Evening star., 1920-02-10
INTEREST NESSAY.
CONTEST GROWING
School Children Are Eager to
Describe Benefits Of Army
Enlistment.

Interest in the national school es-
say contest is increasing at a gallop-
| ing rate. according to expressions Of
| opinion being received from all sec
tions of the country by the Come
| Back. weekly journal Of the soldiers
at Walter Reed Hospital, which is
| conducting the enterprise in behalf of
| the War Departments Army enlist
| ment program.
In this contest the three school chill
dren who write the essays adjudged
best on the subject, Benefits of an
, Enlistment in the United States
Army" will receive from the War De-
partment medals of gold. silver and
, prizes, respectively, and the schools
| they represent will receive silver low
| ing cups. The essays are to be writ
| ten in claSsrooms. from notes. II de-
! sired. February 20. Decisions will be
made April 1s. and on May the prizes
will be awarded in Washington by
-, Secretary of War Baker. Gen. PERISH
, ing and Gen. March.
Will Reward ID. c. C0ntestants.
! The Evening Star will award ex-
clusively to District contestants
twenty-five prizes. agsregating 5000.
Seven Of these will go to high school
! participants. one each to the twelve
rochial schools. including academies
and colleges, provided the contestants
are not over high school age.
+. Members Of Congress are showing
very warm interest in the contest
and number Of them have written
pressing warm approval.
/ Senators Praise Movement.
! Senator New is of the opinion that
1 CnnfnCf Wi IN =
attention to, and to stimulate interest
! in. enlistments in the Army" He says:
1t is my earnest belief that under the
j present system ? young man may de-
I; rive much real and lasting benefit from
| An enlistment in Uncle Sans military
service. ana anything which brings the
subject to the attention Of young men
| in favorable manner is of real
| service"
Senator McKellar thinks the contest
is an excellent idea, and wishes much
success to it.
Senator Poindexter heartily congrat-
! ulates The Come Back on the contest.
de says: Il believe that the result
will not only be interesting, but will
be highly beneficial in inculcating an,
| interest in the Army and in national
defense among the great body Of our
people. wish you every success in
its conduct"
| Senator Capper says: "I am glad to
| know of the national essay contest
| Tor school children to be conducted
| under the auspices Of the Comeback
such contest should serve q good
purpose. a patriotic purpose. 1t is
| most important that the school boys
and girls OF today-the men and wom-
! en- of tomorrow-should be interested
in the Army of their country; that
they should know something Of its
| makeup and its activities in peace
as we'll as in war. The writing Of
! these essays and the study incident
| thereto will heighten that interest
and make for healthy patriotism. Too
much attention cannot be given to
! the teaching Of patriotism and love
for America &and American institu-
| tions among the youth Of the land
| SO am glad to give your enterprise
my cordial Endorsement and hope it
| may prove a fine success"
| Senator Fletcher says: THE idea OF
! an essay contest on Benefits of IN
Enlistment in the United States
Army" is an excellent one. The rules
of the national school essay contest
seem to be fair and just. and very sat
this idea. A clear understanding OF
| these benefits would strengthen the
morale and strengthen the Americana
zation sentiment"
Senator Simmons states that the
contest commands his interest and he
thinks 1t must have a salutary effect.
He says, THE emphasis which I an
ticipate will in these essays be placed
upon the value of discipline and thor
ough Americanism will expect be Of
very great value"
OF the nineteen million school chill
dren in the United States, 1t is antic-
ipated that about sixteen million
children will write an essay on the
benefits of an enlistment in the United
States Army in the classrooms on
February 20.