Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1920-10-14
A LESSON FROM BULGARIA
BY DR.. Frank Crane

by Or. Frank Crane
1t is difficult to keep from running to ex-
tremes
Public Opinion is pendulum, and when
1t swings far one way it is quite sure to
swing back just as far the other way.
We went into the war tremendously. We
were all for fighting We were out to click
the Kaiser" and speeches roared from plat
forms, vast environments Of soldiers sprang
up all over the country, we enforced the
draft, and everybody was a-soldiering
Then we got over our fever. And we got
tremendously over it. We were suddenly
sick and tired of war; did not want to hear
war talk read war stories, nor see war uni
forms.
Whereas we had fever, now we have
chlls.
So from frothing militarism we rush to
violent anti-miltarism.
But extremes are wrong.
There is something good in the army idea,
something profoundly healthful and con-
structive in enforced military service.
The good element is this: That the youth
are made to realize the supremacy of the
| social and communal obligation.
The draft should be permanent.
Every boy and girl should be required to
serve certain time in the army OF their
country.
Provided, of course, that this army is
drilled, not to shoot, kill and fight but to
WORK.
Work is perpetual need, fighting an oc-
casional and extraordinary.
/Atmeasure is now being proposed in Bull
ria nv the Premier, Alexander Stampom-
sly. which If put into effect will put tnat
country into the foreground or natlons me
bill involves the drafting of young men OF
what we have been accustomed to term
military age for service as laborers nstedu
of soldiers: they are then to be grouped &C
cording to choice ability, and set at va
rious tasks under the direction OF eApefts'
Some will carry out irrigation schemes III
arid districts; some will refofest denudeu
mountansides; some will build ROADS anu
railways or schoolhouses and public build
ings; some will work the government mines
and others communal tracts of land. Dur
ing such service the young men Will nave
the advantage of lectures, evening classes
anad other means of improvement. And in
place of maintaining a standing army which
destroys millions of dollars worth OF am
munition in target practice yearly and can
perform no productive labor the country
WILDE supporting an equal standing army
which is receiving the best sort of training
in agriculture and public works, and is pro-
ducing results that will enrich the country
by developing resources.
|, There is no reason why women shoulo
not be required to perform such service.
constructive army could use women as well
as men.
Such an army would not be kept alive by
the spirit Of revenge; it would not need hate
of an enemy to give it pep,
# would do much to cure us of the poi
son kind of patriotism which functions only
in national egotism and destruction.
1t would develop real patriotism, VIII;
means devotion to the business of building
up ones country and equipping it to help
other countries.
1t would unity our people.
1t would be prolific matrix of democ
racy.
Military training and enforced military
service are good provided your army's ch
business is to Work, and only upon extraor-
binary occasion to Fight.
Copyright, 1920, by Frank Crane.)