The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-01-22
By FRANK HENDERSON.

AC the present Time WHen lne
young workers play such an impor-
tant role in the labor movement and
our entire country is going thru an
intensive campaign to militarize the
youth and prepare the young work
ers for another world war-sports
and sport organizations gain signi-
ficance in their use by the bosses
to mobilize the young workers into
the camp of the bourgeoisie. Sports
are important first, because it is
a part of the general military sys-
tenn and training, and second, be-
cause sports are used directly to
increase the exploitation of the
young workers on the industrial
field.
In recent years there has been a
marked increase in sports activity
and sport organizations. (Record
crowds, gate receipts and increase
in sport grounds and buildings.) In
connection with the increase in
sports can be noticed the introduce
ton of military training in public
schools, which is mixed with sports.
Military training and gymnasium
classes are conducted at the same
time. During gym classes students
are put thru military drills. mill
tary formations, marches, etc. In
this manner sports and military
drills are interviewer and the mill
taristic theology is built thru sports.
Outdoor Sports.
What takes place inside the
schools is nothing compared with
outdoor sports. (Football, soccer,
baseball.) 1t is thru these outdoor
sports that patriotism and militar-
ism are introduced. One has but
to watch a big football game to
witness the waving of flags to the
tune of military music. This music
is usually furnished by the National
Guards, CMTC, and Boy Scout
bands. An example of the grip of
bourgeois sports and the utilization
of sports to further militarism is
the college and night school parades
thru city streets prior to the open
ing of big sport events. These par
AIDES are led by police, companies of
the National Guards, CMTC officers
and Boy Scouts, who march to mill
tary music. The display of flags
and sound Of music stirs the public
and the entire city is affected by
these demonstrations. There is
hardly sport game played in the
U. S. that does not have patriotic
and militaristic atmosphere con-
nected with it.
The bourgeois press and periodi-
Gals play their part too. Space and
pictures are given to propagate
militarism by calling for recruits to
join the Y. M. C. A., C. M. T. c.,
Boy Scouts and other fascist organ
izations. Build better bodies. U. S.
army wants men. These are the
slogans used in many advertise
ments. Sports in Boy Scout camps
c. NJ. T. c. camps, army, marines
and the navy are well advertised
/ Billboards and advertisements fol
recruits into the army and the navy
show sailors and soldiers enjoying
themselves and engaged in sports Of
all kinds. The utilization of sport:
by the military authorities is one OF
the best attractions to get the you'll
into military service. The ex
marine Gene Tunney, former world:
heavyweight boxing champion, i.
| pointed out as an example of what
the marines can do for the youth
This is the honey that military au
thorities use to get swarms of youne
workers into the clutches of theil
masters. When the young man joins
the service he expects fun. play ant
sports. What he gets is misery
suffering and death.
On the industrial field sports play
a role that perpetuates the exploita
ton of all workers. Sports ant
sport organizations are used by thu
employers and state authorities Il
organize factory and official sport
clubs in order to hinder the devel
opment of the class consciousness
of the young workers. Also to draw
the young workers from working
class organizations. This is done il
many ways. The employers have
the financial resources whereby they
can establish the dependence of the
workers on the bosses for sport
equipment, sport grounds, etc. Not
only that but players are paid wages
while engaged in sports and good
jobs and guarantee against lay-oft
are offered.
BY giving the workers sports the
employers control the young work