The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1921-01-12
Officials Believe that Present
Economic Depression Will
Fill Schools
VACANCIES AFTER WAR
HAVE GONE BEGGING
Five Hundred Congressional
Vacancies Still Open
for February Is
lBy United Press)

ton for entrance to West Point aud
Annapolis form an interesting index
today to Americas economic situa-
tiOn-so far as the young men OF
the country are concerned.
This developed here today IN the
belief expressed by officials OF both
academies that the presen: economic
depression in the United States
whatever its cause or its probable
duration-would remedy 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 armstice, manifested
Itself In a disinclination Of the AM
erican 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
thereto, or he found the opportunities
in commercial and Industrial life so
attractive financially that he lost in
terest in the advantages presented by
Uncle Sans educational institutions.
AS a result, congressman In all
parts of the country reported they
were meeting difficulty in obtaining
candidates for West Point and Ann
apolis. For while the situation
seemed serious. Even today some con-
gressmen have failed to name their
candidates, because they were un-
able to obtain applicants.
But the situation Is beginning now
to adjust itself rapidly. according to
both army and navy authorities here.
With 4 noticeable diminution in
the number of high-paid jobs, such as
followed the war, the American
youth apparently is reviving his ap-
probation o. the opportunity to OBJ
tain an education, at the s.me time
equipping himself for service as an
officer in the army or navy. Applca-
lions to the academies are beginning
to increase, says 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 is reflected in the stimulus
that army and. navy recruiting has
received lately.
The next entrance examinatioV to
Annapolis will be held February 16.
Nominations to date number 3O8.
vacancies. A great many of these are
expected to be filled by February. as
entrance to Annapolis has been ia
cilitated this year by adoption Of the
policy OF admitting candidates on
academic certificates from colleges
and univcrsites-a practice followed
by West Point for several years. In
addition, one hundred enlisted men
are allowed each year to qualify for
the naval academy. II all the vacan-
cies are not filled I'm time for the
February examinations, they will be
continued until April, when spring
examinations are held.
Washington officials Of the mill
tary academy reported recently there
were 40 congressional vacancies now
available, for which no nominations
had been made. They believed the
state Of affairs In the business world
would aid jp filling the vacancies, but
declared that congressman had not
always employed the best methods
for obtaining candidates. They stat
cd, as an example, that in many in
stances where congressman reported
they had received no applications for
West Point, they had been filled lat
err by placing the opportunity before
the Reserve Officers Training Corps
of colleges and universities. In these
cases, students already had displayed
their interest in military affairs, but
had been overlooked by congressman
in their quest for prospective army
officers.