Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The frontier. (O'Neill City, Holt County, Neb.) 1880-1965 | View Entire Issue (July 25, 1940)
150 Years Ago Uncle Sam Was Saying: I Want You for My Army,' but He Had Much Less to Offer Than He Has Today By ELMO SCOTT WATSON (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) YOU see it everywhere now—on sidewalk bill boards that stand in front of post offices or in the (corridors of other public buildings. It’s a poster in which an arresting figure catches the eye and holds it long enough to deliver this laconic message to the young men of America: I I _ . . .. m vjtireo mro «*» Mcnuirnw smviu |§] It’s a part of Uncle Sam’s campaign to increase one of his arms of defense to a new peacetime strength of 480,000 men. For, if the flames of war leap across the Atlantic and the forces of totalitarian ism threaten his land, Uncle Sam intends to be prepared in time to resist them suc cessfully. One hundred and fifty years ago he was engaged in a similar cam paign, yet how different! There was no such emergency then as now, although Uncle Sam, then but a stripling, had already heard the rumblings of an imminentwar across the ocean. More than that, two disasters to his puny army on the western frontier had made him uncomfortably aware of how inadequate he was to de fend the new nation if trouble came to its shores. From its beginnings, the United States has been a peace-loving nation and has figuratively leaned over backwards to avoid any semblance of militarism. The founding fathers, seeing in Europe the results of despotic power sup ported by a strong military estab lishment, resolved that there should be no such thing here to hinder their efforts to establish a government whose power would be derived “from the consent of the governed.” When Washington became our first President two of the prin cipal objectives of his adminis tration were the establishment of a strong financial system and a sound military organization. Al exander Hamilton, his secretary of the treasury, provided the for mer, but Gen. Henry Knox, his secretary of war, had more dif ficulty in securing the latter. Knox prepared a plan for com pulsory military training and service, which Washington recom mended to congress on January 1, 1790. It was not favorably received, mainly because Knox, in his letter of transmittal, said that his pro posed continental militia would protect the country from internal as well as external enemies and he also stressed his opinion that “the government should possess a strong corrective arm.” The secretary s choice of words was unfortunate, especially at this particular time when con gress was trying to safeguard the liberties of the people by enact ing a Bill of Rights as the first amendments to the Constitu tion. Naturally a proposal for “a strong corrective arm” rang harshly on the congressional ear and Knox’s plan was rejected. First National Defense Bill. On July 1, 1790, Elias Boudinot of New Jersey introduced a na tional defense bill which proposed that the organization and training of our peacetime army consist of grouping all the younger men in special "light infantry com panies” in each regiment of the general militia. If war came, these companies could be assem bled into battalions and regi ments and thus form a new Con tinental army. Similar com panies were to be formed in the other branches of the service and all of them were to have a "sound system of discipline” and be trained under federal supervision. The first congress failed to act on the Boudinot bill and in the first session of the second con gress a similar measure was in troduced by Jeremiah Wadsworth of Connecticut. But before it was finally passed it was so amended and emasculated that Wadsworth himself voted "no” on it. Washington, though greatly dis appointed in this new militia law, nevertheless siened it with the Recruiting Instructions y«r-~XiafiCcun fodn/ XXaZZ. cf f&L on£~~p^ oJr^ap>it[Aj *_ -- ■ in the cXewico of the United if Lite*. SIR. f.... ..■—y .!■■ -ff — ‘—*-Y—a-1——*-*——t-j- n ||j hi| h III i . «4>>u ire immediately to commence the recruiting fervice in the State of G<yn'ne cZlci.it _ The principal rendezvous will be at — cXCidoth dX toiCC ouotiXtJ- one. luL. 2a) fa & Tour recruits will be furnilhed by- uy et~ Jt&to'uf**' j w'th rations, barracks, barrack utenfils, (haw and fuel; and alfo with fuch necelTary medicinal alii (lance as they may require. I'llmcto*—‘*<vvice is fnmetimc/Vbu!'ed Gen. Henry Knox, secretary of war, was sending these instruc tions to his recruiting officers back in 1792. hope that it might be amended later. How worthless was this law was proved two decades later when the nation tried to assem ble an army to repel the invasion of the British in the War of 1812. It failed miserably with the result that the enemy easily defeated the defenders of Washington, cap tured that city and burned the Capitol and the White House. Meanwhile events on the fron tier already had proved that our regular army was inadequate to perform the tasks expected of it. In 1790 it suffered a severe re verse under the leadership of Gen, Josiah Harmar who was sent to subdue the hostile tribes in the Old Northwest. The next year occurred the defeat and rout of the army led by Gen. Arthur St. Clair, the worst military disaster in America since the days of Braddock. These two fiascoes not only resulted in the Indians renewing their attacks on the western settlements with even greater fury but they indicated to an alarmed country how im potent was the new federal gov ernment. More than that, France and England were on the verge of re newing their ancient feud and there was danger of the United States being drawn into it. All of these factors pointed to the urgent necessity of our strength ening our forces for national defense. So Secretary Knox launched his recruiting campaign to obtain a regular army that would be equal to the task of de feating the confederation of tribes which had been formed by Chief Little Turtle of the Miamis. In the light of the present drive to increase our army, the instruc tions to recruiting officers sent out by Secretary Knox in 1792 'if rffclOX make interesting reading today. Indicative of the difficulties which the federal government was hav ing in those days is the secre tary’s statement that “The re cruiting service is sometimes abused, both as it respects the individuals recruited and the pub lic at large—that is, recruits are unwarily and unworthily entan gled, contrary to their intentions; such men generally desert the service, at some critical moment, or serve grudgingly, and set bad examples to others; or, unsuit able persons are engaged, who are constitutionally defective and unfit for the hardships incident to a military life . . In order there fore to avoid the errors of this business, the following instruc tions are to serve as the general rules and principles of your con duct.” Knox’s Recruiting Instructions. He then goes on to list the reg ulations governing recruiting. Some of them were as follows: The recruits are to be inllsted for three years, unless sooner discharged. Each recruit Is to receive a bounty of Eight Dollars; but no part of this sum is to be advanced until the recruit shall have been fairly inllsted and sworn be fore a Magistrate, according to the form herein prescribed, and then only the said sum is to be advanced in such propor Uons as the judgment of the recruiting officer shall dictate, until experience shall In some degree have ascertained the fidelity of the recruit. Every recrulUng officer shaU be al lowed the sum of Two Dollars, for the trouble and expence of lnlisting each re cruit;—provided however, that such lowance will not be made for any re cruit who (hall desert before he lhall march from the rendezvous of the troops in the State where he shall have been recruited. The utmost fairness is to be used by the recruiting officers, in engaging their recruits; no individual therefore is to be Inllsted in a state of intoxication, or to be sworn until after he shall have been Inllsted for the space of twenty-four hours. Each recruit (musicians excepted) must be five feet and five inches in helghth, without shoes: he must also be healthy, robust, and sound in his limbs and body, in all respects; and to ascer tain which he must be thoroughly ex amined. previously to inllstment. by a Physician or Surgeon;—but if. notwith standing this direction, a recruit should have any secret disease at the time of his inllstment, the expence of his cure, If retained in service, shall be deducted from his pay. Each recruit, before he is sworn, is to have distinctly read to him the rules and articles of war against mutiny and deser tion, and relative to the administration of justice; and also the Act of Congress of the 30th of April 1790. establishing the rations, clothing, and compensation in cases of disability; and the Act of the 5th of March 1792, establishing the pay; after which he is to take the following Oath, before a Magistrate, to wit: "I A. B. do solemnly swear (or affirm, as the case may be) to bear true alle giance to the United States of America, and to serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies or opposers whomsoever, and to observe and to obey the orders of the Prudent of the United States of America, and the orders of the officers appointed over me according to the articles of war.” Each recruit (musicians excepted) must be above eighteen and under forty five years of age. No negro, mulatto, or Indian, to be recruited. All the recruits, if possible, to be na tives of fair conduct, or foreigners of good character for sobriety and fidelity, and who have been some years in the country Any recruiting officer tnllsttng a vagrant, or transient person, who shall desert before marching from the place of rendezvous, shall reimburse out of his pay the loss sustained by such deser tion—It is therefore important that the officers be attentive on this point, as a compliance with this order will be rigidly exacted. The public Interests will be better served by a small army of brave, robust, and faithful soldiers, than by a multitude of vagabonds. As soon as the recruits shall be as sembled at the rendezvous, they are to be taught, by gentle methods, regularity of conduct, as it shall respect cleanli ness of their persons, diet and rooms, and also due subordination, and they are to be exercised at least four hours in •very day, in the attitudes and other first principles of a soldier. Qualifications Today. Compare with those specifica tions laid down by Henry Knox, the qualifications for enlistment in the regular army today: Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 for original enlistment, unmarried, without other dependents, and those un der 21 must have the written con sent of parents or guardians; they must be at least five feet four inches in height, and weigh not less than 115 pounds; they must be of good moral character as evidenced by written testimoni als from reputable citizens of their respective communities; they must be in good health and free from incapacitating or dis figuring deformities; they must be citizens of the United States by birth or naturalization at the time of enlistment; and they must be able to pass certain in telligence and literacy tests pre scribed for the regular army. Monthly rates of pay for the several grades as prescribed by law at present are as follows: Master sergeant, $126 to $157.50; technical sergeant, $84 to $105; staff sergeant, $72 to $90; sergeant, $54 to $67.50; corporal, $42 to $52.50; private, first class, $30 to $37.50; private, $21 to $26.25. The first figure given in each in stance is the pay of the grade during the first four years of service. This amount is in creased by 5 per cent every four years, until a total of 25 per cent has been added. In addition to the foregoing, numerous special ists ratings are provided for pri vates and privates, first class, whereby their pay is materially increased. In addition to these monthly wages, Uncle Sam furnishes clothing, food, mousing and free medical and dental treatment. In view of all these facts it is easy to understand why he is hav ing a greater and readier re sponse to his “I want YOU for the United States Army” than he would likely have had if it had heen uttered back in 1792! Black Lace on Sheer White or Pastel Is Intriguing Vogue By CHERIE NICHOLAS DLACK lace old looking? We should say not! That’s an ol(J time fallacy which modern fashion has exploded. When designers start in to create a party frock that will reflect the very embodiment of youth and charm, it is delicate-as-a-cobweb black lace they select to tell the story. The program of fine black lace is a vast one endless in Inter pretation. You’ll love these lace flatterers, especially the all-lace gown so filmy In mesh it looks like a mere tracery of flower and leaf patterning silhouetted against shoul ders and throat. Take our word for it, if you want a costume that will outglamour any that go dancing on a starry mid summer night, choose one of these black fantasies artfully styled in terms of youth. With these wispy lovely all-black lace creations the big fashion is to play up pastel acces sories. To a fetching little flower hat in mellow pink together with necklace and bracelet that repeats the pink, add pink matching gloves. It will be equally effective with ac cents of pastel blue or orchid. If you are a black-and-white devotee, wear chalk white jewelry, gardenias for a headpiece, with a gardenia tied at your wrist. The dresses that particularly lay siege to the heart of youth fpr party wear this summer are those airy fairy creations of frothy white starched tissue-like chiffon (pastel tinted sheer makes up equally as effective) that take on a profusion of ruffles and bands of exquisite black lace. You can see in the il lustration that gowns of this type are heart-smashers of the most danger ous sort. Note how youthfully these summer fantasies play up the witchery of black lace. The figure seated is a picture in a lovely dress that gen erously and artfully bands and ruf fles billowy white chiffon with en chanting black lace. There are animated rufflings of the lace me andering about the wide skirt and accomplishing an adorable off-shoul der decolletage. And here’s good news in that this delectable model is available in white, pink, blue or all black. Parasols are coming back! We are showing one to the left in the picture made of handsome allover lace and it’s a beauty, the sort that imparts allure to any dainty sum mer costume. Lots of lace on the dress, too, you will note. The but terfly appliques on the skirt under write the up-to-the-minute chic of this gown. No story on lace would be com plete without telling of the entry into the summer scene of the most stunning sheer black hats imagina tion can picture. These diaphanous concoctions of lace, or tulle, or chif fon in dusky midnight black are the big millinery sensation of the season. You can go as far as you like in the matter of breadth of brim, in fact, the wider the better the brim that halos the head this season. The use of sheerest of black lace in connection with crisp thin horse hair braid gives you the very trans parency fashion insists upon for hats. (Released by Western Newspaper Union.) Flower Headdress The perfect recipe for glamour for any belle who dines and dances at fashionable summer fetes is a head dress of fragrant gardenias with streamers of silvered leaves to sil houette her coiffure. Orchids, carnations or roses make equally as glamorous headpieces. Sidesaddle Drapes Is Latest Fashion Side closings for both coats and dresses is the message fashion is broadcasting for the coming months. Watch the development of this styl ing feature that is bringing about an entirely new silhouette. Ad vance coats now tie way over to the side, while the newer dresses fasten over toward the one axie via deftly arranged drapes. Black Dress With Gay Shawl Is New With style sophisticates the black dress is still a favorite. The latest is to add a spice of color with a gay fanciful shawl. It’s a clever way of making a stylish black dress look more stylish, especially if you add a hat to match a shawl. Choose a colorful printed crepe or vivid sheer woolen for these com panion pieces. It is a most excit ing fashion, be assured, full of high drama, especially if you acquire wearing the shawl in a casual non chalant manner—practice the art of wearing these whimsical fringed tri angles before your mirror. Lots of room for romance and coquetry in wearing the new shawls! Pocket Popularity To Have Long Life Anything so practical as the fash ion for multiple pockets is destined to have a long life and a merry one. For the schoolgirls, who never seem to have enough of them, they are being doubled and redoubled. They’re set in rows on bodices and skirts, anywhere from two to six of them, and occasionally, for good measure, small change pockets are sewn on top of bigger pockets. Two-in-One Skirts Practical Notion Now you see it as a formal skirt and now you see it as a practical daytime skirt. A detachable flounce is the trick that works this magic. The knee-deep ruffle is made to but ton on or snap on and off in a jiffy. These two-purpose skirts are selling in leading stores. AROUND the HOUSE Items of Interest to the Housewife — A little milk added to the blue water used for lace curtains will launder them beautifully. * * * When freshly washed windows are dry wipe them with tissue pa per to make them sparkle. • • * To prevent cauliflower from turning dark while cooking, put a slice of lemon in the water in which it is cooked. * * • Shades of pink can be set by soaking in salt water. * * • Never use water that has been boiled before or has been standing in the kettle to make tea. Draw fresh cold water and let it boil for the first time. Water that has boiled before tastes flat, because the air has gone out of it. It is poor economy to save ice by wrapping it in heavy paper or cloth. Such covering insulates the ice from the rest of the refrigera tor. • • • A layer or two of blotting paper put over grease spots on the wall, and a warm iron laid on top of them, will often take away the marks. USE THE OUTSTANDING BLADE VALUE KENT jJaSSpS: 10c cupplis company, st. Louis, Missouri A Masquerade Things are seldom what they seem; skim milk masquerades as cream.—Gilbert. Man’s Wealth A man’s true wealth is the good he does in the world. Gift Received A gift in the hand is better than two promises. A*®*4/ 'I 6 TEASPOONS} FOR ONLY50i\ Land Trademarks from J 6 Sunkist Oranges ^k iw ' IN FAMOUS ORIGINAI ROGERS SILVERPLATE Yes, they’re yours—six lovely teaspoons in the new and romantic Orange Blossom pattern at a remarkable sav ing! And you can add the rest of the complete service the same way! Knives, forks, serving sets, everything! Do not confuse this with similar offers. For this is Original Rogers silverplate, guaranteed in writing by International Silver Co., world's largest silversmiths! WHY OFFER IS MADE-We make this offer as a special inducement for you to try Sunkist Oranges, California’s finest. They are wonderfully juicy...vitamin rich.. .easy to peel, slice and section... Best for Juice and Every use! Buy a supply next time you buy groceries and send at once for your six teaspoons. With them we’ll send full instructions for completing your set of this exquisite, enduring silverplate. SEND NOW I TODAY I Just shave the trademarks from 6 Sunkist Oranges with a paring knife and send with 50 cents and your name and address to Sunkist, Dept. 407, Meriden, Conn. This offer good only in U. S.A Cbpyrtght, 1940, CaUfaml* fruit Oim« ftrhtnf