Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1917-05-11
BILLS FOR CONSUMPTION AND
UNIVERSAL TRAINING ARE
QUITE DIFFERENT.
FORMER FOR THIS WAR ONLY
Latter Was Framed as Preparedness
Measure and to Benefit All the Coun-
try's Young Men-Probably Will Be-
come Law Later.
BY EDWARD B. CLARK.

the armed service departments are sur
prised at the manifest mental confu-
sion which exists in the country con-
corning the conscription measure for
an army for the war, and the measure
whick calls for universal training The
two things are absolutely separate and
distinct.
1t is altogether probable that the bill
introduced by Senator Chamberlain to
provide for universal military train
ing will not be passed until the war is
ended. Then it is likely to come be-
fore congress, and if the present con-
dition of mind of the country continues
1t seems likely that it will become a
law. CONSUMPTION for an army to en-
gage in the war is one thing and uni
versal military training to conc after
the war is another thing
There was great opposition TO
universal military training, but the
friends of the legislation became
much more numerous as time went
on and the necessity was shown
for military preparedness. The
universal military training bill pro-
vided that every young American
on reaching the age of nineteen years,
or twenty years, for the original bill
may be amended, should report to be
trained after military methods. The
intention was, and still is, SO far as
the proponents of the measure are con-
cerned, to have young Americans serve
one year, or possibly only nine months,
In the army of the United States, a
period of time in which they will be
taught military duties and be prepared
for a call to the colors, if later it shall
come.
Benefits of Universal Training.
Under universal military training all
the young men of the country would
get the benefits which come from the
outdoor life, regular exercise, regular
sleep, good plain food. mental and
proper bodily discipline and military
training. All kinds of young men
would be thrown together, the rich and
the poor, the, highly educated and those
with little education. The plea is that
such a course not only would make
for democracy, because men in the
fields and in the barracks, no matter
how different their social position may
be, learn to respect one another for
their manly qualities and learn alse
that "A mans a man for a that"
The bin TO raise an army for i'm
mediate war purposes which has been
before congress was proposed by the
president on the basis of universal
liability TO service and this meant that
the young men to go into the army
were TO be chosen by other than the
volunteer method. In other words,
500, 600 of them were to be conScripted.
1t is a case of compulsory military
training for war purposes, but the bill
limited the number to be raised by the
method to 100000 young men. This
measure had in view the present war
only, while the measure for universal
military training has in view the teach
ing of all young men in the United
States how to bear arms in order that
they may be able to protect their coun-
try in time of need.
While in both cases service is COM
pulsory, it will be seen that the meas
ures in their intention are widely diff
ferent and that in one case the young
men raised will be limited in number
while in the other case the intention is
to give all young men who are
physically in good trim the benefit of
military training.
The universal military training
measure was proposed long before it
was known definitely that the United
States was TO enter war. 1t was
framed as a preparedness measure and
as a means to benefit the physique of
all the young men of the country, to
inspire them with love of the flag
and with a willingness to do their duty
by their country The passage OF
such a measure still is in contempla-
ton. but inasmuch as a large number
of young Americans are TO be trained
in the army for real war purposes, the
preparedness plan is thus carried out
for the present without the necessity
of resorting to universal military train
ing. =
Wainwright Ready to Serve.
Under existing law naval officers on
the retired list can be ordered to ac-
tive service, 1t did not require the law