The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-05-17
UNIVERSAL MILL
TARY TRAINING

grave situation in which our Na-
ti"n is placed can anyone now
doubt that ruihlcssness must be
met with preparedness on tle
part of our government. not only
for the present greatest crisis,
that. i'm its history. has ever faced
the United States; hut also for a
future preparedness by adopting a
system of universal military
training of our young men to
form Il acknowledgements in
he days that are to come and
thus make us safe against future
ruthlessncss;" according to Geo.
NJ. Abbott, field secretary of the
Universal Military Training Lea
que of Chicago. War as now con-
duct"d is ruthless and cruel be-
Nond description. and we must
educate our young men of tho
future to know how to meet it.
''The question of future prcpar-
"dIleSs is the most important one
that now faces our people. Prac-
.tical business men insure against
future contingencies and by the
fact of such future preparation,
in most cases. ward off disaster;
but if disaster should threaten,
They are, in a practical way, rea-
dy To- meet its cXigemcics. This
great nation of ours is the most
existence: are we to be less prac-
stupcndOus business machine in
tical in our national affairs than
we are in our personal ones?
Does any rational person believe
that any nation. however. ruthless
would plot to war against us, il,
in addition to our other great re-
sources we had a big citizcn-sold-
icry-rrSrrvr such as is now be-
ing contemplated Ivy tlle terms OF
the revised Chamberlain bill?
"Preparc for the future by adj
opting Il practical system of uni
vrr>al military training in ac-
cor;lanre with h" sane and mod
rratS. terms of the revised Cham
brrlain bill (S"natr bill i695
which was reported favorably tn
the late session of ilie United
states senate by its committee on
military affairs which HAD had the
bill under consideration for
months. and had called before It
experts from every phase 81 M
tional life. including TN" most
prominent educators. professions
al men. oacii>IS and the highest
ranking army and naval autl,ori-
ties.
with he proposed law in OPP
GRAFTON Il few years. tilr United
STATES can rest serene and secure
if in the future anptlirr grave sit
uati"n. such as NOW r"nfr"nI> the
nation. should arise. We will 'lavc
complete and absolute rnllid"ncc.
in our ability ln protect our ma
liun from attack hy amy foe. how
eyer daring. N"W is h" time to
put tI" machinery "r national
LEGISLATION i'l nl,tion. To gamble
With tn" fuur" j. worse l'lan ii
crime. it is unllinkahIr when the
safety Of he na'iun i, at stake.
II i worth while from every view
point not la lose , he lesson uf the
present crisis.
Il! is ne part of wisdom. il is
Ii" part uf logical reasoning" and
sanity. il is n part nr safety. to
profit hy Tin" lessons nf exp rirnrc
h"til past and present. This is a.
true i'm ma ioi'aI affairs a- il is in
that of indiN,ltial> We are NOT a
nation OF imhccjI"S. and tic pco-
pl" ar" wisr'hcy are patriotic
they believe in prr.,arcdncs--
if they will only stop io think.
"The revised Chamberlain bill
rontomplatcS -iX-moniIs per-
Iod of intensive military raining
for all y"un" men OF i'hc naion,
when they r"ac!' the ace Of nine
teen years. who ar" physically and
mentally fit. With IL shorter per
I"'I of two weeks each for the two
!ollnWin" years: ',ndcr Il he dirnr-
tl"n of United States Army Off
r"rS. appointed by tn" govern
m"nt. aud in military camps dos
ignatrd by tllr government for
that purpose. tn" expense of This
frainin: is to hc born" by III" ma
fion. and In" plan is clearly ono
that makes for patriotism i'm our
young men. builds up better
physique and will incu!ratn in
them more wholesome ideas of q
Democratic form of government.
"rhe plan being universal i'm
applirafion. cannot be pvadnd by
the payment Of money: hence, the
rich and the poor hoy share alike
IN a general education and train
ing for the defense of the nation.
This plan cannot fail TO create
genuine spirit of universal re-
sponsibiIity and brotherly fellow
ship. which go long way toward
breaking down caste and building
up better morale anon" our
citizens.
"rhis completed plan. accord
ing to tn" opinion Of many of the
Continued on pace g.