The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-08-24
LETTERS TO
THE EDITOR
Benefits of military Training

CHICAGO AUG. 23.-(Editor The
West Virginian)-I am glad to see that
the subject Of universal military train
ing is being discussed throughout the
land. II the government has the fore
sight to, take up systematically as q
permanent policy the traingtng young
men to the point Of where they can
quickly become effective defenders OIL
the country, it will not only be lnYal-
liable to those taking it, but 1t will be
the best Insurance for our future sate'
ty.
Writer and speakers upon this sub
,ect do not, in my opinion, give suttic'
lent emphasis to the benifit the young
man will receive from this training
To nv mind this is quite as important
IL indeed 1t is not the major reason ior
suca training. If one needs an ocular
demonstration of what military train
ing does for young men, let him note
the fine physique Of the boys IN KHAKI
upon the streets today and compare
them with the other boys, or note the
change that has taken place in the
few months of rigorous dicipline on the
Mexican border, among the boys he
knows. Ayoung man taking MS tram
ing will have not alone a fine physique
better poise larger lung power a cap
acity to endure greater physical exer-
tion without exhaustion, be better able
to throw off disease, but it will clarity
his thinking-it will make him more
alert, quick to decide, prompt to act;
he will be better employe, VIII De
able to learn more money; ne Will be
better able to direct and supervise men,
and will add in a hundred ways 10 MS
mental, moral and physical equipment
Thousands of parents are sending
their boys to military schools; they
have been doing so for years, notWith.
standing It is expensive, and tens OF
thousands more parents would be glad
to do this II they could afford It, Inc
purpose was not training for war-no
one thought Of that-but training Tor
better life work. Six months or a
wear in federal training camp will do
more to make a strong healthy, manly
and 4 good citizen than any other time
or money that could be expended. The
bringing together of boys from all
walks Of life and all parts Of the coun'
try and establishing the democracy OF
the "dog tent" will break up the lines
Of Cleavage that are appearing in our
civil life and help to make democracy a
reality instead of sentiment.
Let us hope that one of the things
we learn in the great crisis before us
is the value of trained men and that
we will have the judgement and fore
sight to make such training perma'
nent policy Of the government. 1t will
do more to regenerate manhood than
any other single agency, If there was
no such thing as war, the rigid dis
cipline and the splendid training and
development acquired, would more
than justify the cost. The greatestas'
set to our country is its citizenship
and the government has duty in the
premises. Every citizen should insist
that Congress Immediately, upon re-
assembling in December, make a per.
manent provision for the training OF
young men between eighteen and TWEEN
ty years of age along the lines worked
out in the Chamberlain Bill and If the
people throughout the country would
take hold Of this matter and insist
upon 1t, such law could be quickly
put upon the statute books,
Frank C. Logan,