The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-05-31

to any petty meaness. The physical
conditions in which these people are
forced to live, very often have great
deal to do with the moral side of life.
They have probably lived by the mot
to: "Do unto others as they do unto
you and add little for good meas
ure," so long that they cannot con-
ceive of anything better. And even
if they could they could be made to
understand that "Tit for Tat" is not
all there is to life; it is doubtful
whether they would turn over the new
leaf in the right direction. AS in the
case of an insect they maliciously de-
light in hurting those who are strong
er morally. And when in some cases
hey receive just punishment, they
wait for revenge and proceed to poi
son the minds of few more, thus
making certain people Human Mosqui-
tos who might not have chosen that
path.
Bessie M. Sohle, Senior 1917.
Universal Military Training.
In the first place what is Military
Training? Military Training is a
training of Military character design
ed to give the young men of America
correct posture, knowledge of Mil
itary tactics and to train them in per-
sonal efficiency and simple living.
Four years ago such a thing as Uni
versal military training was practi-
cally unheard of. 1t did not then con-
stitute such large part of our at
fairs as it does now. At the present
time, however, most of Americas
former pacifists and careful thinkers
the various periodicals and newspap-
ers which heretofore would have
scoffed at the idea of such a thing as
universal military training, are now
strong advocates Of it.
This training has become neces-
sity. The close proximity Of the
European War has shown that Amer
lea must begin to prepare to keep her
rank among the nations of the world.
What better way is there to prepare
for this than by compelling the cit
izenry to recognize themselves as a
part in the defense of this nation.
The fact that the American people
advocate military training shows that
America is not in lethargy. It shows
we have good American spirit within
our boundaries although it took such
a thing as the European war and the
unjust spirit of Germany to awaken
this spirit of nationalism.
The system of Universal Military
training as advocated by General
Wood is that all young men of nine
teen years of age shall be required to
do six months of practical military
training. At the age of 81 years they
should be required to serve thirty days
more to renew their knowledge. At
the times of stress those between the
ages of twenty and twenty-nine years
could be called upon at any time.
This system would be of least ex-
pcl3e to the government. Service
would be done free of pay during the
training periods. The standing army
could be reduced to the number ac-
tually needed for border patrol and to
man our garrisons for we would have
trained citizen army capable of
fighting against other trained armies.
Universal service in which both the
rich and poor would be equal and
which no one could buy themselves out
of is the correct kind for adoption.
General Wood states that Universal
training would serve better than any,
thing now known to give the sense of
nationality to our immigrant popula-
ton. We need Universal Training to
provide our citizens with the discipline
which comes from the recognition of
a vital social obligation to the nation
in which they dwell.
The effect of universal training in
cutting down crime and improving the
morality of the nation would be
startling. Statistics show that our
huge murder rate, now many times
greater than that of Europe, would be
divided by ten.
1t would not effect the pacific pur-
suits of American people, but it would
really promote them. 1t would devel-
op the habit of cooperation for a
common purpose, something necessary
in democracy like America. It
would develop the habit of prompt
obedience to the law and it would
break down the class barriers and thus
greatly promote the democratic spirit
for which America stands.
The upbuilding of the physique of
our young men by Universal training
will be blessing. Give our boys pur-
er blood, greater physical resistance,
larger lung capacity, stronger heart