The Detroit times., 1917-03-16
- They Put It Over On
%? Can They Prussianize
Our Own United States?

\ IL Chamberlain bill. which provides foi
B oompulsory military service with pris-
q sentence unless there is consent to
norve.
II is the privilege-the good Ameri-
I en- privilege of the league-to drum up
support for the BILL no matter what we
nay think of il and no matter what you
may think Of it.
II Is as much the privilege OF the
loague to drum up support for the bill,
- Il was the privilege of the senator
who introduced the bill to introduce 1t.
That Is because this is free country
---or is supposed to be.
As we come to a study of the bill It
. eaIf, we viii find out just exactly how
free We really are.
We concede the senator the privilege
u introducing the bill.
We concede the Universal Military
Training league the privilege of inviting
support for the bill.
We concede those who decide that
they want to support the bill, that privi-
hge.
But the bill doesn't intend to concede
very much to those free Americans who
may not happen to agree with it.
II provides that all persons between
tl,e ages of 10 and 20 years must sub
mite to compulsory military drill, or pay
= 1ne of 81 900, or serve year in prison,
- both.
II provides shat no person, corpora
ton. partnership, or association shall
hire, engage, employ, or continue to en-
3 10y any person up to the age of Is
years who is or has been liable to be
1x1ined,' unless having been exempted.
4 EonaIty, fine of $1,000 or year in
\ reison, or both.
The bill makes exception in its pro-
V1Gion for compulsory training of recog-
1fred religious organizations whose
csssd forbids participation in war. but
- recognition whatever is given the
ndreds Of thousands of individuals
lho are not liners" and who are con-
1ntiously opposed TO military drill and
unining for bIoodletting.
Martin G. Brumbaugh, governor of
nnsylvania; Nathan C. Schaeffer, SUI
norintendent of instruction of Pennsyl-
xnnla; Stanley R. YarnaIl. treasurer of
He Association of Colleges and Prepare
toey Schools of the Middle States and
4 Maryland, and William A. Wetzel, prin-
(. GlDal Of Trenton, N. j., high schools,
I've issued little pamphlet in an eff
1oEt to stop the Chamberlain bill, which
will come up before the next congress.
In Australia, where this proposed pro-
0x1m is carried out, thousands of young
men have been thrown into military
prisons to begin their lives with the
stigma of imprisonment upon them.
France tried this system once and
DISCARDED it. Germany has NEVER
USED 1t.
Military training in the high schools
Is calculated TO be only feeler-a sort
Of breaking the ice-for compulsory
training for which the Chamberlain bill
provides.
The Pennsylvania Arbitration and
Reace society passed five resolutions
ogainst military training in public
4 schools.
First, that ii is not conducive to the
I ut physical development of school boys
I'D much inferior to gymnastic exer-
ejses.
Second, that teachers and educators
re practically a unit in opposing this
nensure, believing ii to be reactionary
md inconsistent with American ideals.
Third, that military training in schools
- utterly futile as preparation for SER
4 Wee in the field.
Fourth, that none Of the great mill
4 tnxy countries use 1t.
Fifth, that the development of a sys-
4 lem of military training would entail
great expense TO no good purpose, in
1orfsre with the good working of the
0chools by introducing into the school
ovotem men out Of touch with education
4 ~ ideals and practices and would intro
B <|noe grave dangers in the form of mill
|&nwk~rn and o. chan0n In orr vat,,.ui