Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-01-24
ADOPT Swiss System

the purpose of providing qualified czen-soders for
the republic under the terms of bill which has Just
been introduced into the legislature at Albany.
The measure, which is sponsored by William NJ
Stewart chairman of the Assembly Military Affairs
Committee will make military training compulsory
study course for high school boys of IA or older
and it will do this without affecting in any way the reg
ular and routine PROCESSES Of education
Under the plan, at least half the time now allotted
TO physical education will be utilized for instruction IN
the manual OF arms, coseorder drill and military dis
ciplne.
The merits Of the plan indisputabe that the
pending bill should b, passed by the legislature with
out delay and without opposition.
Inasmuch as the nigh school courses are to be con-
Quoted without the Of actual arms 1t cannot be
contended that education is being used to nculcate
miitarism.
DUT our later perilous condition of national UMPIRE
. paredness for war-even for defensive war-has
tragcally demonstrated the suicidal folly of unenght
ened and excessive national pacifsm.
We know that IN a democratic nation If the
nation IS to survive EVERY CITIZEN must be both
WILLING and EDUCATED to take his place in the
national defense at any emergency
Every citizen who is ply sically able should there
fore BE TRAINED ACCORDINGLY. and certain por-
ton of his life should be dedicated to active military
servce-preferaby the close of high school college
years.
The New York plan should consequently be adopted
immediately by all Of the As and should be made
an essential part the national defense system with
its officers and soldiers training camps because it offers
the final soution-ndeed the only democratic solution
of our national miitary-service problem.
For the plan, if thus extended and co-ordinated.
would soon give America A GENUINE CITIZENS
ARMY with ANNUAL REPLENISHMENTS from the
schools and colleges and with VAST BODY OF
FULLY QUALIFIED RESERVES.
Moreover, the plan would do all this without in
justices or favortsm, and with the least possible de-
rangement of individual ves-in fact the physical and
mental virtues of military training would benefit every
youth his years, while the excellent effects
upon national discipline health and moraleas well as
upon national security-would be ncalculabe.
THE New York Plan, to summarize its implications,
i should mean the adoption in this country of THE
SWISS SYSTEM OF UNIVERSAL MILITARY TRAIN
ING which the Hearst Newspapers has long advocated
On June 80 1910, William Randolph Hearst said
in his "In The News column
THE Swiss system of citizen sodiery is PROVEN
system a REPUBLICAN, system, EFFICIENT sys-
tenn and INEXPENSIVE system"
Previously on June 10, 1910, Mr.. Hearst wrote:
1.-THE Hearst Papers have earnestly advocated for
this country the Swiss system of universal military
training DEMOCRATIC system which in no way en-
dangers the institutions of a DEMOCRATIC nation.
"The Swiss system supports standing army of
professional soldiers whatever.
According to the authorized description The de-
Tense of the republic rests with its citizens
If the United States should follow the universal
military service system of Switzerland would be able
to put 100000 MEN into INITIAL MOBII.ZA
TON LINE, all FULLY and EFFECTIVELY ARMED
And would be able to SUPPORT that first line
with ANOTHER 100000 OF RESERVES, all FULLY
TRAINED soldiers.
THAT is an army which no nation on the face of
the earth would dare attack-a democracy which
dictator, matter how offensive. would either dsparage
defy
A GAIN, on October "a, 1871, Mr.. Hearst wrote:
a THE military system of Democratic Switzerland
has been in successful operation FOR MORE THAN A
CENTURY.
1T has been effective a system for that it
has effectively kept the Swiss nation OFT OF, WAR.
"No one of the warke nations surrounding Swz-
erand has thought it wise well to attack that we'll
prepared country.
The Swiss system has, furthermore been honest
and just system that il has EFFECTUAILY PRE-
SERVED THE DEMOCRACY OF THE SWISS Ma
TON"
Since the beginning of the republic the Empire
State has made many great contributions to the de-
velopment and the preservation of our national nsti
tutionS.
BY adopting the proposed plan for military train
ing, and thus establishing foundation for nation wide
adoption of the Swiss system of national defense, New
W. -,,oL