New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-29

have their place in sport, but there is
no reason why man cannot play
football or baseball, and play hard
throughout, without being a mucker or
a thug"
Major Palmer Pierce, L. s. A.. was
ordered from Fort Leavenworth, Kan
sas. to address the meeting. His subject
was college Athletics as Related TO
National Preparedness.
Major Pierce urged compulsory
physical training extending through
out the entire curriculum of every in
stitution of learning in the country.
He brought out that many OF the men
who came under his supervision at
the various state preparedness camps,
notably at Plattsburgh, we're physical.
~ unfit for military duty. In fact,
he characterized their physical condi-
ton as frank"
Major Pierce compared the physical
training system in this country with
that in Switzerland, which came in for
some high sounding and well merited
praise on its system of keeping citi-
zens In condition. He quoted the mes
sage of George Washington 20 the
United Stases urging training in the
broader sense. IA quoted Socrates.
Who said: mo citizen has a right
to be an amateur in the matter Of
physical training"
The speech Of the major, ~ part,
follows:
"There is a rank due TO the United
States among nations. which will be
withheld, il not absolutely lost, by the
reputation OF weakness. II we desire
20 avoid insult. We must be able TO
repel it; II We desire to secure peace,
one of the most powerful instru-
ments Of our rising prosperity, II
must be known that We arc at all
times ready for war.
"Of ell the messages OF George
Washington TO his well-beloved coun-
try none was wiser and none more
unheeded than this. Although the
history Of the United States. as we'll
as that Of other nations, sccentuates
The truth OF his words, yet our people
are just beginning 10 consider seri-
ously condition OF complete defence
Preparedness has been forced into the
foreground OF our national conscious
ness b. the logic Of events occurring
in the great European war.
Health Nations Big Asset
"Certainly one or the greatest re-
sources OF nation is large number
Of healthy citizens. Men capable OF
hearing arms are necessity for ma
tional prosperity in time OF peace and
security in time Of war.
The ancient Greeks realized this
Sparta owed her ascendsncy in the
Greek hegenony 70 the development
Of The principle OF the necessity OF
physical fitness among her people. No
other state has gone so far in this re-
spect Under modern conditions the
extreme measures taken by the Spar
tsns 10 secure citizens capable OF
bearing arms would be impracticablc
The killing at birth Of children physi-
cally defective vas only one OF the
many harsh measures used By these
aneients.
Switzerland is an example OF a
modern state that implicitly believes
in the precept Of Socrates that a citi-
zen should keep himself in good con
dition. Physical preparedness Is not
the least OF the assets of this small
country which is 80 surrounded By
powerful military neighbors that every
national resource has 10 be fully de-
veloped in order to insure il against
attack Comparative poverty. noun
famous country and general outdoor
life have developed wonderfully
siurdJ 1by, ps arnsns' he SxisA.