Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1917-09-25
GIVE OUR BOYS A
FIGHTING CHANCE
With Military Training, Says William
Wrigley. Jr.. Of Chicago.

tbt VIII NIlSlCss oA-~ NAA->~-t7N-y
How fortunate it would have been
had we adopted universal military
training five or ten years ago. II
would have meant much in the pres
emit crisis-it probably would have
kept us out of the war But it's no
use to cry over split milk. The ques-
ton is. what shall we do now2 Every
thoughtful man must feel that ma
ticn unable TO protect itself promptly
Is blind TO the tragic possibilities OF
it's heedlessness- War comes unex-
pectedlv and. as in our own case, 1t
Is sometimes forced upon an limo
cent bystander." For three years we
submitted to insult and injury, until
forbearance- ceased TO be virtue ana
there was nothing left for us but 10
assert our rights and to defend them.
No country i'm the world hates war
more than we do Only extreme
proyocation would induce US to take
up arms. Experience shows abunu-
antlv that a peace-loving nation is
not safe because of that fact BEL
gium and some of the Balkan states
are evidence of 1t.
As the world is constituted, and
has been through thousands OF years
of strife, there is only one safe plan,
and that is to follow the advice OF
washington time of peace, pre-
pare for war. If we had done TINS
few years ago, we would have saved
billions of dollars and tens OF thou-
sands of lives 1t is common knowl-
edge in military circles that trained
men. by knowing how to take care OF
themselves in camp and in the neld'
reduce the mortality and casualties at
least two-thirds, and, what is even
more vital, men of special training
only can be used in modern warfare.
Nationally, we need little fore
sight. keener appreciation OF the
necessity for providing for future
contingencies. We cut ice IN the
coolest sort of weather when nobody
| wants ice. for we know it will be
demanded few months later; SO we
prepare in mid-winter, for our COM
forts during the heated period OF
summer
The plan of universal military
training as outlined in the Chamber
lain bill would make available at all
times, millions of young men who
have had sufficient military training
to enable them to become excellent
soldiers with few weeks of addi-
tional training. This would safe
guard TIL nation and prepare 1t
against any contingency that would
probably arise, and if one should
never arise, the training and dis
cipline would be the very best ex-
perience that any young man could
have. Il would make him stronger
physically. more alert mentally,
| quicker to see and to act. Also, 1t
would increase his earning capacity
and give him better chance to win
success in his life work. Our boys
appreciate this. | think the majority
of them would be glad to take the
training
War is a calamity beyond descrip-
ton. We are sorry that any of our
young men should be compelled to
engage in it. but there are some
things worse than war, and one would
be to have our country dominated by
foreign poverty rule of ruth
less militarism that counts war as a
regular business.
Since the boys may at any time
be called upon to defend our country
and our flag, we owe it to them to
provide them with a careful pre-
training so that they may perform
this important national function both
efficiently and as safely as possible.
We must not be asleep at the switch
The responsibility is up to the Amer
lean citizen and the voters of this
country to demand the passage of the
! Chamberlain bill or some similar
measure by Congress at its next ses-
sion. 1t has already been postponed
too long. It's time now for action.