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

which defensive force may Ne ere
ated. The first is that of a 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
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 our
homes and on to our streets an ap-
pearance of militarism out of keeping
with our American conceptions OF
civil life. The second is to take all
of our abe 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 fol
real soldiery, and then add them for
a term of years to our military re-
serve, subject to annual training fo1
a brief time to keep thcm up to eff
ficient standards. Hard as the last
proposition is to accept by any of us
all of whom are accustomed to look
with disfavor on any encroachneni
on the time of our children, it seems
TO be supported by all of the evidence
as the only actual solution to the
problem
Finally, it would seem beyond
question that we have reached the
point as people where we must cas-
out the military traditions of our
fathers, which in our pacificism ant
self assurance we have adhered to 81
ardentiy, and to take up new 'sys.
tenn. one that at first glance may
seem repugnant, but which is uni
doubtedly necessary for the defense
OF our national welfare and dignity
and that plan involves, whatever thu
process, conscription and universe
military training
=; Or: Andrews Led Discussion.
Dr.. J.HW. Andrews, who led tn,
discussion said in part: ,@i+t
Professor Mcconnell. in his pape
dwells at much length upon method.
to be used by the government tt
maintain an efficient military fore,
for the defense of the government ii
times of peace, and take it he is no
opposed to the Swiss and Australian
systems. cannot see very much diff
ference between these systems AMI
that which has been practiced by tn,
Germans for a century past, excep
that the Germans have divorced thei
military training from their public
hools. In Australia military train
ing is required OF the boy from tn,
age of twelve to twenty-six, partial
iys in school and partially out o
school. Let us assume then that tfi
country adopts practically the Aus
ualian system. A considerable per
centage of the boys time during TIL.
educational period of his life is ex
acted for military training. with TIN
possibility, but not the probabilit
that he-4wifl ever make any practica
use of:the same, that he will. ever: b
called upon by his government t
serve in military capacity. e
Schools Are Over r axed.
- Another objection to that is tina
our. schools are already over-taxe
and that we are requiring SO man
things of our youth in an education
al line, that he becomes an exper
for nothing. Take the profession
for example; as 1 am most famiiia
with the medical profession, I TAX
this as an example. The boys an
girls must be passed through tn
public school course, Including grad
nation of the high school; they ca
hardly accomplish this before the ag
of eighteen then he must have. i
our own state, and indeed in mos
states Of the union. a two years col
eye course, then four years nledi
raj couree, and finally an internshi
OF ono year in SOME recognized hos
pftal. Assuming that bis school wor
AZ been continuous, he is twenty
five years old before he can assuni
his medical diploma II to this. wer
added the course of military trainin,
lit would be real burden to him, an
the chances are that he would neve
make any practical use of it. an,
Personally / am opposed to uni
versal military training as part (
the curriculum and for the reason
above stated. would also be oppose
to- a universal military training S
far as the work ofithe schools is cor
cerned. think even if it were ur
dertaken. Il would be like teachin
the foreign languages in our publ
-rhoo,s theoretically, 1t might !
all right but practically it would /
a:failure.
TN conclusion, let nae repeat. II
late experience Of this nation, an
I think the experience of other ma
tiopo ;r Joo;AnAIxt%.:,4