The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-09-26

the best it can in the best way 1t can
iur the cause IN which It i, enlisted.
All Want to Fight
As testimony to this most ot the
men have signed their names to re
quests to be assigned to the fighting
unitS--to the machine guns, the field
guns and the rifles and bayonetS. And
ITS the rifles and hayone,S that the
greatest number have chosen
Perhaps one OF the greatest apparent
hardShlps is the fact that IN every out
l,t men who gave up Jobs running up
to $1,000, $1,000 or even $4,000 4
year are bunkei side by side with chaps
who have worked seldom If at all, and
to whom morning tub or shower is
nothing to cheer wildly about.
But the thinking men are helping the
non-thnkers in the big work OF cdu-
cation that is going on here, the work
OF educating the residents OF America
10 be real parts OF America
In every outfit are men who are glad
they are here, who are taking pride IN
the task for which they have been Sc
lected Already they have made grow! %
ing unpopular throughout the camp. cx-
cept among the regulars who are con
NitutlOnal growlcrS by inheritance and
love growing "a long as they are doing
II themselves and no one else tries
to edge IN on the growing privilege
Already the reserve officers have
their ewes on these dominating spirits
III their commands They are slated
IN their comminIs They are slated to
wear shoulder straps at the earliest
possible moment And many of them
are men who tailed to get commissions
at PlattSburg
Want Shoulder Straps.
Ono thing that has helped put the
pep IN the men is the absolute belief
that promotion to the line" will he
lquiokcr here than anywhere else. and
that a selected man has a better chance
OF promotion than il he had gone tc
lone OF the later officers training camps
And most OF the men are looking for
shoulder straps Sidctracked from their
everyday work, they have turned the
iull torce of their ambition toward tn,
goal OF military achievement
Few OF the Thousands of New Yorl
mothers and fathers need worry abou
the habits and temptations that ma,
confront their boys here. They ncedn'
worry a mite about am possible lacl
Of medical attention
a benevolent government tucks cacl
lad beneath his army blankets at Q A.
p. m and routS him out at about 3 a. m
II peers into his mouth and throat anc
: looks over his entire body minutch
2 every day for the first symptoms of dis
case. II has chased "Iom Rarlevcorn'
from every stamping ground within fiv,
miles ot the outer edge OF the reserva
ton, which means a gnod many NOR,
miles than that from the camp proper
II gives the boys medicine balls, base
ball and football outfits. vollcv bal
games, and with capable instructors 70
voluntary athletic pleasure and setting
up exercises and hikes for compusor
athletic work.
q, To the observer who sees and talk
; personally with many OF the lads ever
, day II appears that the vast majorit
OF the lads are happy. that all are a
, comfortable as any camp life permit
and that all are leading far NOR
S healthy lives, with more safeguards io
!. safety, than any similar number OF hr
# man bcngs--no matter what their sta
k ton OF life--in the city
Rushing Toward Maturity
il The camp now is rushing toward ma
d urlty by leaps and bounds Barrack
c are shooting up over night What
VI nothing but a pile OF lumber today is
house tomorrow, equipped with kitcher
o running water and beds, all ready fc