The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-01-18


Industries, but deyising means to pro
tect them, held quasi-public meet.
ing and introduced the subject of mil.
itary training for high school boys.
There were as many different opin.
ions as there We're different complex.
ions among the members and guests
and the subject was well pelted with
objections before being rescued by its
friends. Fhree educators were pres
ent by invitation, two of whom refus-
ed to commit themselves, being as il
were ON the fence, and both determin-
ed to stay there unless pulled down by
public opinion. Several arguments ad-
yanced We're as follows:
American Traditions.
Common People speaks: 1.-THE idea
at first seems un-American and re-
quires some mental REIMBURSEMENT on
our part before we can fully take it
in. We are nation of traders, ask
ing only to be let alone, but of this we
have less and less surety as time goes
on. How are we to protect the indus
tries we have builded? A large stand
ing army is against American tradi-
ton and desires, a useless expense for
a people whose chosen ways are those
of peace. We have shown at times a
willingness to take i'll treatment to
avoid trouble with other countries, but
the choice may not always be left to
us, for we must admit that we have
of late been following the path of OPP
portunism which leads downward and
away from the ideals of our illustri-
Gus dead, who made us what we are;
while hoping for the best, we do not
as we should prepare for the worst
The fate of inoffensive Belgium bids
us ask ourselves if the soothing
word peace Is with us a reality, or
only an anaesthetic from which we
shall awaken-too late.
"This is a many sided question: If
adopted 1t would be a radical depart
ure from our custom of each man at
tending to his own private interests,
leaving their protection to others. If
military training in the schools is es-
tablished, it must mean these future
citizens must also have a part in the
public interests decided step to-
ward universal service.
How Would 1t Affect Efficiency?
would the boy while becoming eff
ficient in the use of arms become less
efficient in his other work?
Where are the funds for equip
ment and maintenance to come from?
Our government has the national
guard on its hands; would it stand for
this additional burden?"
No, away with the guard" said an
old confederate wearing a bronze med
al This profane suggestion was re-
ceived with chilling silence; his gray
hairs protected him. The speaker
continued:
Gould they be incorporated in the
national guard without that organiza-
ton becoming top heavy and falling
W PACSCS VI llo OWL Wight!
"This is all so different from our
present standards, think we should,
If anything is done, first try voluntary
military training in our schools, as
anything compulsory along these lines
is out of keeping with American
ideals"
Prominent Citizen remarks: "That
his training in arms consists in just
knowing which is the dangerous end
of gun, and that was about all, but
he had gotten along all right SO far,
and expected his son to follow in his
footsteps, if he had any say-so, and
he thought he had. Continuing: "If a
boy is taught how to fight he is just
going to hunt something to fight;
handling a gun will develop a leaning
toward army life, and he will be no
account for anything else, and Amer
lea would soon be nothing but an
camp" That seemed to settle
everything, but it did not
Language Dead, But Not He.
A young man, high school instruct
or in Latin, asks to be heard. CAL
though the language I teach is a dead
one, l am not The gentleman who
has Just spoken did not finish his ar
gument. With all Difference, l will
say this argument is somewhat fraz-
zled, not only from over-use, but
weakness Of the fabric itself. If his
son is not to be taught military pre-
paredness for fear he may join the
army. then it naturally follows he
should never learn to use boxing
gloves. he might become a prize fight
or. He should never learn to drive an |
he might become pro-
fessional racer. He should never
learn to swim, he might develop
fondness for the water and thus get
drowned. His visits to the theater
should be restricted, he might want TO
become an actor. Before all boys with
military training become professional
soldiers. all boys must have the same
temperament, and we know that al
though there are boys and boys, no
two are alike.
"He is our greatest asset, the means
OF our future security, and 1t IS I'M
fair to him not to know even the ruo-