The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-04-10

oOuAdu lu6dS VI uSuOCIdCy anu Wal
was not favorable for a direct drive t.
Indirect methods had to be found to
way, to start preliminary work so to 81
use of the experiences gained in trainin
in the line of sports. I
Use Sports During War.
We have seen that during the war,
sports and athletic activity were de-
veloped to a tremendous extent be-
cause they helped train the men ply
sically and mentally for military serv-
ice. Quite naturally then, the posi-
/ bility of using sports as peace time
means of spreading military training
presented itself to the capitalists. In
this connection, Major Thummel of
the American Expeditionary Forces
in an article written shortly before
the signing of the armistice, pointed
out:
Much will be learned during the
war concerning the significance and
value of athletic sports. 1t is to be
hoped that the government will see
fit to continue the good work which it
has started in the army environments
when the latter are no longer in i'm
mediate demand, thru some national
system of physical training for the
future, so that every man shall to
some degree become an athlete and
therefore a better citizen. The value
of American athletics is not merely in
the training of individual physical
powers, but also in the creation of
loyalty and spirit akin to profound
spiritual patriotism"
Major Thummel is not the highest
authority who has recognized the pos
sibility of militarist exploitation of
sports activities of the youth. No less
person than Josephus Daniels, secre-
tary of the navy, during the war has
expressed himself on this point blunt |
ly and unanimously. Daniels wrote:
Easily Used by Militarists.
Both the spirit and the training
of the athletic field lend themselves
readily to military service"
The truth of this statement be-
comes apparent when one considers
the nature of American sports. Com
petition and rivalry is the life of Anne
rican sport. Individualism is its bas-
is. Mass sports are unknown. Vic
tory, victory, victory, is the cry of the
participants and spectators. Just as
in the financial world, success is con-
sidered above all, so in the bour-
geois sport world, victory is con-
sidered above all.
Any tactic, any method is justified
as long as it brings home the bacon"
The much-heralded American sports
manship is as mythical as the much
heralded American democracy" Club
and league and team patriotism is the
outstanding Characteristic of Ameri-
can athletes and sport fans and is
closely related to the vicious mental
sickness known as national patriotism.
American Youth and Sports.
When We consider that millions of
American youths are engaged in
sports activity, that every American
boy either participates or is interest
ed in some phase of sport activity,
then we can begin to realize the i'm
portance of Daniels statement. We
can see then that the athletes con-
stitute a large reserve of the Ameri- !
can military machine. The bourgeoisie !
military experts have not been asleep |
to the exceptional opportunities for
: doing business" in the field Of sports. |
Major Keeberger, writing in the
magazine, Playground" on Athletics
and the War Came" has the follow
ing Illuminating comment to make:
THE great problem of thoro mili-
tary training and preparedness must
be solved in a way which will safe
guard democracy from the menace of /
military CASTE"
Apparently Major Keeberger under
stands full we'll that the aims of his |
masters are at variance with their
declarations. They wish to prepare |
for another war while at the sane |
time they delude the people with talk |
about democracy" and pacific in
tentions."
Large Military Training Factor.
Thus he goes on to develop his
scheme for indirect and camouflaged
naturalization. He writes
"The athletic type OF training is |
becoming a large factor In military |
training. BY this emphasis upon. ath-
letic training we are helping 10 take
the sting out Of military training and
to democratize and humanize t."
Keeberger, like Daniels, recognizes
the possibility OF using sports 10 mill
tarize the youth. But he goes one |
step farther. He develops his idea
along organizational lines. He con-
tinues:
This work can best be promoted !
by the government thru department |
Of physical education as an integral |
part Of the bureau Of education In
cooperation with the war depart
mani The Qovnrnmenk aho,Id a,f,