Deming graphic., 1920-07-27
LOSS OF MAN-POwER

Every American cnllu Snouiu nav
the advantage of health inspection and
physical education from the cradle
through early childhood 10 puberty
and through the long period OF adoles
ccnce when health and physique ar,
generally established or a decided
trend given toward health or disease
During this period all physical abnor
malities that yield to medical science
would be corrected and sufficient
knowledge OF hygiene and systematic
exercise given tn carry the future Anne
rican citizen through the industrially
productive and the biologically repro
ductive years Of manhood and woman
hood.
Our present school system attempts
10 train the mind, but neglects the
body, both as to physical training and
manual dexterity. We educate low
geared brain workers without specific
mental training to achieve success
without physical effort and without
desire or physical stamina To lassor
with the hands. our educators them
selves largely despise physical effort,
either In the form of useful labor or
eNhilfrating exertion for the pure love
NJ motion as in systematic exercise or
sport. Directly or indirectly they i'm
plant In the adolescent mind desire
to unduly conserve physical resources
that makes even the skilled trades un-
attractive. Perhaps Of all the peoples
that have ever lived in this world the
skilled artisan, who is both artist and
laborer, Is the happiest and most con-
tented. Interest In his craft never
flags once his feet are set on the road
10 the attainment Of perfection through
creation. To be skilled with the
hands Is 10 preserve the sanity.
In the male adolescence lasts until
about the twenty-fifth year and up to
that year the individual can generally
he made nearer To hearts desire
through the correction Of abnormali-
ties and attention to the laws of
growth as they are now known. The
Srartans produced super-race
through the destruction Of the weaker
Individuals forced selection that ac-
complishes what natural selection does
in nature in preserving the fittest /:
hut today IL Is only necessary to take
the plastic infant and mould II after
the image that is imputed TO God.
surely this is divine and necessary
undertaking.
New Mexico is among the backward
states In realizing the Importance Of
physical education and has made but
little progress in child culture and vo-
cational training But the country as
q whole Is coming to realize that legis-
latve measures are necessary To fur
iher the efforts at preserving the
Young of the human species and train
ing the youth for citizenship. The
foundation for this important activi-
ty of government Is being laid.
Nothing, perhaps, more than the war
brought Ee country To "A realization
that large proportion Of its youth
had neither the physical powers to
sustain campaigns nor the primitive
love OF battle which was implanted in
the species for its preservation. The
present system is breeding out the pri-
moridal desire for physical activity
and with IL the stamina Ia sustain the
burdens that death only has the Crea-
tors commission To lift.
Community Service In the United
States. together with its playground
activities. is attempting to introduce a
more normal method Of living: the Red
Cross with its nursing program seeks
to contribute plan for maintaining
community health; school athletics
are helping somewhat through properly
conducted physical training depart
ments. But the compulsion that must
force those most needing assistance to
accept and profit by the various agen-
cies must come from the coordinating
activity Of government whose proper
concern IL Is.
The country has reacted against
compulsory military trimming. but the
chances seem to he good that IL Will
again come into favor. such service
forces attention to adolescent weak
nesseS Just now the country's hos
pitals are full Of broken manhood due
mostly to inherent or acquired weaS-
nesses that should have been known
and corrected without the stimulus of
war. Contrary to popular belief, the
large number Of "break-downs Is not
due to the hazards Of battle nor the
hardships of campaigns, bit to the
" weaklssses mentioned A surprising
numser OF the men under treatment
never have been overseas
I.xrer; ! y reason OF their short 'nr-
itary servi.-e. these men are no more
entitled to treatment than the host of
other young sufferers that the county
refuses 20 become interested In. By a
careful system Of inspection. treatment
and trimming the great reservoir OF
prospective American sOldiery can be
kept purged OF weakness and impurity
ready for the tests Of peace or war. IL
j. good business to keep this reser-
voir clean for out OF II must be- drawn
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