The Detroit times., 1917-03-16
O. They Put 1t Over On
Us7 Can They Prussianize
Our Own United States?


nnd enlist support where they can, Tor
ne Chamberlain bill which provides for
compulsory military service with a pris-
a sentence unless there is consent to
nerve.
II is the privilege-the good Ameri-
can 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
hague 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 Ia supposed TO be-
AS we come to study Of the bill II
eli, we will find out just exactly how
free we really are.
We concede the senator the privilege
Of 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-
leee.
But the bill doesn't intend to concede
vory much to those free Americans who
may not happen to agree with IL
II provides that all persons between
the ages of 10 and 26 years must sub
mite to compulsory military drill, or pay
lne Of 81 900, or serve year in prison,
- both.
It provides ''that no person, corpora
Hon, partnership, or association shall
htrs, engage, employ. or continue to en-
10y any person up TO the age of 2S
years who Ia or has been liable to be
t1insd," unless having been exempted
Penalty, fine Of $1,000 or a year IN
rEison, or both.
The bill makes exception in its pro-
xision for compulsory training of recog-
u1uod religious organizations whose
wood forbids participation in war, but
- recognition whatever is given the
ndreds Of thousands Of individuals
'&hD are not 'j'iners" and who are con-
1nntiously opposed to military drill and
u6n1n3 for bloodletting.
1Gnrtin G. Brumbaugh, governor of
lnGylvania; Nathan c. Schaeffer, SUI
Iylntsndent Of instruction Of Pennsyl
nia; Stanley r. Yarnall. treasurer of
~ Association Of Colleges and Prepara-
~ Schools of the Middle States and
Maryland and William A. Wetzel, prin-
1roI of Trenton, N. J., high schools,
I've issued little pamphlet in an eff
ut to stop the Chamberlain bill, which
m come up before the next congress
In Australia. where this proposed pro-
nEam is carried out, thousands of young
1nsn have been thrown into military
pgisons to begin their lives with the
Gfioma Of imprisonment upon them.
France tried this system once and
DISCARDED it. Germany has NEVER
USED it.
Military training in the high schools
= calculated to be only a feeler-a sort
ef breaking the ice--for compulsory
txaining for which the Chamberlain bin
provides.
The Pennsylvania Arbitration and
Peace society passed five resolutions
against military training in public
schools.
First, that il is not conducive to the
best physical development of school boys
I'D much inferior to gymnastic exer-
eioes
Second, that teachers and educators
ase practically unit in opposing this
1neasure, believing it to be reactionary
md Inconsistent with American ideals.
Third, that military training in schools
= utterly futile as preparation for ser
vice in the field.
Fourth. that none Of the great mill
tnry countries use it.
Fifth, that the development Of a sys-
I'm Of military training would entail
great expense to no good purpose, in
terfere with the good working Of the
schools by introducing into the school
wptem men out of touch with education
n ideals and practices and would intro