The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-03-29

Wnlcn a defensive IOrce may pe ere
ated. The first is that of large
standing army of professional SOL
diers, he'd together on mercenary
basis, supported by reserves of state
militia. The second is by conscrip-
ton and universal training. Enough
has been said to show that the first
method is undemocratic and ineffi-
cient. Also it is evident that the sec
ond plan can be made both efficient
and democratic. at less expense than
is involved by the former methods.
Training of Young Men.
-Four There are two ways in
which our young men can be trained
for military service, whether volun-
tary or cOnscripted. The first is to
lay the burden on our already over
loaded public schools. 1t is for those
who believe in this system, whether
voluntary or otherwise, to rise to its
defense. The burden of proof is on
them to show that it produces eff
cient soldiers or even aids material
ly in doing so; that it produces a
willing soldier when occasion arises
that it is democratic and does not
tend to create in school petty arts
tocracy, contemplate in Itself and
disastrous to the welfare of the school
as whole; that it is sound physical
and mental discipline for growing
boys; that it does not thrust into GU,
homes and on to our streets an APP
pearance of militarism out of keeping
with our American conceptions OF
civil life. The second is to take all
of our abel bodied young men at
about the age of high school gradua-
ton, whether in school or out, wheth-
er rich or poor put them into an ac-
tual military environment under ex-
pert military instructors and give
them what may be deemed by mill
tary experts adequate training for
real soldiery, and then add them for
a term of years to our military re-
serve, subject to annual training for
a brief time to keep thcm up to eff
fieient standards. Hard as the last
proposition is to accept by any of us
all of whom are accustomed to look
with diSfavor on any encroachment
on the time of Our children, it seems
TO be supported by all of the evidence
as the only actual solution to the
Finally, it would seem beyond
question that we have reached the
point as a people where we must cast
out the military traditions of our
fathers, which in our pacificism and
self assurance we have adhered to sc
ardentiy, and to take up a new sys-
TEN. one that at first glance may
seem repugnant, but which is I'M
doubtedly necessary for the defense
OF our national welfare and dignity
and that plan involves, whatever the
process, consumption and universal
military training pc
Or. Andrews Led Discussion. 80.
DR.. J.HW. Andrews, who led the
discussion. said in part: i":"
Professor Mcconnell in his paper
dwells at much length upon methods
to be used by the government ia
maintain an efficient military force
Tor the defense of the government in
times of peace, and take it he is not
opposed to the Swiss and Australian
systems. / cannot sec very much diff
ference between these systems and
that which has been practiced by the
Germans for century past except
that the Germans have divorced their
military training from their public
hools. In Australia military train
ing is required OF the boy from the
age OF Twelve to twenty-six, partial
~ in school and partially out of
school, Let us assume then that this
country adopts practically the Aus
tralian system. A considerable per
centage of the boys time during the
educational period of his life is ex-
acted for military training. with the
possibility, but not the probability
that he will ever make any practical
use OF the same, that he will! ever be
called upon by his government to
serve in military capacity.
Schools Are Overturned.
Another objection to that is that
our. schools are already over-taxed
and that We are requiring so many
things of our youth in an cducation-
al line, that he becomes an expert
TOR nothing. Take the professions
for example; as am most familiar
with the medical profession, I take
this as an example. The boys and
girls must be passed through the
public school course, including grad
uaticn Of the high school: they can
hardly accomplish this before the age
of eighteen: then he must have. in
our own state, and indeed in most
states of the union. two years col
eye course, then a four years medi :
cal couree, and finally an internship
ot, ono year in SOME recognized hos
pfta'. Assuming that his school work
as been continuous, he is twenty
five years old before he can 'assun,e
his medical diploma If to this. were
added the course of military training.
1T would be a real burden to him. and
the chances are that he would never
make any practical use of il >, est.
Personally / am opposed to uni
versal military training as a part of
the curriculum and for the reasons
above stated. would also be opposed
to universal, military training so
far as the work of the schools lis con-
cerned. l think even if it were un-
dertaken. Il would be like teaching
the foreign languages in our public
rrhoo's. Theoretically, 1t might bn
all right but practically 1t would be
a failure. -
I'm conclusion, let nae repeat, tho
late experience Of this nation, and
think the experience of other ma
tions is decidodIv4 ~, fo,,,,. 80 -.