Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1917-02-23
employed in preserving the security
of our nation.

M1 xAD 1AAA0 a6661Oa EE
in preserving the security
Of our nation.
Japan and Australia. are the only
two countries on the face of the globe
where there is compulsory military
training in the schools. Germany and
France both tried out and abandoned
the plan. Even the Swiss system is
carried on independent of compulsory
training in the schools. There is,
however, constant attempt to make
it appear that the proposal in the
United States for compulsory train
ing in the schools is along the lines
adopted in the European countries.
General Scott implies this much.
General Leonard Wood is quoted as
having declared that if he had his
way he Hwould ut-German the Ger.
mans and teach every boy to shoot. -
Up to date, New York is alone in
having compulsory military training
although California and some other
state have introduced modified forms
of military training. The Wyoming
SYSTEM was widely heralded a year
ago.
Those who object to compulsory
military training do so upon the
ground that it is sought to perpetu.
ate through it, militaristic spirit,
and desire for war, in the minds of
the young: They assert, in opposi.
ton to compulsory military instruc.
ton, that the spirit of patriotism
can be better advanced by instruct
ing the youth regarding higher ideals
of citizenship, and in teaching them
fundamental principles of government
that will succeed without the neces.
sity of providing the military spirit,
which they claim usually ends in W:
A special commission appointed by
the state of Massachusetts found
unanimous testimony for the need of
greater physical training, but declar-
ed that: "The military spirit which
means blind faith in the doctrine of
force, is perhaps the most vicious idea
which could be instilled in q child g
mind.'
At the national convention of the
Women 8 Peace party held in Washing
ton few days ago, the spirit of anti
was voiced to the effect
that the new patriotism growing up
among boys is "to live for their coun-
try; not to die for it," The American
Federation of Labor has recently gone
on record unanimously opposed to
compulsory military training.
The best thought of militarists, and
anti"militarists, appears to be agreed
upon the need of a greater amount
of physical training for the youth of
the country. There is, however, op.
position from every quarter, to the
plans of the army and navy chiefs,
under whose system, it is, claimed,
men become brainless followers in au-
tomatically "obeying orders.' The
of the boy of the coun.
try has been captured by appeals to
their patriotism, and by their own
conscious need of physical training.
Mrs. Lucia Ames Mead, a distinguish
ed Boston woman, observes: chilli
tary drill does not teach selfcontrol
in obedience to conscience, but only
obedience through fear. Soldiers
when mustered out, are no more
chaste, temperate or oraerly than 9th
er men. Self-control, personal respon-
sibility, the power to treason why
must be taught as the republic 3 tru-
est defense.'' The warning has gone
forth that the National Security lea
que has prepared bills to be sent to
the different legislatures, which if
adopted in whole or in substance, will
turn the public schools into army and
navy training camps.
It is contended by thoughtful stu
dents of the subject that an attempt
is being made to capture the idealism
of youth and utilize it for the pur-
poses of an idealism Of destruction,
adapted to the ideas of insistent mill
tary enthusiasts.
Mrs. Ella Flagg Young, noted
Chicago educator, ,declares it to be
the duty Of America to teach her boys
md girls, not how to mete out death
on the hatfield, but rather to point
out and provide for their individual
development-and through them
our national stability. I'm
migrants come to our shores filled
with the hope that this is the "great
land where militarism does not ex-
ist.' And the foreign-born today
stand against compulsory military
training, because their experience has
taught them that it is unnecessary,
and that it does not protect the ma
tion-but rather perpetually theatre
ems the peace Of the country. In short
compulsory military training is the
hobby Of the army and navy officers,
andSthe politicians they influence.
Most other people believe patriotism
and security can be- perpetuated in
better ways.
Duluth Herald: DR.. Abraham ia
cobb from medical standpoint, and
DR.. Sargent, physical director Of Har-
ward, from physical development
viewpoint, both have given damaging
testimony against military training in
the schools before the senate sub-com-
mittee on military affairs at Wash
ington.
Both agree that, though compulsory
physical training is not only desirable
but highly essential, military training
is bad from every viewpoint. It is
not good as substitute for all around
training, and it serves no
useful purpose even from military