The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1917-09-29
Give Our Boys
A Fighting Chance

lBy VIM. Wrlgley, Jr., Chicago
How fortunate it would have been
had we adopted universal military
training five or ten years ago. IL
would have meant much in the pres
ent crisis-it probably would have
kept us out of the war. But it's no
use to cry over split milk. The queS-
ton is, what shall we do now? Every
thoughtful man must feel that ma
ton unable to protect itself promptly
IL blind to the tragic possibilities OF
its heedleSSneSS. War comes uneX-
pectedly and, as in our own case, it
is sometimes forced upon an lnno-
cent bystander." For three years we
submitted to insult and injury, until
fcrbearanee ceased to be virtue and
there was nothing left for Us but TO
assert our rights and to DEFEND them.
No country in the world hates war
more than we do. Only extreme
provocation would induce US to take
up arms. Experience shows abund-
antly that d peace-loving nation IS
not safe because of that fact. Bel
GUM and some OF the Balkan states
are evidence of IL.
AS the world Is constituted, and
has been through thousands OF years
OF strife, there is only one safe plan,
and that is to follow the advice OF
Washington-in time of peace. pre-
pare for war. If We had done this
few years ago, we would have saved
billions of dollars and tens of thou
sands of lives. 1t is common knowl-
edge in military circles that trained
men, by knowing how to take care of
themselves in camp and in the field,
reduce the mortality and casualties
at least two-thirds, and, what is even
more vital, men of special training
only can be used in modern warfare
Nationally, we need a little fore
sight, a keener appreciation of the
necessity for providing for future
contingencies. We cut ice In the
coolest sort of weather when nobody
wants ice, for we know it will be de-
manded few months later; so we
prepare in mid-winter, for our COM
forts during the heated period OF
summer.
The plan of universal military
training as outlined in the Chamber
lain Bill would make available at all
times, millions Of young men who
have had sufficient military training
to enable them to become excellent
soldiers with few weeks of addi-
ticnal training. This would safe
guard the nation and prepare it
against any contingency that would
probably arise, and if one should new
er arise, the training and discipline
would be the very best experience
that any young man could have. 1t
would make him stronger physically,
marc oJorf r,,outallr 1IIiaGor m 500
and to act. Also, it would increase
his earning capacity and give him
better chance to win success in his
life work. Our boys appreciate this.
I think the majority of them would
be glad to take the training.
War is calamity beyond descrip-
ton. We are sorry that any of our
young men should be compelled to
engage in it, but there are some
things worse than war land one would
be to have our country dominated by
q foreign poverty a rule of ruth
less militarism that counts war as a
regular business.
Since the boys may at any time
be called upon to defend our country
and our flag, We owe it to them to
provide them with a careful, pre-
training SO that they may perform
this important national function both
efficiently and as safely as possible.
We must not be asleep at the switch.
The responsibility is up to the Ameri-
can citizen and the voters of this
country to demand the passage of the
Chamberlain Bill or some similar
measure by Congress at its next ses-
sion. 1t has already been postponed
too long. It's time now for action.