Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-02

the First Corps Area Camp and the
other camps throughout the country
at which more than $4,000 young
men have volunteered for course OF
training with the Colors for national
citizenship. But it is for national
citizenship and not for paciflst citl
zenship of the Baxter brand that
these young men will train, an
eleventh hour proclamation or Inc
Governor of Maine to the contrary
notwithstanding. A year ago ne de-
clined to visit the Citizens Military
Training Camp because he dlsap.
proved of the training there given
last October he refused to recognize
Roosevelt's birthday as navy Day
because he favored breaking me
spirit of the Treaties of washington
which call for the maintenance Oh
Navy commensurate with the re-
sponsibilities imposed by those urea
ties. Only a few months ago ne
Inundated all New England and DIS
gusted the country by Ordering ING
Stars and Stripes put at half mast on
the state CaDitol in memory OF his
pet dog. 49,,
A few days ago. accompanied nv
his military" staff, Governor Baxter
naid an ostentatious pilgrimage 10
BOSTON and avowed a new born en-
thusias SIN for the Citizens Military
Training Camp movement. You
would have thought to hear him TAX
that he did not know Of its existence
before, Upon his return TO Name ne
issues a f1amboyant proclamation, IN
which he msrepresents most cum
ningly the spirit and purpose or the
camp. He assures the people OF
Maine that the camp has for its pur-
pose 'the training of cltlzeas not
soldiers, in utter disregard OF 'he
fact that every student OF the camp
is trained in the school of the sold
ier". trained to lead his country IN
peace and to be a defender OF ms
country in war. What he is trained
to do is so to fit himself for the Great
Adventure that he may spare HIM
self the, sad fate of being found unht
for conlbatant service if war comes,
or SPARE his parents, friends ana
|rcichbors the humiliation OF seeing
him seek non combatant service IL
war should come while he is or COM
batant age and condition.
The First Corps Area is one OF the
few in the country in when the
quota has not been exceeded. Con-
gress appropriated for the training
throughout the country OF 2S,ooo.
Nearly 10000 have applied. OF this
number $4,000 will be accepted. Other
parts of the country, however, nave
not had to contend with Governor
Bakers support of the 1923 training
camp. His support" is of a sort to
discourage volunteers for training
with the Colors for national citizen
ship. Nothing could be further from
the high ideals of national citizenship
which will be fostered at Camp Dew
ems for the next thirty days than the
brand Of citizenship which Governor
Baxter and his pacifist partners are
endeavoring to advertise at the ex-
pense of the Government OF the Uni
ted States 1t is only fair to Maine
to say that her candidates for the
camp to date have volunteered from
homes in which the spirit OF Straight
Americanism and pure patriotism
has not yet been adulterated by the
poison of pacifism which Names
governor delights to disseminate.
The camp that will open at DeVens
today, which Governor Baxter at
the eleventh hour pretends to favor,
has the same curriculum as the l922
camp which he declined to visit. The
camp has not changed and the gov
ernor has not really changed in his
attitude toward it. Last year he was
it's honest enemy; this year he is It's
false friend.