Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1916-03-25
QUESTION BECOMING LIVE SUB
. JEcr IN HALLS OF CONGRESS
At WASHINGTON.
PREPAREDNESS FOR CIVIL
4.8 LIFE As WELL AS WAR
Senator Smith Fathers Idea and Points
Out Advantages - Says System
Would Tend to Eliminate Danger Of
Miiitarisnn and Break Down. Military
Caste. sE.~ ,.

ton or vocarional training for the
soldier is certain to become live sub
ject before the senate gets thru with
the consideration of the army bill. It
win not be surprising If some pro-
vision Is made in the senate whereby
the man who enlists in the army will
get industrial training in connection
with his military duties and whereby
the, enlisted man after his career in
the army will emerge into civil life
we'll fitted to take an active part
therein. 49,
In the past, congress has legislated
for the army. in blind fashion. 1t has
followed the opinion Of a few men on
the military committees who in turn
have received their inspiration and
their information from army officers.
The idea of congress taking hold Of
the military problem and solving 1t
as an original proposition. as propo-
sition that primarily has to do with
the civil life Of the nation, never &C.
Cured to most men in congress APP
parently. Latterly. there has been
disposition to wake up to this idea.
Hoke Smith Backs Plan.
Senator Hoke Smith. Of Georgia.
chairman Of the Senate committee on
education and labor. the man who
urged the idea Of federal aid in the
extension of agricultural education and
got the law relating to that subject
passed. has taken hold Of the plan OF
having the army given vocational
training. He has introduced an
to the pending army bill
on this subject. He intends to press
for the adoption Of this amendment
and he has already been assured OF
much support.
"By all means" said Senator Smith,
1--WE should add a course OF prepared
ness for civil life to the work OF the
private soldier. hope to see this done.
T do not expect TO see the whole step
taken at once. But IL will sooner or
later be taken II there is put into
the army bill this year a provision
which renuires we secretary Of war to
have a certain amount of vocational
training given the enlisted, men Of the
army along with their training IN the
military art. that will be good be-
ginning. 1t is my intention to keep at
this proposition until there has been
under which the men who enter the
army will. thru vocational training and
otherwise be given that preparation
which will fit them 70 the duties OF
civil life.
"As I have said in the senate. the
boys who took this course Of prepara-
ton would be able to go back to their
homes and their badges as members OF
the national reserve for four years
will be badges of honor. for they Will
be capable OF taking leading positions
at home The badges of a reseryist
would in that case be badge OF dis
tinction. H.
Would Break Down Military Caste.
1T is hard to overestimate the FAR
reaching effects of such "A system as
would give to the men. who serve in
the army educational and vocational
training. Itwould do away with any
danger of militarism. 1t would tend
to break down military caste. It's ef-
fects on the soldier himself in fitting
him for the duties Of civil life would
be Unreasonable. It would strengthen
the whole Industrial fabric of the ma
tiary II would vastly strengthen the
army itself as a military force, for the
army would be made up OF men eff
cient in those mechanical arts Of great
in modern war. g.
I'VE must bear in mind that the
army il of use to the nation only to
the extent it is helpful to the civil life
OF the nation. only as At makes the
civil life more secure and more per-
feet The great warriors Of the world
have been as a rule great civilians.
We must legislate for the army in
such a way as to promote the best In
terests of civil life and that believe,
we will do il we provide for proper
system Of educational and vocational
training for the soldier along with his
training on purely military lines"