Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-05-10
Universal Training Based
On Sviss System, is Only
Way to Fully Protect u. S.

y JOLlIk - ~.
OF the United States senate by it's COM
mittee OF military affairs. which had
the measure under consideration for
months. and had called before 1t ex-
perts from every phase Of national
professional men, pacifsts. the great
leaders of labor, financiers and the
highest ranking army and naval u
thorittes. The bill wal re-introduced
when h present session of congress
was organized and is To- known as
Senate Bill No. !.
1T provides for q six months Pc
riod of intensive military training for
all young men when they reach the
age Of 10, who are physically and
mentally At. under the direction Of U.
s. army and naval officers and in mil
itary camps designated by the gov
eminent. The expense Of the train
ing 10 to be borne by he nation.
Would Make Country Secure.
with this law in effect a few
years we can rest serene and secure,
II. in the future. another grave sit
uation should arise. We shall have
tect the nation from any foe. however
daring. If this plan had been inau.
gurated a few years ago, we would, in
all probability, not now be facing the
present crisis.
THE plan being universal in it's ap-
plication cannot be evaded by the
payment of money. The rich boy and
the poor boy share alike in a general
education and training for the defense
Of the nation. This will go a long way
towards breaking down caste and
building up a better morale among
our citizens.
THE completed plan. according to
tary authorities-Major General Leon
ard Woods one of them; Is the best
that can be devised for our necessi-
ties.
1T is estimated, that under this
measure. about 500, 900 men will be
trained each year. After their train
ing has been completed they will re-
pursuits Of industry. After a few
years under this system we shall have
such a big Acknowledgements
army that no sane or insane nation
will dare attack US.
Does Not Foster Militarim.
"A spirit Of m%ilitarism is not fos-
tered by a system hat sends its rain
ed soldiers back to civil pursuits. This
will do away with a big standing army,
which, and which alone. breeds mill
tarism.
If. in addition to making our coun-
try safe against attack by outside foes
and h u giving US peace and safety,
the plan also builds up the health.
the minds, character, efficiency and
manhood Of our boys. and broadens
their ideals OF democracy, will it not
be worthwhile?
Under u present laws, every
able-bodied citizen between the ages
Of 18 and Is is liable for military duty,
by draft II necessary. in time of ma
tional danger; this embraces every
man regardless Of his personal ideals.
whether pacific or bellicose. regardless
of his occupation or Of his religious
his services may he demanded.
"If the nation can thus demand Il
services in the hazards of war. is it
fair to do this without having first
given us adequate training to make
us as efficient as possible and also that
we may render the service with as
little danger to ourselves as is pos
sible? Authorities agree that men
trained to warfare have three times
as good a nance of coming out alive
and unframed as those unframed.
sending men into battle without the
proper knowledge of the danger and
how to meet it is nothing less than
murder.
I'VE now have compulsory educa-
ton and compulsory taxation, in all
reason. we should extend this system
to the one factor h a is most vital
to the future existence of the nation
its defense.
If, at the close Of the present war.
a league to enforce peace. working
under authority of a universal parlia-
ment OF nations. GEMS to be a prac-
teal arrangement. there will still be
as great necessity as now to employ
the plan outlined in the Chamberlain
bill; not only as a practical meas
ure for defense in case our rights are
not respected. but also for the MANY
benefits which our own citizens will
derive from universal military train
ing.
"A league to enforce peace might
not be successful and that fact will
not be known for many years. Sup
pose It was established. could we, at
the end Of two or I've ten years, say
world against war? At best 1t will
be ar experiment and 1t may fail.
Safety first admonishes to be pre-
pared for emergencies.
AT any rate for many years to
come universal military training will
not only be essential out will repay
its cost times in the physical.
mental, patriotic and higher standard
Of service that will result from It.
Write to President Wilson that you
believe in the principle Of universal
military training as a means towards
securing the best fixed military system
that can he devised for the future of
the nation and do this today: also
write your congressman and U. s.
senators that YOU desire them to work
and vote for the Chamberlain bill"
LOCOMOTIVE BLOWS UP"
Tacoma, Wash. May s.-The en-