Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-06-21
AMERICAN SCHOOL
ARMY FORMED FOR
NATIONS DEFENSE

manent trained reserve of two million
men for the defense of the United
States, Representative Kent E. Keller
(Democrat) of Illinois, this week in
troduced bill in the House of Rep
resentatives, for the creation of The
American School Army.
To begin with the plan calls fol-
the training of 21,85O youths between
the ages of Is and Is, each year in
military, vocational and academic
education to be increased as found
necessary. These cadets are to be Sc
lected according to the apportionment
of the various Congressional Districts.
In the Keller Plan the Educational
Board, under the Craftsmanship of the
United States Commissioner of Edu-
cation, has charge of the academic
and vocational training and is to CO.
operate with the War Department
which provides the housing, discipline,
and military training. There is to be
no educational requirement. The only
bar against boy who wishes to en-
ter is physical defect which cannot
be corrected by care and training or
mental deficiency as to be classed in
competent.
In reviewing the merits of his bill
in Washington, Mr.. Keller stated:
II repeat that no country will at
tack America, with our unlimited re-
sources if America is fully prepared.
The countries that understand moth
ing but force, can be met only by
force. America must start now and
fully prepare not only for the pres
ent time, but for all time to come.
The American School Army plan will
provide an adequate defense for fu-
ture time. Twenty years from now
there would be on the rolls of the Uni
ted States Army, 100000 men who
would have had thorough military
training in their formative years; who
will be sounder of body and trained
of hand and mind in the event they
should have to bear arms in defense
Of this glorious country.
erich as Americas resources are,
we cannot afford to keep large
standing army, nor is that necessary.
Neither can we afford the exorbitant
cost of emergency preparation under
the stress and waste of the excite
ment Of an emergency after it is up
on US. The American School Army
plan provides the necessary defense at
the lowest possible cost, from the
points of view of training, of benefit
to the citizenry and of releasing man
power to industry during adulthood.
"In the light of the studies of the
defects found in drafted men of the
World War, the benefits of this train
ing to the health of the youth of the
Nation will be great. Each graduate
will be equipped with a worthwhile
education, trained for the responsible
ty of defending the nation that is al
ready bourne by every ablebodied
male citizen whether he is equipped or
not. Training in The American School
Army therefore imposes no new obi
CATION upon the young manhood of
the nation, but equips the youth to
better carry out the responsibility
which is already his. Each graduate
of the American School Army is to
be carried on the rolls as a Reservist
and subject to bear arms in defense of
the United States, the same as all
men now are.
'It is my sincere wish that we will
never have cause to use the services
of these young men in this way, and
it grows more apparent day by day
that the way to keep from acrificing
young mems live needlessly is to be
fully prepared. Toward this end
have worked out the American School
Army plan with the cooperation OF
the Office of Education and the Uni
ted States Armv'