BOyce suggests that a vO-
cational and army training school be
added to each state college under fed
eral aid and guidance. Concerning the
plan, President Wilson, in his recent
western trip, said in part:
''Ne ought to have in this country
a great system Of industrial and voca-
tiOnal education under federal guidance
and OF will he perfectly feasible and
highly desirable TO add to that and to
combine with it such training in the
mechanism and use and care of arms,
in the sanitation of the camp, in the
simpler forms OF maneuver and organi-
zation. as will make these same men iu-
dustrially and individually seryiceable
for national defense.
1.-THE point about such a system will
be that its emphasis will lie on the in
dustrial and civil side of life. so that
men will tnink first of their families
and daily work and their services in|
the economic fields of the country. and
only last of all to their seryicabiity To.
the nation as soldiers and men at arms.
Tint is tne ideal Of America. ~ Mr..
Boyce in part SAYS:
''To start the Army Vocational
= 90 oil hU
United States army training barracks
lfor drilling and living mrposes) to
be added TO the state colleges, with a
corps of military instructors, equipment.
etc, all of which can easily be provided
by the federal government. All the ex-
penseS of this addition must be borne
by the United States, which furnishes
board, lodging and clothing for the
young men VINO take the course. The
government does this in exchange for.
the student S services while he is be-.
lng- trained to be a fit soldier. The
state furnishes the instruction in the
trade, profession or occupation which
the student elects to take. He is put to
no expense and he remains i'm the Voca-
tional Army school two years or more.
gong to his classes like any student i'm
a college, but being under regular army.
discipline and living in barracks. Al
ter his graduation ne is subject to the
call of the United States government
for military service, but he goes into the
trade, profession or occupation in which
he has been instructed and in which he
is a finished product.
We have frequently called attention
to the fact that s. per cent of the bows
of the United States are obliged to 90
to work to support themselves at the
finish of their common school educa
tion, going without the vocational train
ing which they want and need. The
Vocational Army schools would give ev
cry boy, whether his parents are poor,
Weil-to-do or rich, an equal chance to
get a practical education and at the
same time fit himself to aelp defend his
country.
The federal government would be
doing only what it now does. in furnish.
ing military instruction, board and
lodging, clothing and equipment to its
regular soldiers and at half expense.
for it would not pay salaries to the stu.
dents. The states would be doing only
what they should do, in furnishing edu
cluonal facilities for their citizens The
young men attending the Vocational
Army schools would not be kept out of
productive work, as the regular soldiers
are. When the soldier goes back to
civilian life, his productive capacity is /
not increased, but when the graduates
OF the Vocational Army schools 20 into
Nn.aHH