Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-02-27
MILITARY TRAINING
Under CONPULS SION
President Campbell Offers a Bill
For Universal System in
Maryland
COMMISSION PROVIDED FOR
Action Follows Appointment of Com
mittee Two Years Ago To Inves-
sigate Plan And Report
Thereon.

Compulsory military and disciplin-
airy training for the youth of Maryland
is provided for in a bill offered in the
Senate last night by President Camp
bell. The measure creates a military
and disciplinary training commission
and authorizes it to accept certain
vocation and physical training in lieu
of the training otherise called for in
the bill
Under the bill the training commits
sion is TO confer with the State Board
of Education as to the courses of in
struction in military and disciplinary
training to be prescribed for the
pupils in public high schools or of any
school of higher grade or college
which is maintained or aided by the
State. The training is 10 be required
Of pupils between the ages of - and
20 years
In connection with the bin Presi-
dent Campbell gave out the following
explanatory statement:
The Military Training bin was pre-
pared by the State Commission on
pursuance of the act of the Legisla-
ture of 1916, which directed the Com
mission to report to the General As
sembly the advisability of establishing
in this State a system of obligatory
military training and of creating a
military reserve. The General Assem-
bly, will, no doubt be glad to consider
hn Ii fa1, II
Commission to prepare.
Il am convinced that the Governor
Will provide in a supplementary bud
get 70 carrying into effect the pro-
visions of the bill prepared by the
Commission, the members of which
were appointed by him
THE provisions Of the bill are for
the establishment of board or COM
mission consisting of the Governor,
the Adjutant General and the Super
intendent- of Public Education, all ex-
officiO, TO have entire supervision in
matters of military and disciplinary
training OF persons between the ages
OF II and 20 years, to determine the
kind, time, place and extent of such
exemptions.
The military training does not con
template military drill only, but may
be met, in whole or in part, by in
structions in physical training or by
such vocational training or vocational
experience, including agricultural pur-
suits, as will, in the opinion of the
commission specifically prepare per-
sons of the ages named for ss-vice
useful to the State, in the mainten.
ance of defense, in the promotion of
the public safety, in the conservation
and development of the States re-
sources, or III the construction and
maintenance of sJublic improvenien.s
THE children under 16 years of age
are exempted from military training
with arms The bill does not apply
solely to school children, but includes
all persons between II and 20 years.
The proposition is not utopian or
socialistic. New York has enacted a
law along these lines, though less
comprehensive and the socialists have
been fighting this bill from the start.
1T is certainly possible TO afford the
youth of our State such military train
ing as will assist them materially
when they are called upon to risk their
lives for our protection. 1t is the least
ne could do to make some effort in
their behalf, which is our own II
will not do to contend that we are
unprepared but that we shall get
along in time. The thing for us to
do is to take time to do something
now"