The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1920-01-29
THURSDAY, JANUARY 90, 1920.
UNIVERSAL TRAINING.

The country will soon have an OPP
portunity to declare for or against
universal training for the young men
of this country, the senate military
committee having voted to incorporate
that feature into its army reorganiza-
ton bill. That there will be vigor-
Gus fight against it in congress is evi-
dent, Republican Floor Leader Mon
dell having come out in firm opposi-
ton to it. His greatest objection, ex-
pressed in his speech, is its expense
He predicts that it will cost billion |
dollars to put the universal. training
plan into operation and the country
hasn't the money to expend for that
purpose. This of course is a serious
objection.
Other objections likely to develop are
the claim that the war is over and this
country need not incur unusually large
military expenses at this time, the re-
luctance of American parents to sub
NIT their sons to compulsory difficult
ties at any time, the fear of the i'm
moral influences of military camp life,
and the Indifference of the central por-
tions of the country to possible mill
tary invasions. Dr. Talcott Williams,
the great American publicist, has truly
said the patriotism of a country lies in
its borders. 1t is the borders that
would receive the first onslaughts of an
enemy, therefore they are more con
cerned in national defence. The devel-
opment of army airplanes and the pos
sible development of manless bombing
planes guided by electric currents may
threaten the security of the inland cen
tiers of population and industry, but
those sections are not fully aware of
these modern perils AS a result we
find the great central section of this
country Indifferent, if not actually OPP
/ posed, to universal training.
Il There is another side, however. The
late war demonstrated the value OF
universal conscription for military ser
II vice and, in case of another war, ths
II country would demand another uni
II versal draft for service. The probabil
II ity of this being so strong, the bes
II method of preparation for it become
II pressing necessity. The salvation o
II this country in the World war from
y terrible sacrifice of unpreparednes la
Il in the fact that this country's enem
4 was held at bay in Europe by the al
ii lied nations and gave this country or
II portunity to draft, organize and t
some extent drill our young men fc
military action There is little probf
II bility this country would be so favore
II in future conflicts, therefore it shout
H in the most efficient manner prepare il
II young men for possible crisis.
II This preparation can be made cheal
er in times of peace than in any othe
ii AS soon as universal training is e
II tablished and an organized reser,
III army created, the regular army and i
expenses could be materially reduce
Chairman Wadsworth of the sena
committee says more than 100000
a year. If this is true universal trai
ing would be a financial saving and,
- case of war, would tremendously co
n serve the lives of our young manhoc
All things considered, early establis
ment of universal training seems wi
and a measure of true economy a
military wisdom.
Ill American churches are said to ha