Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-09

puA
From the Senate: senate report OF
the committee en- military affairs. re-
porting Ought to pass on joint reso-
luton in favor of universal military
training under the federal government.
Came from the Senate, report read
and accepted.
Mr.. BERRY of Waterville: Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen Of the House,
the resolution brought before you for
your considerably this morning. feel
that words of mine would De made
quate to describe the feelings Of this
House at this time in the cause Of pa
triotism. We have read much Of late
about preparedness and OF the great
crisis which is facing this country. At
the call to arms thousands of young
men would rush to the colors, but OF
what avail, Fresh in our minds is the
tragedy of Chickamauga with it's dead
and its dying. and I submit to you.
gentlemen, that it Is but proper that we
should be prepared and that the young
men of this country should be prepared
;by such a training as will be afforded
lby universal military training. We look
upon the flag, SO dear to the hearts Of
our eountrymen. with its spotless
white. emblematic of the purity of
thought ard purpose of every Amer
lean; we look upon the red as typifying
the blood of patriots who fought and
bled that this country might be pre-
served: we see the blue-the blue can
opy of Heaven, dotted with the forty
eight stars repi esenting that group of
states of which we are but one part.
We should not send our young men
forth to be shot down without ample
preparedness. All young men enjoy
alike the blessings Of the freedom Of
this flag. | am in favor Of universal
preparedness, universal training. COM
pulsory training if you please. | know
of no reason why the young men-the
rich young men--should not alike bear
their burdens with the poor. I also
believe that the passing Of this resolu-
ton further fits the young man of our
country to take up the life which he is
about to enter upon in a business ca
reer, If for one moment thought that
the passing OF this resolution would
bring about a state OF imperialism, or
that our country would resort to armed
wv &c NltiIOut WOulo IlOt
vocate the passing of this resolution
Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen of the
House. favor the passing of this reso-
luton.
Mr.. SISSON Of Island Falls: Mr.
Speaker likewise I rise to endorse the
passage Of this resolution. 1t was
some time since that the young and
able Senator from Cumberland, Mr.
Holt. approached me as to the advis-
ability of entering in the Senate such a
resolution on the motion proposed at
that time that 1t would pass at the
Senate without reference to COM
mittee and come to the House; but. as
I understand it now. 1t has come with
unanimous consent from the COMMITTEES
and with its approval, and would feel
it miscarriage of my proper duty and
obligation II did not say word in its
favor There have been many months
recently when the entire country has
been locking at every morning naner
and every evening sheet with rear and
trembling. not knowing what the news
would be. Those who were strong
minded shuddered and those Of weak
hearts trembled. because for many
months We have been on the brink Of
war, and those who have understood
the situation know full well that we
nave been totally unprepared for any
such emergency It is we'll for us in
these United States that that country
as to which we have been most conI
cerned Is at the present time hemmed
in ard unable to get at us. Mr..
Speaker. we cannot expect in these
United States always to have the ad-
van ages In our favor. I would not
speak dispal agirgly for moment of
those noble colonists who fought in the
battles OF the Revolution, but we must
remember that the advantages never
the'ess, Notwithstanding that they were
poor and ragged and poorly armed.
were in their favor for the government
against which they waged warfare was
one ruled by mad king surounaed by
incapable councillors. His people real
lied In no way the Importance Of the
colonies, and trusted to hired soldiers
10 uphold the dignity Of their nation.
In the war Of 1912. the circumstances
were somewhat similar. The nation
against whom the United States waged
It's warfare then was engaged at that
time in Napolernic Warfares and could
not bother with a petty struggle so far
across the sea; and, in the Civil War
the advantage at last was with the
North with its overwhelming numbers
OF men. money and supplies Likewise
IN the War of 1898, as we all know. the
United States waged its warfare
against decadent nation. say TODAY
mat 1t takes no more than the common,
ordinary sense OF the fitness of things
to see that we likewise may become
such decadent nation. Today as we
read the papers from the foreign shores
II is easy to see that other nations
think of us as we thought. and the
world thought of Spain in 1898: and. in
the meantime, the United States has
lain back on beds Of prosperity. say
that it is time that we gave up this
shallow optimism. It is time that we
adopt in this country some means OF
preparedness, rot only for the training
Of the young. but for the security of
our homes. | look back with great
deal of disgust to those teachers and
those books Of my boyhood that
seemed to inculcate into mind the idea
that America could lick the world. To-
day we know that we, as one OF the
powers, are woefully unprepared, and I
want every one in this House today to
feel that am an out and out advocate
for universal military training. As I
say. not only for the security Of our