Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1948-03-05

SHIP training meas
ure than as means of training SOL
diers. I believed I saw in the close
association of the youth of the ma
ton means of breaking down the
then growing class distinctions.
Proponents of that measure had
the army and the President with
them in 1918, but not a sufficient
congressional vote in both houses to
pass the bill. With election of Re-
publican controlled congress in the
fall of 1918 the bill could be passed
as a Republican measure. Then
came word from the White House
that unless the bill were withdrawn,
given a new title and reintroduced
as an administration measure, it
would be vetoed. AS an administra-
ton measure, the Republican con-
gress refused to pass it.
That was a sample of Ameri-
can politics in operation. Both
parties then were anxious to
claim credit for enactment of
universal training law.
1t is estimated the operation of
the present proposed law would cost
the nation somewhere between two
and four billions each year. Such
sum is meaningless to most of us
until broken down to what it would
cost the Individual. On cost basis
of three billion dollars a year the
cost for each of our 40 million
people each man, woman and
child - would be in excess of S21 a
year on an average. Divided be-
tween our present So million work.
ers the average cost for each would
be close to $50 each year. For our
approximately 20 million families,
with an average of four plus per
family, the average for each family
would be better than 500. 1t would
mean such increase in federal taxes
as would produce a sufficient sum
to pay the training costs over and
above what is needed without
training law.
If enactment of a universal
military training law would give
us reasonable insurance against
otthSh HI hAOllICE "OIlu WAL,
if it would insure our success
should such war be thrust
upon us, with leSSened fatality
list and decreased cost in ma
tiOnal resources, those increased
taxes could well be considered
good investment.
Although but a layman, one whose
opinion is valueless, I personally
am inclined to agree more with the
reported opinion of General MacAr-
thur than with those who would in
stitute military training policy for
this country. 1t seems to me that
chronological research leading to
perfection of war-making ma
chimes; scientific methods of repel-
ling attacks, and the carrying of
war to the other fellow, along with
greater knowledge in what the pos
sible enemy is accomplishing along
similar lines, would be more effec-
tive insurance than would a mini
mum of training we might give our
American youth.
Today a possible enemy is more
fearful of our atomic bombs than of
any ground army we could put in
the field against him. But today we
do not know what that possible
enemy is doing to offset possible
attack from our bombs, or to attack
us with a similar weapon. Continued
research, continued development of
new and effective weapons of both
offense and defense, and more def
mite information as to what we must
meet, would seem to me to be the
best war insurance we can carry
until that day comes, as come it
must in time, when the entire world
diSarmS.
To neutral it has been amusing
to note the play California papers
gave to the snow and cold of the
East md Florida, and the play east
ern papers gave to California's
drouth.
The Republican convention of this
year gives promise of free for all
with no holds barred. There is no
"old guard" as there was in 1920,
to dictate candidates for whom
delegates should vote; no Lodge to
recess the convention when it gave
promise of naming candidate the
"old guard" did not want. Of the
hats now in the ring any one may
be the final choice. But the nominee
of the convention may not be the
next occupant of the White House.
Much depends on the strength of
Henry Wallace and his third party.