The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1918-07-11
A Message
to High School
Graduates

Under the above caption. p. p. Clax-
ton of Washington. ID. c., commission
er Of education. has addressed the fol
lowing letter to the members OF
graduating classes of high Schools
thruout the United States;
Nearly year ago. President Will
son said: 1t would seriously impair
Americas prospects OF success in this
war IL the supply of highly trained
men were unnecessarily diminished.
/, l would particularly urge upon
young people who are leaving our
high schools, that as many of them
as can do so. avail themselves this
year OF the opportunities offered by
the colleges and technical schools TO
the end that the country may not lack
an adequate supply OF trained men
and women"
The presidents view was emphat-
icaiiy supported in public statements
By Secretary Baker. Secretary Lane.
the commissioner OF education. and
by nearly every national body OF sci
entific men.
The War department now formally
recognizes the essential military con-
tribution toward the winning of the
war which must be rendered by the
colleges and can be rendered by no
other agency. II has just published
the following order. which particular.
iy Incorporates the colleges into the
military establishment of the United
States:
e In order to provide military in
struction for the college students OF
The country during the present emer.
rency. a comprehensive plan will be
put in effect by the War department
beginning with the next college year.
in September. 1915. The details re-
main TO be worked out. but IN general
the play will be as follows:
Military instruction under officers
and non-commissioned officers OF the
army win be provided in every in
sti,ution Of college grade. which en-
rolls for the Instruction 100 or more
sble-bodied students over the age of
Is. The necessary military equip
mens will. so far as possible be pro
vlded by the government. There will
be created military training unit in
each institution. Enlistment will be
purely voluntary but all students over
the aEe df Is win be encouraged TO
enlist The enlistment will constitute
the student a member Of the Army Of
the United States liable 10 active
DUTY at the cali Of the president. II
will. however. be the policy OF the
Government not TO call the members
of the trimming units 20 active duty
until they have reached the age OF Fl.
unless urgent military necessity com
peis an earlier call. Students under
rs and therefore not legally eligible
for enlistment. will be encouraged TO
enroll in the training units. Pro
vision will be made for coordinaiinE
the Reserve Officers Training Corps
system. which exists In about one
third of the collegiate institutions.
with this broader plan.
This new policy aims to aecomp
lish two-foid object: First-to de
veiop as a great military asset the
large body OF young men in the col
leges: and 'Second--to prevent un-
necessary ard wasteful depletion of
the colleges through indiscriminate
volunteering by Offering TO the stu
dents. definite and immediate mill
tary status.
OF the details of the new system. In
the meantime. presidents of collegiate
Institutions are requested to call this
matter to the attention of all their
ate this spring should be urged to con
tinue their education and take advant-
age of this new opportunity to serve
the nation.
There is now double inducement
to young men graduating from the
high school to follow the presidents
earnest advice: not only will they be
preparing themselves TO serve their
country in the most effective way. but
they will be members of the military
forces OF the United States while Sc.
curing this preparation"
HAS PURCHASED THE
orsuustp oA AAch