Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-07-04
BANKER APPLIES FOR
OFFICERS TRAINING
Prosperous Business Man Takes the
Opportunity to Win
Commission.
NO APPLICATIONS RECEIVED
AFTER JULY Is
Last Officers Reserve Training Camp
Opens August p. You Can Get
Application Blank from
b. w. Olson, Decorah.

Il want to get into branch of the
service that's interesting"
The applicant was middle-aged
Chicago man. little too fat and a
bit overdressed. He was talking to
an executive Of the Military Train
ing Camps Association.
! II have built up large and pros
porous business. L know how to
handle the men in my organization
and I think I can qualify for good
position in Federal Service.
| But I am afraid Of being bored
afraid I'll hang around camp for a
year or SO, leading the dullest, most
uninteresting kind of life. Is there
any branch you can suggest? be-
lieve-"
And right there the training camp
executive jumped in.
why, man, you're crazy. Pardon
the humble suggestion, but you don't
know what you're talking about.
TRY for a place in the line-as q
regular line officer. No frills, no fan
icy title. Just be a plain lieutenant
or captain. And you'll have the
greatest thrill in your life.
Interesting? It's the greatest
game in the world, and with a cou-
pie Of bars on your shoulders, if
you're qualified to get 'em, you've
got the chance in a thousand.
What are the high spots in the
average successful business mans
life anyway? First, perhaps it's can
dy; then girls; next baseball. He
falls in love. After that, for a very
few years, his interest is his bust.
mess. Then he's done, unless he
goes IN for politics Of one kind or
another; OR UNLESS HIS COUN-
TRY IS AT WAR AND HE ENTERS
THE ARMY"
81 never thought Of that" said the
banker.
"Now, get down to brass tacks,"
the training camp man went on,
"here you are. Thirty-seven, did you
say? In good health, with brains,
with that executive experience that
comes only with years, the very man
this government needs to lead 9TH
ers. 1t is nothing more nor less than
an obligation to your country that
you enter this training camp, open
ing August 9th, AID take the course
that will fit you to become an off,
Ger. We want mature men-men OF
your personal force Of character, OF
your business ability.
IF I size you up right, you're
looking for job in which you can
be of maximum service to the U. 8.
A.-and you're after something in
teresting. You've got it, right here!
QUILL find that the task Of organic
ing an army, Of providing efficiently
for the men under your command
is ten times more absorbing than any
kind of business. Why man, it's the
most absorbing work in the world
and besides, as I said before, it's
your plain, honest duty to offer your
mature experience to the American
Government"
The banker, If accepted will re-
port at Fort Riley, Kansas, for the
I'd Officers Training Camp on August
27th. He will take advantage of this
last opportunity given to older men
by the War Department to NIL the,
more responsible posts in the New
National Army.
Mr. B. NJ. Olson Of the Wianeshiek
County State Bank, Decorah, who
is in charge at the local Officers Re-
cruiting Headquarters. announces
that fresh supply OF application
blanks for this last training camp
has been received. Mr.. Olson states
positively that the War Department
will not receive any applications af--
ter July Is. "This date" he says,
...is the last day Of grace for men
over thirty-one years of age
tte -O-