Root for Universal Military Service

1916

Washington, Sept. 22. — In a letter to the association for national service, Ex-Senator Elihu Root said that the only logical way to prepare the United States for defense is through universal military service. His letter says in part:

"Universal training and readiness for service are not only demanded by plain common sense, but they are essentially democratic. They were required by law during the early years of our republic, for every male citizen between the ages of 18 and 45 was required to be ready to fight for his country and was required to be trained and provided with arms in accordance with the simple needs of warfare in those days.

"It is only necessary now to apply the principles and requirements of the national law of 1799, adapted to present conditions."