Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-09

~ chitis and even pneu-
M \ monia. SCOTS is well
~ worth insisting upon.
Scott Bovine. Bloomfield. M. n-l4
homes do stand for this. but likewise
for the good Of our young men. On this
point allow me to read portion Of the
words Of Charles w. Eliot, emeritus
president Of Harvard. He says:
I'm fulfilling its international obliga :
tons. the country will lose that small
portion of the working time of its
young men which must be temporarily
withdrawn from its industries: but ii
will gain an assured capacity to de-
fend its territory and its ideals and
an increased self-respect. Its young
men would sacrifice for brief periods
some Of their accustomed liberties, but,
on the other hand. they would gain
something worth having in the way of
CO operative discipline, self reliance
and self-control. If every able bodied
young man were thoroughly trained
for service in the national army or
navy, at some serious sacrifice on his
part, and then held himself constantly
in readiness to fight for his country if
it were. imperilled. the nation as a
whole would soon be inspired by new
sentiments of patriotism and duty and
Of self sacrificing devotion in defence
of home, kindred and friends, of public
justice and liberty and Of progressive
hope for the generations to come
These are my sentiments also.
Therefore, Mr.. Speaker. | move the
passage of this resolution. AS a mat
ter similar unto our city fire protec-
stion, which we could not well dispense
with, as matter imperative for the
security Of our nation and its dignity
in the sight OF the world, for the dis
cipline of our young men, the inculca-
ton of the principles of patriotism, of
self-sacrifice and capability-for these
reasons | favor universal military
training and the resolve before this
House
Mr.. REDMAN of Ellsworth: Mr.
Speaker and gentlemen of the House:
| am very glad to speak word in
favor of Senator Hollis bill. l believe
in universal military training. because
l believe it emphasizes the duty that
every man feels to his country's SER
vice. 1t is 4; peculiar thing about
military service that the more a man
has served his country, the more Is he
willing to serve; and think l can best
illustrate that statement by telling
you of an incident that was told to me
an incident that happened out in
Pennsylvania. in one of the smaller
cities. just as the Spanish War was
about to begin. They were holding
meeting public meeting, to arouse
patriotism and create enthusiasm, and
as is customary at such meetings,
they called upon lawyers and ministers
to professional speakers-and
they went on for an hour or two and
every one was getting pretty tired and
finally a little bit of real freshness was
injected into that meeting. They
called q veteran soldier, a veteran OF
the Civil War; to the platform and ne
began to speak. lie had not spoken
more than minute before 1t was
apparent that he had forgotten what he
had prepared to say; and you gentle
men all know that when you prepare
speech beforehand, and commit ~ 70
memory, and then get on your feet ana
try to deliver it, and forget II, you nave
a very sickening feeling and that was
the way that old fellow felt at that
moment. He went on for moment OF
two longer still clinging TO ms pre-
pared remarks, until finally ne saw IL
was no use; SO he let himself go and
he said: Ladies' and gentlemen, took
mart in the battles of williamsburg,
Fair Oaks and The Wilderness, | was
wounded al Antietam, / lost an arm at
Chickamauga. Int | never suffered so
in my life as at this very moment;
but" he added, 81 can say this: II my
country ever again needs me- l VIII ~
to war to fight her battles JUST as ulo
in '62 and 49, and if this poor pody IS
too weak to stand out on the nrlhs me
with the younger men, VIII De a scul-
lion in the mess tent of my regiment
but | will never again try TO make
speech." Gentlemen, | submit. that
that man spoke better than ne knew.
There was a man who had worn his
shield and buckler with dlstlhctlon'
who had had his arm taken OIL IN pat
tie, and who was still willing 70 serve
his country That Is why say that
the more q. man has served, the more IS
he willing to serve.
AS has been said here. we have been
drawn to the very brink OF war, the
great war going on across the water
that we desire to have no part or. IL
is a great regret to me, Mr.. speaker
and gentlemen. that the Senate of the
United States behaved the way 1t did
behave within a week, and ! believe
that when the dark war clouds COM
mence to roll up about our nation,
when the storm of war is imminent
and liable to break upon us. as 1t is
at any moment. this is time to cut
a drift and throw overheard our cargo
of politics, clear our decks OF petty
differences for once, and stand be-
hind the Captain of our Ship of State
(Applause) stand behind the Presi-
dent Of the United States. whether he
is a Democrat or Republican. | be-
lieye that that is what the red-blooded
Americans In this nation are doing
today, and I also believe that this is
a time when the<.Socialists. the an
archists and the pacifists Of this coun-
try should be deprived Of their trick
at the wheel We hear it said that
We no longer have national solidarity
in this country; that we have been
Iri oipu IN q Oreat horde Of fOreion-