The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-02-18


Entered as secoud-clas, mail matter
At Post office, ips'ianti Mica
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY IS, 1919
PREPAREDNESS
Discussing the bill which he in
tIoduced In Congress providing TO-
compulsory military service after
the Nar. Rep. James w Nads-
worth. author OF the Selective Ser
ice Act. stresses Importance or
preparedness. our FIRST president,
George Washington, recommended
10 Congress that universal military
training should be a part OF tn
permanent policy Of the young re-
public. He recalls that Congress
rejected Washington advice, and
that. as CONSCIENCE We fought
the War OF 1872 with unframed
men.
Came the Mexican War fought
largely by gallant but unframed
Volunteers. the Civil War, and We
lacked the support OF trained citi.
zen soldiers. the Spanish War, and
again we had no trained land
forces other than a tiny regular
army and a few state militia regi-
ments. lily trained. Fortunately
for ne our enemy was pitiably
weak and We prevailed.
Then came World War and
found US. as usual, unprepared-
no adequate reserve OF trained SOL
diers. To fight that war We had
to build an army after we got into
the night. The cost was terrific
and it took US whole year before
We could put troops into action.
In 1920 Congress set TO work al
an extended revision OF the Ma
tional Defense Act, with the in
tcntion Of establishing a military
system adequate Tor our defense
and for impreSsing others that we
must not be trifed with.
In many ways the defense act
OF 1920 ;-as d tremendous improve
ment over preceding statutes. II
set up a skeleton structure for the
Army but failed to include any re.
liable provision for filing that
structure with trained men. We
had just fought the war 10 end
wars. so why plan for more?
But another war did come and
We actually began TO train some
men before we got into the fight
The Selective Service law was en-
acted Sept. IS. 1910, and so when
Pearl Harbor overlook US We had
spent a little over a year trying
10 organize, equip and train an
army.
That year Of preparation was
valuable but IL would have been
still better il We had established
military training back in 1920.
Companion bills in the Senate
and House. for the establishment
OF universal training in this coun-
try after the present war is over.
provide that every young man. upon
reaching the age Of IS, shall be
liable for one year OF military
training for either the Army or the
Navy. That liability will continue
until he reaches 81. In other
words. he may himself select any
one OF hose three years, between
IS and II. in which TO take his
training. Upon finishing his train
ing he is to be passed on 10 re-
serve component and held liable for
the next -four years for occasional
refresher training, or for active du
" in time OF emergency.
This n asure is based on the
theory that 10 preserve our safety
We must be strong Our strength
must be developed and organized
IN accord with democratic princi.
pies. and Of equal importance is the
improved health and strength
which will come to young men as
the result OF good training.
Chief objections TO the plan OF
compulsory military training Is eI-
emplifed in countries where such
training rules have been in effect
Germany has been a leader In this
school OF thought and we are say.
ing nov that Germany has been 4
chief Ofender Like the high
school bully the strong nation
takes advantage. Of the weak.
More important Is constructive
thought The power that comes
with compulsory hBNitary train
ing is good only to hold Other
strong alton, in line till they can
be educated TO see that one rule
alone can maintain peace-the Col.
den rule OF treating others a. they
would wish TO be treated II clCum.
stances were reversed
A. temporary measure com
pulsory training j.. desirable, but
o. permanent measure We must
60 beyond the Dl 80 .H 1...tai
guidance and uul..-'an uE. The
world Is the school classroom and
the juvenile courts and the sunday
Schools. all together and greatly
magnihed Every teacher every
court officer and Judge Of ability
knows that pan shment will not cor.
rect what We term bad in boys
and girls and men and women.
The cure tones with correct Ell.
Nironment and constructive think
ing Parents resort TO spanking
because IL j. the quicE. easy way
and becsu.e they are not yersed in
the scientific art Of patience and
slillful training Nations working
on that principal are just as WRONG
ss the spanking class o. parents.
They force only temporary al.
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