Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1917-04-20


Idaho, who was a member of the sub
committee Of the senate committee
on military affairs, which held ex-
tensive hearings on the compulsory
military training bill during the last
session of congress. is firmly of the
opinion that congress should pass
such bill at the present congress,
without fail. After going deeply in
to the subject, on which he Is now
something of an authority, Senator
Brady made an extended statement
of his reasons for supporting this
legislation. He said:
The proposal for universal mill
tary training and service should be
fully discussed at this time by the
American people, for the reason. that
II will be large factor in the or
ganization of the army in the pres
ent emergency.
Let Every Person Serve
Our government has declared that
a state of war exists between this
country and the imperial German
government, and our president has
been authorized and directed to en-
ploy the entire naval and military
forces. of the United States and the
resources OF the government to carry
on the war against Germany, and
congress has pledged all of the re-
sources OF the country to bring the
conflict to successful termination
Since this condition exists. 1t be-
comes the duty of every American
citizen to do his bit, and II is only
fair that the burden should fall
equally upon every citizen. Fer that
reason ! am In favor OF universal
military training and compulsory
military service.
This Is the only system that can
be adopted by the United States OF
America that will be in harmony
with the principles of our republic
and in accord with the American
thought OF equal opportunity and
responsibility for every American
citizen.
The establishment OF universal
military training should be under
an American system. We should
adopt what is good from the Swiss,
the Australian. the Argentine. and
any other systems that bear merit
and when that is done we should
adopt a plan OF our own, suitable to
our needs and conditions. Under
such system we can each year add
100000 young men, physically and
mentally fit. to the military force
OF our country.
Half Million Each Year
"One million young men reach
maturity each year in the United
States. It is estimated that SO per
cent of them are morally. physically
and mentally fit for military service
Out of the other 100000 we should
be able to secure at least 200 900
who could be OF real service in case
of war and these 100000 should be
trained for their special tasks just
as the regular army is trained. In
other words, we should see to II
that every American boy assumes his
equal share of responsibility as vel
as an equal opportunity in life.
The Chamberlain bill now before
congress has been very fully dis
cussed by the committee on militar.
affairs. OF which ANA member, and
It was generally understood by tht
committee that this bill was simpl,
a foundation to work upon, anC
from which the senate will develop
measure that will be beneficial to OF
nation and satisfactory to the people
I expect to offer a number Of amend
ments to the Chamberlain bill fol
the purpose Of strengthening the bill
and making 1t more workable ant
effective.
"As an illustration. believe vi
should have a voluntary age Of en-
iistment at Is years and that the agl
for compulsory training should be q
years instead OF at the age Of 10.
Studies Question.
81 was a member Of the sub-com
mittee of the committee on militarl
affairs appointed by the senate q
study this question. We held publ
hearings and military experts from
all over the world appeared befor
the committee and gave valuable in
formation. After hearing the state