Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1920-03-30
TRAINING BENEFITS

The general health OF the public, a,
well as its mentality, is to be great,
improved under universal military
training. according TO a letter sent q
all members of congress yesterday by
over thirty of the nations leading
physicians. Therefore the physical and
mental efficiency Of the whole com
munity is TO be- increased
Drs. Richard Derby and George
Draper Of New York City head the
list. Additional New York endorse
ments are given by Drs. Marvin Il.
Jones, Thomas W. Salmon, medical
director OF the national committee for
mental hygiene; Alexander Lambert.
William Darmch, dean Columbia Uni
versity; Pierce Bailey, Joseph A.
Blake, Homer +, Swift, George Emer-
son Brewer, Eugene Lyman Fisk. medi-
cal director of the Life Extension In
stitnte; Hermann NJ. Biggs, Lewis A.
Conner, William +. Snow, head of the
bureau of social hygiene; Henry ).
Satterlee. Charles ii. Peck, Henry H.
NJ. Lyle. Hans ZinSser. department OF
bacteriology Columbia University; Eu-
gene ii. Pool. J. Bayard Clark, Harlow
Brooks, Albert s. Morrow, John A.
lIartwell and e. n. Il. Camac
Washington Is represented by DIR.
W. H. Wilmer. Boston signatures are
those Of Drs Joel Il. Goldthwait, Rob
ert w. LOvett, Elliott Z. Joslin and w.
Il. Cannon. Others are Drs. Stewart
L. Roberts OF Atlanta, Ga; George W.
Grille Of Cleveland, Ohio; g. +. de
SchweinitZ. Il. TAFT Mckenzie, director
department Of physical education, Uni
versity of Pennsylvania. and John Il.
Gibbon of Philadelphia. Pa; Joseph ii.
RlycrOft and Stewart Patton OF Prince
ton, n. j.; V. c. Vaughn, Ann Arbor,
Mich. Joseph A Caps and Joseph l..
Miller Of Chicago; Willard ]. Stone
OF Pasadena, Cal. Rudolph Matas and
John Il. Elliott, Jr., of New Orleans,
La. william H. Welch and William 5.
Thayer, both OF Johns Hopkins Uni
versity, and Hugh II. Young Of Balti-
more. Md.
The letter TO congress reads in part |
believing tl'dt our responsibility |
with regard 10 TIE war was not ended |
with the signing Of the armistice, but |
viii continue until universal military |
training becomes an accomplished fact
in America, We respectfully submit TO
You CONSENSUS OF opinion Of a group
of medical men on this important ques-
ton
I'VE believe that universal training
would be Of inestimable value as a
means Of determining the proportion
~ yCmg men physically fit or unfit
and the underlying causes contributing
10 both conditions. aside from its many
other desirable features. Senate bill
I02, which has the support of the Mill
inry Training Camps Association, many
members Of the American Medical AS
ISOLATION, az well as that OF the
American Legion, would provide for a
combination Of physical examination
survey and well considered plan Of
I'VE recommend drastic measures
Tor the prevention OF disease and in
Jury. IL is estimated that $4,000 of
he 100000 young men enrolled for
raining each year would require medi-
al trea tment for venereal diseases,
md the benefit Of univeral care is
'eadily apparent In this instance. Aside
rom preventing the great tragedies OF
.ivil life caused by the insidiOus opera O
ion OF these diseases, the diagnosis,
irompt care and follow-up treatment
o be given to the young men would
llso save enormous sums of money
early e
I'VE strongly protest against the en- =
ollment OF feeble minded young men {
u the citizen army since this condition
, caused by permanent fault in the
development Of the brain which can =
lot be cured by any amount Of train
lg As an example Of an army from
which the feeble minded were excluded,
re would mention that there were but
I suicides In the A. y. f. In two years
rhile in half To- time there were
.GGO suicides ocg the same number n
( the civilian population in New York
ity. No Sunday school ever conceived
Duld be- more efficient than the A. :
!. =. in prevention Of crime; only !"
.73l men out Of the 100000 Of the
Evolutionary force returned 10 Amer
"A ms prisoners. In New York City
lone 10000 are convicted every year
Z felonies and misdemeanOrs. :,
"In offering the suggestions herein y
ltlined. il is our aim 10 plan medi-
Al ARA ngements In training camps u
hich will assure parents Of our young "
zen that n training camp is the safest
lace IN the world for the protection s
nd care Of the health Of their boys"