Evening star., 1946-12-21

VII UIllvtI9dl HdIllIlIy
Begins Mapping Plan
President Truman's new CT
william Advisory Commission has
taken its first steps toward
mapping a broad universal
training program.
The commission was organized
here yesterday under the direction
of DR.. Karl T. Compton, president
of Massachusetts, Institute of Tech
nology. After hearing a message
from President Truman, it adjourned
to meet again about December rs.
It is planned to have about four
ltwo-day sessions monthly.
AS conceived now, the training
program will stress physical and
spiritual as well as military educa-
ton.
"Any adequate program must rec
ognize the fact that the Nations
security depends not only on Its mill
tary strength but also the physical, ).
spiritual, religious and moral fiber
of its young men," DR.. Compton told
newsmen, adding that all these
aspects would have equal emphasis.
Truman Warning Heard.
The commission heard a reminder
from President Truman that great
republics of the past always passed
out when their peoples became pros
porous and fat and lazy, and were
not willing to assume their respon-
/ sibilities."
/ Then it consulted with War De-
lpartment officials to learn what they
consider basic needs as part of a
security program. Mr. Truman told
the commission members to consult
congressional leaders and others as
we'll.
The President said the commits
sion members "are not to be rushed" !"
but DR.. Compton said they expect to
make their recommendations by the
end of March, in ample time for the
President to submit them TO the new
Congress before any prospective
midsummer recess.
Public hearings are not planned at
present. Instead, there will be fur
ther consultations with the War and
Navy Departments and with church,
educational and other groups.
Women Not Included.
! DR.. Compton reported the COM
mission Is not looking into the pos
sibility of including young women
in universal service, although he
said that If later developments in
dicate the need for it the idea might
be given consideration.
The President, in his impromptu
talk to the commission, referred four
times to his program as one for
training young people" without
limiting 1t to boys alone.
j The text of Mr.. Truman's remarks
follows:
I am very much interested in this
commission, because am very much
interested in the coming generation.
We found, through the records of
the draft boards, that almost 80
per cent of our young people who
were called up for military service
were unfit physically or mentally.
That is a terrible reflection on a
free country.
Great Repablics Fell.
/ have been interested in the phys
tcal development and the mental
and moral development of young
people ever since I was graduated
from high school. have been some
what Of a student of history, and
have discovered that great repub-
lies of the past always passed out
when their peoples became pros
Iperous and fat and lazy, and were
not willing to assume their respon-
sibilities.
/ In other words, when the Romans
and the Greeks and some Of the
ancient Mesopotamian countries
turned to mercenary defense forces,
they ended. That is, when the
people of a nation would not do the
necessary service to continue their
government, 1t ended eventually in
one way or another. That has been
true of modern nations also.
! I want to see this Republic con-
tinue. It is the greatest Govern
ment that the world has seen. 1t
is set up In a way that divides the
power Of the Government among
three different sections. That is. we
have the legislative branch and the
executive branch headed by the
President, and We have the inde-
pendent judiciary.
Wants People Informed.
| I want our young people to be
informed on what this Government
is, what it stands forts response
bilities. And I think the best way
+! to do this is through a universal
training program. don't like to
think of it as universal military
training program. want it to be a
universal training program, giving
our young people background in
the disciplinary approach of getting
along with one another, informing
them of their physical makeup, and
what it means to take care of this
temple which God gave us. If we
get that instilled into them, and
then instill into them a response