The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-03-12
HELP YOUNG Men
A. l.. Fridstein Explains Uni
versal Training Benefits.
He Urges Support of the Cham-
berlain Bill.

How the unframed young man is
merely fodder for the lannon's mouth
was described at noon today at the
Chamber of Commerce by A. l.. Fr1d-
stein, field secretary of the Universal
Military Training league. To make
these same young men effectlVe and
better able to protect themselves in
war, Mr.. Fridstein urged the support
of the Chamberlain Universal Train
ing bill introduced into the last con-
gress and which will be up in the new
congress early in the next session
The speaker declared universal
training not only insures nations
life, but its discipline improves the
character of the young men of a ma
ton, broadens their vision, improves
their bodies, teaches constructive pa
trictism and orderly thinking. That
the voluntary system is a failure has
been proven, he declared, by its fail
ure in England and England's adop-
ton of compulsory military service.
Fridstein said, in part:
Fear Social Dangers.
1.-The question is how shall we
frame our preparedness legislation so
as to secure the greatest and most
prompt effectiveness in case of ma
tional crisis without encountering the
dangers socially and the waste eco
nomically of a large and extensively
ponderous or defiant standing army
or war machine.
NaIlOn-N ice ORGANIZATIONS
1.-The Universal Military Training
league is a nationwide organization
that maintains the position and seeks
popular approval for its stand, that
universal military training is the only
democratic, economical and suita BILE
method of baSing national prepared
ness for America. All are subject to
the obligat ton to serve in time of war
under the present laws. The pres
ident can and always could call out
all men from 8 to As if needed. I'm
trained they are of little value to their
country and can not take care of
themselves nor will the government
be able to care for them under war
conditions. Under modern conditions
of warfare nation can wage sue
cessful war without large bodies of
trained men. After war comes it is
too late. The green man will have to
be cannon fodder and nothing else.
"A short period of training for ev-
cry able bodied young man at a suit
able ase in life viii give the nation
a citizen soldiery ready to defend
that land at any time. 1t will dis
tribute the burden of military service
in case of trouble upon those best
fitted and able.
1.-The Universal Military Training
League of Chicago is urging upon the
people from all sections of the coun-
try that they support the Cha mberlain
Universal Training bill introduced into
up in the new congress early in its
first session.
Provision or Bill
This bill provides six months of
compulsory military training for ali
nineteen-year-old men at the age of
nineteen. After this period of train
ing the men are merely members of
that years class of reserves and are
called into service only in case of ma
tional crisis. They constitute Il fed
eral defensive force only. They are
| trained by the federal government a,
its expense under its exclusive direc-
ton and jurisdiction and have no
state obligation or police duties of any
kind. They are the nations citizen
soldiers.
Even tho the young men trained
under the proposed plan never get
into active military service. they will
receive benefit from military drill
that no other means can or does af-
ford them. The value of the discipline
in improving their characters and
minds as we'll as their bodies is i'm
measurable. 1t will teach constr,Ic-
tive patriotism and orderly thinking
1t will broaden their vision. 1t will
destroy class feelings and sectioEalisn
as all Will get the same training from
all parts of the country and from any
and all classes and stations of life
1t win be a real melting pot and will
give the nation what it has never had
"a solidarity and unificaton of the
divers races and geographical units
! of the country
/ Universal military training is the
only system that will properly accom-
plish what every righthanded man and
woman in the country believes is nee
| essary preparedness against war not
! for it The voluntary system has
been a failure thruout all history in
this and every other country. In our
! Civil war, the only real test of our
| fighting strength ever encountered
had to resort to compulsory service
the draft. England is doing the
same today"
Mr.. Fridstein will speak before the
University club at Lawrence tonight
/ at smoker given in his honor