Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 24, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 February 1918 — Nation Imperiled by Its Low Standard of Physical Efficiency [ARTICLE]

Nation Imperiled by Its Low Standard of Physical Efficiency

By REPRESENTATIVE HORATIO C. CLAYPOOL of Ohio

My mind has been deeply impressed for a long time "by the necessity for some governmental action designed to encourage and establish the practice of physical culture among the citizenship of this country. The appalling condition, disclosed by the recent physical examinations of the young men of our nation before the exemption boards has sent a thrill of alarm and a sense of profound concern into the heart of every thinking and loyal citizen. The question naturally arises within the mind of every serious man, What practical thing can be done to decrease the percentage of physical deficients and raise the standard of physical efficiency among the men of our nation ? There is overwhelming evidence that the people of this nation are living in profound ignorance of the vital and imperative necessity of training their bodies with the same care and thoroughness as they do their minds. “Cram the mind, though the body be crippled,” has been the abiding practice of our people so long that when the hour of great necessity arises, when the moment of peril is upon us, and the things that are more priceless to us than our lives are in jeopardy and the cry of a ruthless enemy is heard at our gates, and the nation turns with confidence to the surging millions of its citizens for defenders, an amazing host is found nervous, timid, uncertain, doubtful, hesitant, and with waning and depleted vitality. Well might we hang our heads in shame at the exhibition, and doubly so, Because in all the wonderful achievements of this peerless nation it has neglected the apparent and imperative duty of training its citizenship in the necessity of physical culture. It is easy for a healthy man to be courageous, hopeful, optimistic and enthusiastic, and it is easy for a sick man to be a coward. If the resplendent glory of this nation is to remain unsullied, it will be because of the devotion, courage, masterfulness, resourcefulness and physical vigor of its citizens.