Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-06


us second reading and passed to be en-
crossed in concurrence.
From the Senate: Report of COM
mittee on education on An Act entitled
An Act to establish military training
III public schools" reporting Ought to
pass
In the House the report was accented
In concurrence
The bill, Senate Document 424, was
given its two several readings.
on motion by Mr.. Barnes Of Houlton.
the rules were suspended and the bill
was given its third reading.
Mr. CLASON of Lisbon: Mr. Speak,
er, do L understand that in the new
draft it leaves it optional with the
schools?
The SPEAKER: The Chair is un.
able to state.
Mr.. GATES of Vassalboro: Mr..
Speaker, has the bill had its three read
ihgs and is it ready to be passed to be
engrossed?
The SPEAKER: 1t has.
Mr. GATES: Mr.. Speaker. would
IKE to move that the bill be indefinite
~ postponed, and in support of that
motion. Mr.. Speaker, l wish to say that
the general sentiment of the education.
al board is opposed to military training
In public schools. l wish to read two
extracts here.
ears ago. England tried military
training in her schools and finding il
harmful instead Of beneficial, gave it
UP.
France tried universal military
training in her schools. after the Fran
co-Prussian war of 1901. and after
trial of over 20 years, France dis
carded the system and sold the school
equipment at auction.
Australia more recently tried gem
eral compulsory military training for
her boys in the schools and after sew
eral years trial discarded it by a ma
jority referendum vote of $1,000 last
October
Germany. with all her devotion to
military efficiency. has never had the
system IN her public schools or col
reyes, except in few military schools,
similar to our West Point Military
Academy. Field Marshal Won Moltke
condemned it especially in the lower
schools. pointing out that gymnastic
exercises were more valuable
The experiences of all European ma
tions show that military training in the
schools is positively harmful, so that
not one of them has favored it for
several years
Just before his death, Lord Kitch-
ener of England told his military COM
inander to cut out most of the drilling
because it has 50 little value in modern
warfare"
Further than that such an authority
as Doctor Dudley \. Sargent Of Har-
ward University, says: Our PRINCIPAL
objection to military drill as a physi-
cal exercise is that it does not to anv
extent meet the physiological demands
of the body"
so 1 could go on indefinitely, but fur
thermore the educational system Of the
state of Maine is not in favor Of mill.
tary training in schools. While this
does not require compulsory military
farming, 1t Is entirely optional with
School boards or school committees
mere is nothing in the law that we
cannot carry out now without it. do
not think that we should cucumber the
statute books with any unnecessary
legislation. Therefore, l move the bill
be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. SNOW Of Mars Hill: Mr.. Sneak.
ef' wish to support the motion of the
gentleman from Vassalboro. 1t does
rot seem as though this bill would be
or very much benefit. If the national
government wants to establish some
! KIND Of system of military training
for the boys in the towns, it may work
out, but under this bill | do not think
we are getting very much I second
the motion of the gentleman from Vas
salboro.
The pending question being on the
motion of the gentleman from Vassal-
boro. Mr.. Gates, to indefinitely post
pone.
A viva vOce vote being doubted
division of the House being had,
Forty-seven having voted in the af-
firmative and ~ in the negative, the
motion to indefinitely postpone pre-
vailed
Senate Bills on First Reading
Senate 426. An Act to provide for the
transfer to the reformatory for women
of women serving in the State prison,
In any county Jail or in any house of
correction.
Senate 354. An Act to amend Sec
tons l and % of Chapter SO of the Re
vised Statutes. relating to succession
taxes.
Senate AS. An Act to amend Section
%. Chapter lis, Revised Statutes, re-
lating to poor debtors.
The rules were suspended and the
bills given their three several readings
and passed to be engrossed in concur
renee.
Senate 421. Resolve for n memorial in
honor OF Major General Hiram c. Ber-
ry. The rules were suspended and the
resolve given its two readings and
raised to be ergrossed in concurrence.
Senate 42S. An Act to facilitate the
care and treatment of certain infectious
diseases and to add certain sections to
Chapter 10 of the Revised Statutes re-
lating to the State Board of Health.
On motion by Mr.. Allen Of Portland,
tabled pending its third reading.
Mr. HARRINGTON of Augusta: Mr..
Speaker. l ask the gentleman from