Evening star., 1926-11-07
FOSDICK WARNS ARMY
TO EVACUATE SCHOOLS
Charges War Department Has Plan
to MiIitarize Education by
Compulsory Training.
By WILLIS J. BALLINGER.
7 EFT the War Department take
its hands off our schools.
We are already sufficiently

its hands off our schools,
We are already sufficiently
IL dragooned hy laws and
bossed by hureaucrats with.
out having military caste in even
partial control of our education
IF the war camel once gets its head
into the tent of American educa tion.
we are in for dangerous times. The
War Department, with the hest inten-
tions in the world to he of use. will
be intimat ting to college presidents
what professors would better keep
still and what lectures are not de
sira.hle.
THE drive is on by the War De
partnent to militarize our schools.
EtEhty-three colleges and % high
schools have already adopted compul-
sorry military training.
THE challenge Is obvious. Shall we
let the camel go further. or shall we
throw him out before he fills the
tent?"
FOsdick Seems Business Man.
That was blast from one Of Ameri-
CeS 42Centimeter intellectS - DR..
BARRY Emerson Fosdick OF course.
Aazed searchingly across his study
table at the minister rated as Ameri-
cas- most noted divine There wasn't
the slightest evidence that would have
betrayed his ministerial calling. He
might have been a prosperous bust
ness man to any one who did not
know him differently.
DR.. Fosdick is of short and stocky
build. with very sturdy shoulders One
very general characteristic of genius
Is quite visible. His head is large
and powerful looking A shock of
hair bristles above an expansive brow.
~ 10 e 4l.z
DR.. Fosdick laughs heartily. walks
vigorously, talks pointedly and thinks
sharply. / kept recalling what a
noted American bishop had told me
the average person thought Of minis
-narrowminded. anemc souls,
who sputtered about a lot of unreal
ties-and laughed inwardly every time
/ looked at Dr. Fosdick. His robust
physique attracted the eve. His wide
range of interests caught ones fancy.
His clear thinking enthused me.
Fought Own Struggle.
Or. Fosdick's greatness is his fear.
les'ness in thinking. While in college
he went through a tremendous inward
struggle. He wondered if II was pos
sible to be a minister and yet not
have his sould dogmatized. He went
into the ministry with the idea of
thinking through his religion. The re
suit has been that religion in the
mouth Of DR.. Fosdck has been made
living thing. When Dr. Fosdick
rises in his pulpit il is to preach a
religion that brings faith and into lloct
together. That is why DIR. F"sdlck
Is listened to In an age Of facts and
science
The whole endeavor." continued Dr.
FoSdick. Ito enforce military training
in our schools is violation of the
decision of the American people not to
have conscription for military train
ing In time of peace. There can he
no doubt Of our decision in that mat
ter. The military leaders of our War
Depa have determined to out
flank that decision by getting control
Of our schools and enforcing military
training there. One of the foremost
military men in the nation has put
the matter clearly: That we have
not adopted the principle of universal
military service renders II highly
essential that the training which
leads up to military service should be
popularized by all available methods.
Sees Vast Program
What the War Department could
not get by direction it is now trying
means at its disposal In addition to
the SO colleges and % high schools
that have compulsory military train
ing there are 80 high schools and Al
colleges more that have voluntary
Reserve Officers Training Corps. In
1925 the War Department spent over
$4,000 600 on this part of It's program
This is only a beginning. War De
partment leaders want compulsory
military training is as many schools
as possible. When the America n
people understand what this program
Is. do not believe they will stand
for IT,
Furthermore thoroughly CON
denim the cynical philosophy that lies
behind this whole campaign. 1t dis
believes that a pea ceful world of in
ternationsl decency Is possible. 1t be-
lteves In war. accepts war. intends
to have war. and proposes that the
youth of this nation shall he mentally
trained from hoyhood to accept that
militarized philosophy. All the better
forces in America. as elsewhere, are
seeking to break away from that phil.
osophy of .Jingoism and orga nized
slaughter. They are trying to sub
stitute international reasonab bleness
and cooperation, President Butler of
Columbia talks about training our
youth for the Internal tional Mind.
Il is our only hope II civilization is to
be saved from another overwhelming
catastrophe. To militarize our schools
is precisely the opposite OF what we
ought to he doing. The militarist s
viewpoint Is never international. 1t is
always narrowly national"
Favors Preparedness Now.
But Or. Fosdick.' I broke in, II
can see why you as minister have
more elevated outlook on inter.
national relations. Yet after all this
is very practical world So far as
know hroadminded PHILOSOPHERS
never defended a nation from war AS
q practical matter what do you SIG
Best 10 take the place of military
training in our schools as a means of
national defense. Would YOU increase
thesta nding army Would YOU ahol
tsh all preparedness and put Your
faith in high minded principles? Sup
pose We edopt high mindedness. stop
preparation for war. and suppose
other nations refuse TO follow our
laaG. What them"
II am not a dreamer" he answered
II do not propose to abolish the War
Department. scrap the Navy and dis
arm. ] want disarmament. but that
will not be the action of an individual
nation alone. 1t must he a co-opera
tive, international procedure. Until il
IL, the demand that the United States
or any nation disarm Is crying for the
moon.
But II is absurd 10 identify nee
essary preparedness in the United
States with military training in high
schools and colleges. That is pulling
fhe wool over the peoples eyes. We
are the strongest among nations. We
are the safest. the most isolated, the
best equipped 10 defend ourselves. To
-. .hnt NC ga nn0f he nrana red vii b.