The log cabin Democrat., 1921-01-13
HARD TIMES MAY FILL US. SCHOOLS HIGH PAID JOBS SCARCER Vacancies at West Point and Annap- oils Went Begging After War
 and Still Places Vacant.
(By United Press)

lby Onlted PreSS)
 Washington, Jan. 13.-Applications for entrance to West Point and An napolis form an interesting index to- day to Americas economic situation so far as the young men of the coun- try are concerned.
 This developed here today in the belief expressed by officials of both academies that the present economic depression in the United States whatever it's cause of it's probable duration-would remedy a situation which Americas military and naval schools have faced since the end of the war. This situation, which de- veloped almost immediately after the signing of the armistice, manifested itself in disinclination of the Amer ican youth to adopt the career of either soldier or sailor
 Applications for entrance to West Point and Annapolis began to slump The young man either was "sick of war" and everything pertaining there to, or he found the opportunities in commercial and industrial life so at tractive financially that he lost in- terest in the advantages presented by Uncle Sam's educational institutions.
 AS a result, congressman in all parts of the country reported they were meeting difficulty in obtaining candi- dates for West Point and Annapolis. For while the situation seemed seri- ous. Even today some congressman have failed to name their candidates, because they were unable to obtain applicants.
 But the situation is beginning now to adjust itself rapidly, according to both army and naval authorities here. With noticeable diminution in the number of high-paid jobs, such as fol- lowed the war, the American youth apparently is reviving his apprecia- tion of the opportunity to obtain an education, at the same time equip ping himself for service as an officer in the army or navy. Applications to the academies are beginning to in crease, say officials foreseeing an end to the lack of interest that followed the war. The effect of the business slump on young men, they say, also i IS reflected in the stimulus that army 1 and navy recruiting has received late ly.
 The next entrance examinations to Annapolis will be held February 16. Nominations to date number 30S. That leaves about 800 congressional vacancies. A great many of these are expected to be filled by February, as entrance to Annapolis has been fa- cilitated this year by adoption of the policy of admitting candidates on academic certificates from colleges and universities-a practice followed by West Point for several years. In addition, 100 enlisted men are allow ed each year to qualify for the naval academy. If all the vacancies are not filled in time for the February exam nations, they will be continued until April, when spring examinations are held
 Washington officials of the military academy reported recently there were 40 congressional vacancies now avail able, for which no nominations had been made. They believe the state of affairs in the business world would aid in filling the vacancies, but declared that congressman had not always en- ployed the best methods for obtaining candidates. They stated, as an exam pie, that in many instances where con- gressmen reported they had received no applications for West Point, they had been fillsd later by placing the opportunity before the reserve officers training corps of colleges and univer- sites. In these cases, students al ready had displayed their interest in military affairs, but had been over looked by congressman in their quest for prospective army officers. m NI0CE CThTI0N