Ripley County democrat., 1917-05-04
Universal Service Not New
we Have Had the Law For Over Century
MILITARY Training Finishing Course n
the Education Of Young Men.
BY HENRY Al WISE WOOD. Chairman.
Conference Committee oa National Preparedness

ment 10 defend the States from iu-
ysslon, and the Federal Government
In ITS2. had provided the national
force already described 10 carry out
this purpose. But this force, ae we.
have seen. the States have permitted
to die; and In its stead each had cre-
ated for its protection little army
OF It's own, called a National Guard.
and IN 80 doing had taken over from
the Federal Government its own de-
Tense, to be maintained al its own
cost, 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 o. the heavy financial burdens
involved, and to be inequitabie to
those who compose these little state
armies. There "a therefore, cubstan-
| tial agreement among all who have
studied the subject that there must
be brought about the immediate adop-,
tion OF broad ann eouitable military
system which shall be wholly national
In character
| Democratic Military structure.
| AS the Foundation OF such system
already exists in the Federal law, as
! has been shown above Il remains only
for the nation TO build upon that foun-
dation a modern democratic military
structure, and to remove such Legis'
iature'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. II need should
there arise-as he must now servel
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 a manner that
they 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 themselvese
The education Of youth to become
literate and useful citizen already
Is compulsory. Modern conditions OF
life demand that he shall be made
I also highly efiicient in physique,
morale and discipline. And the se-
curlty Of the nation requires that he
shall be taught 10 perform, with ease
and precision. on land or sea, the
military service the law and national
security demand OF him.
:, Experience and intelligent obeerva-
tion have shown that this training
should be given not later than when
the youth closes his common school
career, and that II shonld be treated
Al a finishing course In physical de-
yelopment, character building. the
military sciences, and patriotism
Merely educational Extension.
4 Thus, universal military or naSai
training should be treated merely as
an extension OF youths customary
course Of studies. and II should be
given him at the expense Of the Fed
ernl Government, to whom he owes
: allegiance. with his clothing keep.
and instruction furnished him gratis.
his parents will be relieved Of his
coat of maintenance during bis train