Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1920-04-15
CLUB DISCUSSES
ARMY TRAINING
FOR YOUNG MEN

The Twentieth Century club held
it's regular meeting Thursday after
noon with Mrs. Clara T. Runge.
Miss Plat gave a review of the
views of various men who have given
much thought and labor to the pro-
blem Of universal military training,
or CONSUMPTION, as permanent po-
licy.
Although a great deal has been said
to suggest that this country was
considering, merely, the adoption of at
harmless system of military training
resembling, the so-called Swiss Sys-
tenn, the fact remains, no bill has
been introduced in congress, based
upon the Swiss militia The Two
Chamberlain bills, the Mosely bill
the General Staff bill have all been
based upon the Prussian system, in
which the youth is placed under cen
tralized military control deprived OF
his civilian rights and placed at an
enforced labor for prolonged period.
Those who advocate the adoption
of universal military training have
not based their contentious solely on
the necessity Of building UP power
full military machine, question which
the outcome of our "war to end war"
may settle forever. They have adj
vanced, also, certain claims as to mil
itary training in the making OF men:
In culcating patriotism. Is it pos
sible to make anyone love his country
more by depriving him of his civil
ian rights for period and marching
him up and down with no incentive
as in time Of peace. Many have let
their native lands because they hated
this. Would it not promote the love
for this country more by constructive
work, such as building good roads,
digging irrigating trenches or canals,
demonstration, etc, with due compen-
sation.
Patriotism as taught by military
training is too narrow for the TWEEN
tieth century American. It is tribal,
constituencies, whereas, the true Am
erican has a desire for world free
dom, and equality.
(2) Does militarism make good citi-
zens? Does it make a good citizen
of a man by removing all response
bilities, all initiative, to place him
where he has naught to do hut TO
obey. He has no will but to be
part of vast machine.
The life of the civilian is quite the
UTI,;oI, T,1oJrooc ho hos
citiZesl
60 Good Health. 1t is conceded
by all that open air exercises are
beneficial through many laws of hy
GENE be broken; but would it not
reach many more citizens, be more
lasting by a great extention of the
garden movement of sunset baseball
league, of park play grounds, munich
pal gymnasium privileges and swim
ming pools, ETC.; than the monotc
Gus drill of select number.
Military training like state social
ism would fain be considered the ma
TONS cure-all No such panacea ex-
lists. That our boys need better ply
siques, better habits of obedience,
more democracy and sounder patriot
ism may be readily admitted. How
to left them to this higher plane Of
living is a question that has not vet
been readily answered. 1t will not be
solved by any program. lit is spir-
itual problem and no mechanical de-
vice will meet it. Education and in
SEPARATION will solve it but their eff
fectiveness depends upon the sincere
cooperation Of all Americans.
The House Committee ommitted mil
itary training from the Army reor-
ganization bill as accepted, thereby
leaving the question as party issue.
The president, Mrs VIM. II. Hatch
presented the Junior high school ques-
ton and urged all present. to en-
brace the ballot to express her view
of the same
Officers will be elected at the next
meeting