Salt Lake Telegram | 1917-02-18 | Page 31 | Here's How America Ranks in Physique with other Nations

HERES HERE'S HOW AMERICA RANKS IN PHYSIQUE WITH OTHER NATIONS Gs ax NC I. I I R n N r F Is American manhood physically equal to a real war test As a a. nation are wo we toda today more or orless orless less virile than ever ewer before 1 Ther Every man of or military age ago In the United States is toda today himself this serious qu question and Uncle Undo Sam SamIs Is gravely concerned in the answer A poll sunan among Physical directors of ot state universities high schools and other Institutions throughout the country country country coun coun coun- try presents wJ widely ely contradictory conclusions con con- Tho The taint of or luxury vices ices sedentary life the cramping In Influences Influences influences In- In of or city concentration and other degenerative factors have mado heavy Inroads on racial stamina assert assert assert as as- sert some Bome of ot the authorities Interrogated gated The Tho majority however maintain that despite these decays decay the average rage American who would be ue called upon to bear hear the rI rigors ors of war Is today In better shape than ever before I 1 Frank L L. Kleeberger physical director director director tor of oC the University of at California second second second sec sec- ond in attendance only to Columbia Is Isone Isone isone one of or the tho dissenters It Is my opinion declared this noted authority that American physical physical cal manhood is today considerably below be below be- be low 10 that of or twenty t or thirty years cars ago aEo It is but hut natural that this should he be so so flo Up to now the nations nation's schools have havo done Jone little or nothing to counter- counter act the tho degenerative Influences that come with an intensifying civilization If It educational Institutions beginning with the grammar schools will bc ln now seriously to educate youngsters physically In 10 a practical wa way Inculcating Inculcating in ing lifelong habits of ot bodily bodily- culture and efficiency we ma may hope to offset tho the weakening wc factors today at work Prot Professional athletics like baseball and football In which a n few rew men en engage engage en- en gage while the vast majority of or men men merely look on and applaud have been beena a detriment to this countr country Every boy every man must be en encouraged encouraged encouraged en- en to play pIa to participate actively actively actively ac ac- ac- ac in games Instead of oC sitting on the bleachers eating peanuts roasting an umpire and studying tho the dope We have become a a. nation of ot fans Of or course Intercollegiate and professional professional pro pro- athletics are quite necessary as an incentive but they have havo been emphasized out of or all proportion to general amateur participation by the masses masse The war scare Is going oln to help regenerate re regenerate re- re generate the of ot this nation remarkably as It has that of or Germany I France rance and England Kleeberger called attention to the I fact that Germany had at tho the outbreak of or the tine war some men of or military military mili mili- I tar tary age trained b by the Turnverein I system system inch men hardened to a high Pitch I of physical efficiency started he h. raid ald ld Before eforo the war 1 tho the kaiser and anel the government began an active sst systematic and sive e propaganda of athletics Clubs I were formed all an over Germany German for tor that purpose Franco France also alRO way waa beginning to show I recognition of or the importance of ot Inspiring Inspiring in inspiring In- In its masses to more general physical activity American manhood is on the wane and It Is high time we wo took steps to toche che check k tho the decline of ot national hardi hardi- hood