Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1917-12-14
PUT BACKBONE IN
THE MORALLY UNFIT.

New York, Dec. 1.-THE recent
registration of men for military duty
throughout the United States, has de-
veloped many facts, many OF which
are not particularly pleasing, and
which have caused a great deal OF
thought and speculation on the part
of the government, and discussion OF
plans as to the best means of taking
care or the condition.
Hundreds Of thousands /. of men
were rejected on account OF being
physically UNIT, men between the
ages OF FL and 81 years of age, Just
when they should be, and IL normal,
would be in their prime OF physical
manhood. Thousands OF these are
physically unfit through no fault OF
their own, having been born that way,
met with some accident, or other un-
avoidable condition. Men OF that
class are not considered at this time
in the plans being formed
Shortly after CONSUMPTION, an ar
ticIe states, lit was estimated that
2.000, 200 men between the ages OF 81
and 81 years Of age. have no visible
means Of support. and were being
supported by their father, mother or
some other woman: practically all OF
these men are physically unfit, as we'll
as being physical and moral towards.
1t is claimed that IL these men were
put into training camps with stern
and rigid military discipline, under
the authority of men, made to live an
outdoor life. given plain and whole
some food, SUFFICIENT work of char
acter that will keep them out in the
open-making them healthy and
strong that many of them can be
reclaimed, and IL not made fit for the
many cases some medical and surgic-
al attention is needed to straighten
these men out, In order to make
manly men" out OF them, and again
the masses psychology" will have 3
decidedly good effect putting the men
IN touch with men. strengthening
their weak. physical and moral condi-
tions. and being in touch with men
doing a mans work. reclaim them.
The result 1t is claimed, would be
well worth while. and save the ma
tional man-power by putting these
men to some real useful occupation,
and making them earn and pay their
way
why conserve our food supply
and feed these slackers, who eat their
own weight IN perfectly good food ev-
cry thirty to forty days, when It
rightfully belongs to the men who
will fight and the men who stay at
home TO produce food for our army,
our women and our children
There is q limit to our ability to
produce; our army and our nation il
facing the most wonderfully trained
and prepared war machine the world
has ever seen; 1t is to take the limit
of our resources. We are facing q
nation OF strong men-a nation that
will not let It's men decay and lead
wasteful and useless Iives-all OF
strength and fighting ability. This
country could well take pattern af-
ter the German method Of developing
man-power, and no longer permit
men. physically or mentally able to
do productive work, to be a drone,
an idler and . Stacker but could well
on the other hand train men who lack
the moral courage to train themselves
to become useful men and citizens.
This may be one of the after-the-
war lessons that we viii learn and put
into execution. Certainly the people
and the government will not much
longer be tolerant of the spineless
Stacker in either civil or military
isa.s'