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Show H IT HAS OUR ENDORSEMENT THE RECORD endorses Ihe campaign that is being made by the National Editorial Association for H . the furtherance of legislation now pending be- H fore Congress for the establishment of universal mil- H itary training for boys between )hc ages of 18 and H 19, and the founding of camps throughout the United H States. H These camps, if established, will be great train- H ing schools for American citizens where the boys H from every section and of every class, from the small H cities and towns and the farms will be brought into H contact with the boys from the cities; where the boys H of rich parents will meet and associate with the boys H of poor parents ; where the American born boy will H be brought into close contact with the foreign born H boy. In fact, the establishment of universal military H training is one step in the great program of Ameri- H canization that is calculated to build up a proper un- H- . dcrstanding of and regard for American institdtions H and government. H Eminent jurists from practically every state are B said to have assured those working for this legisla- B tion that it will greatly reduce crime. Practical bus- H incss men claim that it will increase the earning ca- H pacity of the boys fully 25 per cent. Health officials H say it will add materially to the physical development H of the race, and we only have to look at the results B on the boys who went into the training camps for the H great war to realize that this will be true. B But great as are all of these advantages to be M gained from this proposed legislation, a yet greater H one is that to be found in bringing the boys of all M, classes together upon terms of absolute eqdality. H Picture to yourself, if you can, the wonderful effect M it will have on the nation the rich man's boy and H the poor man's boy sleeping on cots-side by side for H a period of six months, eating at the same table, h sharing the same duties and the same modest pleas- B ures, exchanging viewpoints day after day, and thru M these things forming life-long friendships. It means H breaking down of class distinctions that -are forming H and arc endangering the life of the republic. It means H the complete democratizing of our citizenship. H The boys will be taught in a practical way the H advantages of citizenship and the duties of citizen- H ship; they will be taught obedience to law and con- H stituted authority; they will be taught the value of H personal merit and initiative as the true basis of pcr- B sonal sccccss. In other words, it will make upstand- B ing American men of our boys regardless of family H connections or the accident or birth. H In camp the boys will be subject to military dis- H cipline, and while the purpose is to make citizens for B peace-time the military training they would receive H would enable them to defend their country should its H defense ever again be necessary. H The National Editorial Association, which includes H' in its membership a large number of the editors and H publishers of American newspapers, has virtually H pledged itself to a campaign of Americanization, and H the publishers feel that the enactment of this pro- H posed legislation that is now before Congress is the H first and greatest step in such a campaign if it is to H. be enduring and successful. H Not only do we approve of this step as a citizen H seeking the best good of the greatest number of the H .American people, but as a parent who has sons of H -3nis own to become subject to the training if it is U i'aclopted by the Congress. Ve fully believe that the H boys themselves will be the greatest beneficiaries by H' reason of a short period of military training, and with- H - out increasing the liability of becoming embroiled in WM- war in fact aiding in averting it we will at the m. .same time prevent a repetition of the woeful lack of K - preparedness which embarrassed us upon our entry B into the last great struggle. B' tin |