The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1917-19??, 1917-09-20
Universal Service Not New
We Have Had the Law For Over a Century
Military Training Finishing Course in
the Education of Young Men.
By HENRY A WISE WOOD, Chairman,
Conference Committee on National Preparedness.

ment to defend the States from in
vasion, and the Federal Government
in 1892, had provided the national
force already described to carry out
this purpose. But this force, as We
have seen, the States have permitted
! to die; and in its stead each had ere
ated for its protection a little army
Of it's own called National Guard
and in so doing had taken over from
the Federal Government it's own de-
/ Tense. to be maintained at its own
coet, and had assumed also the duty
Of defending the Federal Government.
Thus had the Federal Government and
the States exchanged places, in their
military relationship.
The consequences of this surrender
of military power by the Nation are
now seen to be exceedingly hazardous
to the national welfare, to be nearly
insupportable by the States, on ac-
count of the heavy financial burdens
involved, and to be inequitable to
those who compose these little State
armies. There is therefore aubstan,
tial agreement among all who have
studied the subject that there must
be brought about the immediate adop
ton of a broad ana equitable military
system which shall be wholly national
in character.
Democratic Military Structure.
As the foundation Of such a system
already exists in the Federal law as
has been shown above, it remains only
for the nation to build upon that foun'
dation a modern democratic military
structure. and to remove such Legis.
lature's restrictions as prevent the
compulsion of every man of military
age and fitness to serve beyond the
borders of the United States-in
Mexico, for instance. If need should
there arise-as he must now serve
within his own territory
Universal liability to military serv-
ice being fixed, in the law, the question
now arises, shall we not train our
young men in such manner th&t
thew will be the more able to per
form effectively the patriotic duty
which the law has bound upon them,
with the maximum Of comfort and
safety for themselves?
The education Of youth to become
literate and useful citizen already
is compulsory. Modern conditions OF
life demand that he shall be made
also highly efficient in physique
morale and discirl'ne, And the Sc
curitv of the nation requires that he
shall be taught to perform, with ease
and precision. on land or sea the
military service the law and national
security demand of him,
Experience and intelligent oh9erVa-
ton have shown that this training
should be given not later than when
the youth closes his common school
career. and that it should he treated
as a finishing course in physical de.
velopment, character building, the
military sciences, and patriotism
Merely Educational Extension.
Thus. universal military or naval
training should be treated merely as
an extension of a youths customary
course of studies, and it should De
given him at the expense Of the Fed.
erai Government, to whom he owes
allegiance. With his clothing, keep,
and instruction furnished him gratis
his parents will be relieved OF his
cost of maintenance during his train
ing. probably for the first time in
his life. When a youth so trained
steps from his training camp or ship
he should be a strong, straight
healthy. alert, and disciplined man,
we'll fitted to enter life. To such
start every American boy is entitled
And, what is more important If we
are to retain our liberties, the Amer
lean youth will thus have become an
efficient soldier or sailor.
In order to meet the requirements
of our situation, therefore, two
changes must be made in our mill
tary system. The law must extend the
liability of our citizens for military
service so that their service shall noA
be limited by our borders, and it must
inaugurate military training for all
young men.
In conclusion, cannot refrain from
quoting the war-wise words OF that
beloved soldier of the Revolutionary |
period, Light Horse Harry Lee; "A
Government is the murderer OF Its
citizens which sends them to the field |
and untsught whore they |
are to meet men of the same age and
mechanical by education
and discipline for battle"