El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-01-27
LET'S TAKE NATIONAL INSURANCE
AND BE PREPARED FOR DEFENCE

N ali the weIter Of talk about league of nations and
world peace let no American lose sight of the fact that
world peace ideal and not fact Wars not only
possible probable The best that league Of nations
could would be to exert influence against them seek to
keep countries ont Of them and they came, to ocaize
them 50 as to prevent world such this recent
would be the height Of folly to neglect prep
sIaons for possible Of the future and the defence
OF or rights as vigorous Independent and progressive
nation We count other people to protect
We must take care Of ourselves
Our best preparation viii be through universal military
training It is national life insurance cannot af-
ford to take merely because the premium high
With universal military service, would not need
big standing army Of professional soldiers It is the opin
ion Of representative Kahn OF California ranking minority
member Of the house military affairs committee and the
who put the draft bill through that could get
along with regular army Of about 10000 That
the number Of regular forces about the time
became engaged IN with Germany That 10000 would
consist mostly Of officers and non-commiSsioned officers
whose function would be to train the rich mans and
the poor mans son each year to be good soldier and
better citizen.
We would have TO have troops in the Philippines, in
Hawaii in Alaska the Canal zone, the Mexican border
and possibly number Of other places carry out
international agreements We would have TO maintain
small bodies OF troops at the various army posts IN this
country For the rest the big camps along the Mexican
border and the environments in various parts of the conn
vel constituted for the training Of citizen soldiers
There is so much more to universal training than the
big first purpose Of preparedness for national defence
It would make our young sound physically. It
would produce Of rugged and vire Americans,
inst as II has given Switzerland hardy and vigorous c
zen soldiery
II would lnst IN American young respect for law
and order and constituted authority
Il would be insurance against Bolshevism The IN
army and navy perhaps opposed to de-
EucTe radical socialism than any others Of citizens
It would teach boys initiative, self reliance and
team work
II would tend to real characterization Of the Ameri-
people The rich mans and the poor mans son
would become better acquainted with each other under
roundngs where money counted for nothing al real
imaginary class distinctions eveed The youth
from section Of the country would meet men from
other sections and both would get away re and be-
better acquainted with their country and its people
Il would have broadening influence the value OF which
IS beyond estimate.
Boys would 60 through their training and come out
ounder physically and better balanced mentally and NOR
ally and they would be soldiers and Americans They
would 60 through and return to civil life making way for
The next class.
Only few would remain professionals. They would
them unmistazble material for officers non-comms-
stoned officers They would stay in the army as insruc
tors Of their young fellow citizens coming up of civil
life
What should apply to the army should apply also to
the navy so lar possible The warshp being big col
lection Of many kinds Of machinery would require reIa
lively greater number Of trained personnel constantly at
hand No Doubt however plan for applying universal
training 20 the navy VII be worked in conjunction
With that Of the army. Certainly it should apply to the
marine corps It could hardly apply the air services Of
the army and navy because Of the unusual physical edu
aonal and tePeramentsl requirements of those arms
The people must not for moment forget the urgency