Sioux County pioneer., 1921-05-19
POOR HEALTH Of
u. SIS PROBLEM.
Efforts Are to Be. Made to Cor
rect Low Physical Standards
Revealed by War.
EXPERTS CONSIDER. QUESTION
Work Of Draft Boards showsd That
Nation Of 100000, 600 Psepls Could
Put Forward 100000 Men
Fit 70 Carry q Gun. .:sS

Il- ID u T b &c { y
u, Washington.-An annual survey Of,
the young men Of the nation to deter
mine their physical condition and
what can be done to Improve 1t was
suggested the other day by General
Pershing in an address to high school
cadets here.
General rPershing was thinking Of
his experience in the war. He remind.
ed his hearers that 60 per cent Of the
men called for service were physically
unfit, and he pointed out the pressing
need for something to remedy this sit
uation. IN
The state Of the national health, 40
revealed by the draft, seems to have
been really the most sensational fact
Of the war, says Frederic ]. Haskin
In the Chicago News. It has spurred
congress to project and hold hearings
upon comprehensive measures for
physical education. It seems to have
made a deep impression upon every
thoughtful person in the country. lf
about half Of the young men which
the United States produces are weak,
sick, undersized, crippled or other
wise inefficient, what is going to be-
come of us as nation1 3s
These seem to be the questions that
thoughtful Americana are asking
themselves. They stand out all over
the volumlnous hearings upon; the
Fess bill for physical education.
-.ss 2 ! =
Bill Provides Fund.
This measure provides for a large
appropriation to be divided among the
states for use in promoting physical.
education, on the condition that each
state must itself appropriate as mucl,
as 1t receives from the federal gov
ernment.
Many Of the leading educators and
physicians Of the country appeared
before the committee on education in
connection with the bill. They agreed
unanimously that the draft had re-.
vealed an alarming condition Of the
public health and that nothing could
be more important than to do what
ever can be done to remedy this con-
dition. II. Il
ut does not make any difference
how much water power we have, or
how many great projects there may
be at any time." says DR., Joseph II.
Raycroft OF Princeton university,
"The real wealth Of the nation IL tho
health and efficiency Of its people,
Nothing else matters to the same ex.
tents NJ
s Doctor Raycroft reminded the com;
mittee that not only did the draft
boards find It necessary to reject
about 35 per cent Of the men as ply
sically unfit, but that from 40 to 81,
per cent Of those accepted In the: vari-
ous drafts were found unfit after they
were in the army and had to be sent
to hospitals or to developmental bat
talions. He points out that the ply
4 sical standard was lowered i've diff
ferent times In the effort to get
enough men. In this way. 600 00O.
men were raised. Shortly before the
armistice, when It looked as. though a
fifth million would be needed, he said
Il was 4 serious question whether an.
other million men fit to fight could be-
found in America In other words, a,
nation Of more than 100000 200 people
could not put forward 100000 men.
nt' to carry gun. 3s 3a
Seasons Are Interesting. u
Most interesting ! are the rensons;
which various experts assigned for the:
low physical standard Of manhood
prevailing IN this country. lss q
Doctor Raycroft ,assigns two princist
pal ones. He calls them urbanizationss
Z and industry BY. urbnnikltion he
means the crowding Of people into.
cities. He declares that, ina spite Of,
allegations to The contrary the re.
,cruits from rliraI districts showed Z,
higher physical average tliin those
from the cities. undonbts sdly- the
great army Of poorly paid ONCE work
Z. .ers. who lead sedentary live ahd GET
almost no adequate recreation. zone.
big: factor in the Low average of
health. 1: Doctor Rnycroft i1sp seems
Y bslisys thlt g,snf q shs& &eEksrs a