La Junta tribune., 1917-05-17
STAY AT\HoME PATRIOTS
Not Necessary to BE on the Firing
Line to Serve Your Country
Every Man In His Place

Bert Spidel, our special represen-
tative at the State Agricultural Col
lege, writes of the difficulties that
confront the students at that insti-
tuition. The officers training camp
is very inviting military field for
young men. but many agricultural
experts will be needed at home, and
trained college men will be equipped
to render greater service in agricul-
tural work than on the first line of
defense. Mr.. Spidel says
students of Colorado Agricul-
tural College are between two fires
as to the best method OF serving their
country in this crisis. Because mill
tary training has been a part OF the
curriculum of the college, students
find considerable pressure being
brought to bear on them to go to
the Officers Training Camp at Fort
Riley. Kan. The military training
received in the past, causes them to
be especially desired as candidates
for commissions In the army which
Is soon to be organized, and II
choice shall have to be made be-
tween students of land grant col
leges and students who have never
had military experience, unquestion-
ably the former would be preferred.
''ln spite OF this fact, military
authorities are conservative In their
attempts to direct agricultural stu
dents into the army. realizing that
men who have had any degree OF
technical training or experience In
the production OF farm crops, may
possibly be OF more value to their
country welding the pitchfork In
stead of the sabre.
About fifty men have heard the
call to arms, however, and are either
enrolling in the training camp at
Fort Riley or are being assigned
to regular duty with the army. hav-
Ing already received commissions.
Other men have heard the call. which
IL perhaps more insistent, OF our
leaders who are pointing out the
prospective food shortage and the
methods OF alleviating II. Some OF
these have been assigned as county
agents and others have gone to
farms where they are needed because
of labor shortage. Many college
classes are depleated " number be-
cause OF the departure Of students
and sometimes even OF Instructors.
In the case OF students departing at
this time. full credit is being given
by the college for interrupted sub
jects.
President Lory Is at the present
time In Washington, attending
conference of land grant college
presidents where II will be decided
whether such colleges will direct
the energies of their students along
military or along agricultural lines.
Before leaving. President Lory
twice addressed the students. eau
tioning them to sit tight" and tend
to their knitting" He deplored the
tendency to get excited and rush into
the army, pointing out that the pol
icy OF the government In relation To
the war is as yet not fully deter
mined. and that students who become
officers might be- acting unwisely be-
canse of the possibility of their rem
dering larger service in agricultural
work. lie said that the proposed
selective draft system In simply
method by whiJh the government
hopes to put every man into the
place where he may do the most
good. and that precipitate enlisting
may defeat the efficiency which tho
government Is attempting to secure
through selective conscription.
Prof. Morton. head OF the AMI
NAL Husbandry department and
State Dairy Commissioner gave ad-
vice OF similar nature. lie de-
clared that from five TO ten men
are needed at home to support one
man on the firing line and that u
good many agricultural students
would not be- doing the wise thing
by should.ring u muske, lie also
pointed out III. necessity OF every
one economixing In every possibl.
way, lie especially scored women
who wore high. light colorcd shoes
which require an unnecessary
amount of leather To manufacture.
and which give but short service.
Thes. women may be able to afford
the shoes but their thoughtl.ssncss
causes high prices In the leather
market and they ar. really working
a hardship ON poor people.