The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1919-09-18

national guard the OASIS OF the ma
TONS military strength, and provide
for the instruction of the youth of the
country in military matters without
long periods spent in training camp.
The statement and outline of plan
reads:
Universal military training is de-
manded by a great majority of the
people of the United States, for two
reasons:
First: Because it is a necessary
step toward national preparedness,
and at the same time is the fairest |
way of distributing that service |
among the rank and file of the people. |
Second: Because the training of |
the boys, during the war, demonstrate |
ed that it not only built up the body, |
but it raised the entire moral stand |
ard of every boy who came into that
service.
"While the people want military
training for the youth, they are
strongly opposed to great standing
army, and to the Inauguration of any
policy which fosters militarism.
"Their attitude toward the ques-
tions is very much like that of the
strong, conservative banker, who
holds a reserve of wealth against a
time when a crisis may call for its
use, but does not propose that that
reserve shall become a part of his
| working capital
"They say. let US take our boys, give
them the benefit of military training,
which will build up their bodies,
quicken their minds, instill within
them deep sense of their obligations
to their country, and to any opportu-
nifty that may be offered them for
patriotic service; but do not let US
tempt them to 60 into the regular
army and adopt as their career the
life of the professional soldier.
"Let us train all of our boys, and
let US have this fine spirit which will
weld them together into a great, effic-
lent fighting force for any emergency
which would make necessary the mob
ilization of a great army; but let
them become a part of the civil life
which produces and creates, and does
not sap out and destroy the spirit
which made America a, great nation.
mo one can successfully contend
that this is not fair statement of
what the people of this country want;
but the question naturally arises how
are they going to obtain military pre-
paredness, and train the boys so that
they can become part of this great
fighting force, and at the same time
permit them to hold their places as
civilians in their several commmi-
ties?
'There is only one answer to the
question. There can be no other.
at is: The citizen soldier.
Instead of waiting until a boy is
nineteen years of age, and has either
obtained position as a wage Garner,
where he contributes largely to the
support and to the comforts of the
family, or where he has just entered
his college or is taking a technical
course which will fit him for his ca
reer, let us begin at the age of four
teen with course of military train
ing in our school system, making use
of our schools without going to the
expense of creating a great force for
instruction in military camps. Re-
quire the study of military subjects,
and the passage of examinations, just
as any other subject is handled. In
connection with this. a drill at least
once week. making use of the arm
ories throughout the country, without
any additional expense except that of
an instructor.
"After this preliminary training,
which shall be given in small doses
spread over a period of two or three
years, let US take the boy during vaca-
ton time into a camp and give him
not to exceed two months of intensive
military training in the field. where
he shall have an opportunity to de-
velop.
"Then, with the foundation well
laid, graduate him into the citizen
soldiery of the nation-the national
guard, which now, according to a
plan which is being worked out, is or
ganized as separate corps of the
United States army. functioning di-
rectly under the secretary of war, adj
ministered by the great citizen SOL
diers who contributed a very large
part to the winning of the war; this
organization which has high stand
ards, so high in fact that a commits
sion to an officer, or warrant to a
non-commissioned officer, or an hon
orable discharge to either officer or
enlisted man, is given the same place
and honor in the home that a diploma
from school or college is given.
"To this. the professional soldier
will say: 'Fine-this is the suggestion
of dreamer It is not dream, but q
vision of the future to which all prac-
teal tests may be applied. and which
in the end, it will be found, solves the
problem"