The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1916-03-17
Officers Hoped to Present
Full Ranks at Federal
Inspection
POINTED COMMENT
BY CAPTAIN GIBSON
Town Formerly Supported Company
and Battery Community Too High
/ ly Organized - Business Men Asked
to Encourage Enlistments

Editor of The Reformer =
The annual federal inspection Of Com
pany | takes place Wednesday evening,
March -. This inspection furnishes an
nual information to the war department
as to the condition of the company.
The officers have hoped to present a full
company, but we will fall short. Bratfle-
boro was, only few years ago, able not
only to support a company but a battery,
and each organization had long waiting
list The officers of this one company
have done all in their power to recruit it.
| If others can do better, we are ready to
resign and enlist as privates.
| Why this lack of patriotism on the part
of our young men? The greatness of
town consists not only of its business
| growth, but the maintenance of every pub
Mic organization and in the growth of a
| spirit of service. The reason for the sit
uation was, think, we'll stated by one of
the speakers at the recent meeting, when
he said in substanc that this community is
too highly organized, with too much going
on every night to take up the time. As |
meet some of the young men of the town
and mentally note what they are doing and
what they are not doing, just where they
are drifting, | feel keen sense of regret
that | have not the power to call them
from the sissifying influence of lives of
pleasure to the better life of doing some
thing substantial The worst school for
a boy is the one where he can pass his
time in idle pleasure, following his own
viii, an existence which while it softens
the hands hardens the heart" Boys with
such training may become ornamental but
entirely useless members of society.
/, We get nothing of that in Company /.
Il
under discipline. He is made to do things
and to know how to do them. He is
Taught self reliance and respect for author
Iity What is the result? \ large major
jity of the business men of the town and
in fact over 300 reliable men of the com
munity have served their time, and these
ARE the men who have made .Brattleboro,
/ Company | today is made UP of men of
excellent character. In that respect the
men can match those of any organization.
No young man should be ashamed to join.
The shame is that the young men do not
join.
i This is the last appeal we can make
through the press. / do wish to urge
every young man who can pass an examl-
nation to join right away. There Is ne
, good reason for not doing so Every OBJ
) lection can be met.
u / ne employers OF LABOR can DS oi BIedt
: help. / want to urge upon them the ne
! .csssity of following the patriotic action o
business men all over the country, that o
, Encouraging service OF employees. Many
: pay their men for time at muster Nearly
. all employers give them their time il
addition to their regular vacations. Man!
: manufacturing concerns are paying thei
employees who are serving in the militi
: additional to their regular pay. One o
the largest employers of labor in the coun
: try closes his plant while the men go t
> muster. The action of the Vernon
Il Il I Printing company in paying employees whe
u in service ought to be followed general
Z in this community.
T Now, may rely upon the business me
s. of Brattleboro for assistance in the way {
encouraging enlistments?
a Men are furnished uniforms and equil
n tment, pay for time at muster and drill
% free use of Armory, and good association
ri You who wish to be of some real servi'