The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1917-03-17
UNIVERSAL TRAINING.


(By Frederick L. Hudekoper author Of THE Mill
tary Unpreparedness of the United states;" vice
president of the National Security League; found
err of the Army League)
National defense has become burning question.
and to be expected has strong supporters
and equally strong opponents. The latter VINO
include many OF the pacifists, argue mat compul-
sorry military service is contrary to American ira
dtions and practice and subversive of American
institutions. Such argument is absolutely fall
acious and shows that these people do not know
American history. Five occurrences are suffi-
Gent to disprove absolutely their arguments.
In 1777 Virginia and Massachusetts, set the ex-
ample for the other colonies by drafting men into
the military service. This method met the APP
prevail of Washington, who recommended it to the
president of p nnsylvania the only certain way
of obtaining troops.
On May s, 1892, there went into effect organic
law by which the militia, mentioned, but not defined
by constitution, first ordered to be enrolled
and the members thereof to hold themselves in
readiness to appear properly armed accoutered
and provided, when called out to exercise or into
service
In other words, compulsory military service was
inaugurated and this law stood the statute books
until it was repealed by "the Dick bill" on January
81, 1903.
Throughout his tenure of the presidency Jeffer-
son laid particular stress upon the organization Of
a citizen soldiery, which he suggested should be
! raised to 100000 and classified.
In his letter of June 10, 1913, to James Monroe
he declared that the existing state of affairs proves
more forcbly the necessity Of onlglng every citi-
| zen to be soldier. This the case with the
! Greeks and Romans. and must be that of every
| free state. Where there is no oppression there
| will be pauper hirelngs We must train and
classify the whole of our male citizens, and make
military instruction regular part of collegiate
| education. We can never be safe till this is DONE
| Beginning with 1862 the confederacy instituted
| system of compulsory military service embracing
all able bodied white males between the ages of Is
and So: and March 3, 1863, President Lincoln
approved the enrolment act better known as 1.-The
| draft law" which subsequently amended by
| the laws of February a. 1864. and March 8, 1866,
whereby the Union resored to obligatory military
service after complete failure to secure the neces
| sary troops by voluntary enlistment
Geuseppe Mazzni, of the liberators Of mod
ern Italy very aptly declared that the origin of
every right is in duty fulfilled.
IT, therefore, to be entitled to the right to
demand that our government protect lives,
liberties and property. must fulfill our duty to-
ward that government, and no principle is more in
keeping with republican form of government no
doctrine is more truly democratic than that which
asserts that every able bodied male citizen owes
military service to his country Indeed, the prn-
cipe of compulsory military service is no more n
violation of the policy and traditions Of the Amer
, lean people than is the payment of taxes under
compulsion compulsory education. Moreover.
such system is the sole method by which ma
ton put forth its full strength in time of war.
Most Americans do not apparently realize that
the voluntary system is more unfair and uncertain
e in its results than any other military system for
the that permits selfishness and Sinking
and many a man is enabled to escape service just
because other with greater patriotism
c voluntarily performs the duty which ought to be
o lex Ctp1 of al n
evtably attended by innumerable evils such as toe
short enlistments, bounes and other inducement:
to serve, the employment of raw troops and thu
: granting of many undeserved pensions which en-
N tail expenditures for which there is valid justi
is fication History demonstrates that it invariab!
&c breaks down under the stress of yet congress
persists in adhering to most undemocratic system
which experience has proved to be pernicious, ant
which every other great nation in the world ha
of rejected being absolutely worthless in time o
ve crisis.
Mt The voluntary system which the nation has fol
-, lowed ever since 1875. is composed of two kinds c
' forces-one. the regular army. and the other
NC force of militia volunteers. Our hstor
at affords abundant proofs that in the absence
he compulson special Inducements. men will in
en- varably enlist in the organization most lax in dis
~ cipine-n other words. not in the regular arm
That is reason why at the outbreak of
e- has always been impossible to recruit the regula
ar army up to its proper strength. Indeed the san
asst conditions exist at this very time
Apart from being the most ineffective of militia,
systems, the voluntary system is not only the mo
undemocratc, but the most plutocratic, becau
men paid for the work which they voluntari
undertake, and which they ought to be obligated
,nt perform in the defense of their country. Nor
ere over, it throws upon the men who volunteer
.,o burden and duty which ought to be shared
the entire manhood of the nation. Yet this is t
'e" system which Americans with all 10,
ne professions Of democracy have followed eV
On since 1875.
ms Under a proper system Of compulsory traini
os and service every man is required to do his sha
the high and low. the rich and the poor alike.
f'o come defenders of the country in time of me-
has This is not only the most democratic military S!
AXE TEN thus far devised, but this Is the only
the which nation can act unit in time of war
u England the last great nation to aband
' the voluntary system. With such a potent obj
heh lesson staring US IN the face. Americ;