The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-12-14
Discussion OF The Compulsory
Military Training Bill

zens Of our own democracy should OPP
pose.
Those who are promoting the bill
say it will be good for the health Of
the boys. They say one needs only
to look at our soldier boys. robust
and straight. as they return to us
after their period of training to see
its value. This is true They do pre-
sent wholesome appearance. How
ever. we must take into account that
from this group have been excluded
many whose bodies have not been
healthy. Those thus excluded get no
advantage Of this training for health
Would it not be much finer if we
could sponsor such a health program
within our public schools? 1t could
even be started much earlier than the
school age. This knowledge OF proper
/ nutrition and right care Of the body
could be taken into the home. Such a
program could be carried on all thru
! the earlier years until high school
has been completed. All will agree
! that large part of the harm done 10
the body has been done before the
age Of seventeen. Many who are AIS
now would not be in this class if
they would have had advantage of
such program as proposed above.
! Another argument used in favor Of
the bill is that it would help solve our
delinquency problem. They say that,
since the parents cannot or do not
discipline their children it has be-
come the duty of the military organi-
cation to supply this lack of training.
We admit there has been shrinking
IN parental responsibility. In many
cases this is due to both parents be-
ing away from home working in de-
Tense plants or other work made pos
sible during the war period. However,
| this condition we hope is not perma-
rent. We are sure that a large num-
ber Of the mothers now working will
! be glad, when this emergency is over,
to return to their homes and domes-
tic duties. 1t is tragic condition
when home responsibility has been
permanently removed. No peace-time
army or police force could offer secur-
ity if that should happen.
Then again year of compulsory
military training at the gaes of II or
i Is would not help solve the juvenile
delinquency problem because these
acts Of disobedience begin at much
earlier period in the age Of the child.
| We need only to go to our county jails
and other penal institutions to know
that this is true. Many at the ages
from II to 20 years are seasoned
criminals. No, we can say that this
will not solve the delinquency problem.
Another reason given is that a year
! in military camp will help the youth
find himself in the choice Of a voca-
ton. Wouldn't it be more effective
| if training in choice Of vocation were
| included within the school curriculum?
II such helpful courses could be given
and at the same time have upon the
faculty teachers trained in vocational
guidance, the student would be led to
decide the work for which he was
best fitted.
These vocational helps have been
almost entirely lacking in the schools
in the past few years. Are we going
to continue to make difficult our
school program and because Of it say
we have to set up military camps to
give the necessary guidance?
There are number of very good
reasons why we should not have COM
pulsory military training. No meas
ure, which may so largely determine
the peace policies of our nation, should
be passed in the midst OF war hys-
terra. We should wait for its consid-
Grafton until the fever Of war and at
tending hatreds has cooled down and
then only can we face the issue clearly
and honestly.
We were told that this is war to
end wars. Permanent peace was sure
to result. 1t has been with this in
mind that millions of our boys have
faced danger and many have died.
Then why train our boys when this
war is over for another war which
they have been told will never happen.
Isn't it true that these, our youth,
are going to want to do the work for
which they are prepared. Eventually
they are going to find situation
which will demand it. We need only
to look to the countries Of Europe to
know that this is true. Students Of
history, as we'll as close observers
who have toured the world, will verify
this statement. Tourists in Europe
before the present war reviewed with
! alarm the armies of youthful soldiers
/ trained with but one purpose in view.
The nations of Europe which have
been most aggressive in this war have
been those who all through their
peaceful years have trained all their
youth in the arts of war. They were
| fed on fear and hatred Of the other
nations. They were taught that they
must protect themselves, even if such
procedure meant trampling upon the
rights of the other nations. In due
time this knowledge and training was
used in marching upon weaker nations
in an effort to destroy them.
Then again, it might be well to add
| that to pass a compulsory military
law now would be unfair to the boys
overseas. They, more than anyone
else, would be in a position to know
what would be best to guarantee the
peace in the future. Is it being fair
to them not to let them have a chance
to express themselves on this issue :?
The future will be largely in their
hands. They will have to finance it
and live through it. Why not let them
help mold it's policies.
1t is time for the citizens of our
nation to awaken to the seriousness
Of this problem The future of our
homes, our country, and our relation
ship to the whole world, depends upon
how we meet this issue If we keep
continually training our boys during
peace-time for war; war with its sor-
row and devastation will result. On
the other hand, if we start building up
strong healthy nation, at the same
time training in the arts of good citi-
! hin +bo opnoci+a will he c,,po +o