The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1918-08-24
need OF MORE
TRAINED men
PLAINLY SHOWN
Special Committee on Higher Educa-
ton and Industry Reports on
Needs Of Technically Train
ed Men.

Closely in line with the War De-
partment's recommendations to make
the draft ages IS to As, with provis-
:, ion for training of the younger men,
is the report of Secretary Lanes spe-
cial committee on higher education
and industry, just made public,
wherein the Nations feed for tech
nically trained men is defined and
specific higher education program
urged.
The committee, which consisted of
Fuller e. Galloway, a financier of La
Grange, Ca; Samuel NJ FELTON,, direc-
tor-general of military railways for
the War Department, and President E.
A. Alderman, of the University of Vir-
ginia, seeks to show how essential it
is, If the Governments for-reaching
military plans are to be carried out
successfully, that the processes of
higher education be maintained at the
highest possible efFiciency-especially
those having to do with the future
supply of men and women trained in
scientific and technical subjects, in
GLIDING teachers in these fields.
impossible TO EXaggerate Importance
That it is impossible to eXaggerate
the Importance of engineering knowl-
edge and skill, in the broadcast sense,
is the judgment of Secretary Lanes
committee, not only directly in the
conduct of military operations, but in
directly in the essential war indus
tries, including agriculture. The re-
port says:
1.-THE engineering problems con-
fronting the United States are indie
initely greater than those of any 9th
erage distance of more than $500
miles, across the continents and the
seas, we must transport all of the
men, munitions and supplies which
are to represent us in this great
struggle.
Furthermore, the central powers
prepared themselves for this conflict
over a long period of years, and by
means determined its character to
their own advantage in large meas
ure. The loss by our Allies of men
of highly specialized training in the
early stages of the war, and the diff
culties in the way of recovery, leave
I this Nation nthe position of trustee
of the only remaining sources of sup
ply"
War Tasks Call for. Expanded Effort
= Pointing out how the War Depart
' ment has already taken steps, through
the establishment OF the Student
Army Training Corps. to utilize the
higher educational institutions in
training young men under 81, Score
tary Lanes committee makes the fol
lowing recommendations:
"The people of the United States
. should recognize that the maintenance
of the war strength of the Nation il
its full power demands the utmost eff:
l forts of all existing we'll organized
and adequately equipped colleges
universities, and technical schools
This means ever increasing and more
devoted bodies of students as well as
faculties.
: Young people having the requisite
, qualifications should heed this urgent
call of their country, and apply them
selves diligently, enthusiastically, and
in increasing numbers to the task OF
preparing for the highest service OF
which they are capable. Wherever
practicable, young men should at rtle
same time Join the Students, Enlisted
Reserve and prepare for military ser
vice. in order to be ready for that call
also when II comes.
institutions OF higher education
should adjust their courses, so far as
possible, to immediate war needs and
to the demands which must inevitably
come with the establishment of peace
and should develop especially those
scientific and practicable branches OF
study which are essential to the win
ming of the war, to the development
of our Industries and commerce, and
to the accomplishment of the tasks OF
the civic and political life of the Ma
ton.
Educational institutions should
use every effort to make the oppor'
tunities and privileges of training fol
public service accessible to all~suit'
ably prepared men and women of col
lege age, In the. cases of many wor'
thy young men and women this will
require some provision for assistance
in meeting payments for tuition ant
laboratory fees and other necessar!
expenses OF higher technical train
ing.