Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 161, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 July 1917 — They Are Men. [ARTICLE]

They Are Men.

Monticello Journal. The press of the nation is constantly referring to the prospective members of oiir new army as boys, soldier boys, the youth of the nation, and in similar ways. The army of the United States is not to be composed of boys, this time. The Revolution and the Civil wars were, it is true, fought largely by boys. It is true that the average age of those now in the regular army, the navy and the national guard is about 21, but it will not be so in the conscript army. The nation does not seem yet to realize that congress refused to draft into the army the best soldier material—of the ages 18 to 2s>. It made, instead, the military age 21 and 31. The boys are left at home unless they go as volunteers in the army or the guard. The boys with no dependents and few of the responsibilities of life are not to be called. Those who will enter the national army are mfen. It is wrong to refer to them as boys. They are, every one, making their own living. Many are business men of considerable influence in their community. They are men.