USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Fifty years of Boston; a memorial volume issued in commemoration of the tercentenary of 1930; 1880-1930, Pt. 2 > Part 29
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In 1885 Mary Hemenway fitted up a basement room in the Starr King School and there started the first school kitchen for cooking instruction in the United States. The first manual training school was established in 1882 and the first Sloyd Training School for training teachers was begun in 1885. It was in 1910 that George E. Brock, president of the Home Savings Bank, introduced the thrift movement in the schools.
In 1904 the Trade School for Girls was founded under the auspices of the Massachusetts Association of Women Workers. It was modeled after the
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Manhattan Trade School in New York City but was an original conception nevertheless. In 1906 classes in salesmanship started. In 1907 the High School of Practical Arts was established to prepare girls for home making; the Continuation School followed in 1909; the Boston Trade School was incor- porated into the City of Boston school system in 1912. The intermediate or Junior High School, one of the most significant changes, was introduced definitely in 1917. Our Boston schools also were the birthplace of vocational guidance. It was in Boston the first public kindergartens were inaugurated. The Massa- chusetts Normal Art School was the first of its kind in the world. The Horace Mann School for deaf mutes has served as a pattern for others throughout the country, and the Perkins Institution for the Blind is also a model in its field.
The Massachusetts School for the Feeble-Minded under Dr. Walter E. Fernald has given to the world a system of training which is of great benefit in the development of this type of pupil. To Dr. Jeffrey R. Brackett is due the credit of directing the first full-time school of social work in the world, which today is being carried forward by Simmons College. Nor can we overlook the Franklin Union, devoted to instruction in the trades, which was endowed by one hundred years' interest on £1,000 as provided for in the will of Benjamin Franklin. Wentworth Institute, which was made possible by the endowment of Arioch Wentworth, since its opening in 1911 has filled an important need in providing practical technical training for boys who plan to enter the skilled trades.
PROGRESS IN BUSINESS AND FINANCE
Mrs. Lucinda W. Prince is given the credit for having headed the first school of salesmanship, an idea which since has developed to very important proportions and has extended into almost every section. It was here, also, that Savings Bank Insurance was born through the influence of Louis D. Brandeis, making it possible for people to buy life insurance at cost. G. Wallace Tibbetts, now president of the Exchange Trust Company, originated the first Christmas Savings Club.
The Boston Retail Trade Board has made for itself a national reputation by reason of the many new and progressive movements it has started. Nor should we overlook the accomplishments of the entire Boston Chamber of Commerce, of which the Retail Trade Board is a part. While the business men of Boston have a reputation for conservatism, the truth is that they rank with the most progressive in successful pioneering. The list of American industries which have been founded by Boston capital is in itself the answer. In reforms safeguarding the financial welfare of the people this city has led. . For the Credit Union, now becoming a national institution, we must thank Edward A. Filene, whose energy and money, expended through the Credit Union League, have made possible the work of education on which the success of this great public benefit depends.
CONCLUSION
True to his convictions, the Bostonian of today, like his predecessors, has no fear of an uphill fight and will lead what may seem for the moment
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a forlorn hope. Professor Zechariah Chafee strikes for the abolition of capital punishment. Mr. Fiske Warren founds single tax colonies,- one in far-off Andorra. Mr. and Mrs. Mead work for universal peace. Moorfield Storey did battle bravely for the rights of the colored peoples. The Winsor History traced several radical movements which succeeded and were consecrated by their success,- the Puritan migration, the American Revolution, the abolition of slavery. The last fifty years have seen no movement of equal scope taking its rise in Boston, but the examples cited in this paper show that the progressive spirit and the independent mind are not dead among us. The wide-open doors of our forums - Ford Hall, the Old South and others - exhibit the same love of liberty and the same hospitality to ideas that gave us Faneuil Hall and the speakers' mall on Boston Common. We have still among us descendants of the Boston boys who talked up to General Gage. It is still true, as when Emerson said it, that
"This city of Boston has a history. It is not an accident or a wind- mill or a railroad station or crossroads tavern, or an army barracks grown up by time and luck to a place of wealth; but a seat of humanity, of men of principle obeying a sentiment and marching loyally whither that should lead them."
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CHAPTER XI OUR MILITARY AND NAVAL RECORD
By THOMAS G. FROTHINGHAM
In military and nayal affairs Boston has been of great importance through- out the last fifty years. There were three reasons for this. In the first place Boston has been the administrative headquarters of the Massachusetts Militia. In addition, the Boston Navy Yard has been the headquarters of what is now designated as the First Naval District, United States Navy. And Boston has also been the headquarters of the local control of the United States Army, which is now designated as the First Corps Area, United States Army.
THE INFLUENCE OF THE MEN OF THE CIVIL WAR
As to our Militia, at the end of his chapter in the "Memorial History of Boston" General Palfrey was pessimistic in doubting "whether our Militia will ever improve." He feared that the influence of the "politieians" would do harm and impair the effieieney of our state organizations. This reflected his impressions of the years immediately following the Civil War, when the "political soldier" was too much in evidenee. But that was only a passing phase. The veterans of the Civil War soon assumed their role as the most valuable element in our national life. Politics were relegated to their proper place, and too great praise eannot be given to the men of the Civil War, who made it their task that our communities should be American, in the best sense of the word.
This meant that their influence was nation-wide, and they saw to it that the enormous numbers of immigrants became Americans with us. Through- out the nation, North and South, the organizations of the veterans of the Civil War were the ruling powers in their local communities. We can see now that it was their influence which made possible the magnificent surge of the United States in the World War.
At this fearful test, in 1917, it was proved that our nation was the most united in the world and capable of an unprecedented effort in war. And we owe eternal gratitude for this to the men of the Civil War. They had been touched by a divine fire and this made them carry forward the torch in peace as in war. No military article on conditions of the last fifty years should fail to make acknowledgment of the debt which all Americans owe to them. It is no wonder that their rapidly diminishing ranks contain the most revered figures in American life today.
IMPROVEMENT OF THE MILITIA
In the late 80's their influence had beeome benign. The new personnel in the Massachusetts Militia only strove to prove worthy of their traditions. The "political" menace disappeared. At the headquarters, in Boston, the
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MEMORIAL TO THE FOUNDERS
ROBERT GOULD SHAW MEMORIAL
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Militia was well governed and organized for progress along the best lines of military knowledge. Officers and men werc zealous and there was a constantly increasing study of service in the field, with more attention to tours of field duty. For these reasons, at the very time General Palfrey wrote with so dis- couraged a tone the Massachusetts Militia was making great strides in efficiency. The decade from 1889 to the Spanish-American War was thus notable in its history. This period, from 1889 to 1898, was the time of a high development' of our Militia as a state force, dependent for its support upon the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without Federal assistance. It was notable that in this period, when most of the states adopted the designation, "National Guard," we retained the term, "Massachusetts Volunteer Militia," with the insignia M. V. M.
In 1889 the organization of the M. V. M. was First Brigade, consisting of First, Second and Sixth Regiments of Infantry, Troop F of Cavalry, Battery B of Field Artillery, Signal and Hospital Corps; Second Brigade, consisting of Fifth, Eighth and Ninth Regiments of Infantry, First Battalion of Field Artillery (Batteries A and C), Troops A and B of Cavalry, Signal and Hospital Corps. In addition, there were the First and Second Corps of Cadets.
THE NAVAL BATTALION
In 1890 Boston provided an innovation which was productive of far- reaching results. Lieutenant Commander John C. Soley, U. S. N. (retired), had devoted a great deal of study to the tactics of a naval brigade as a landing force. Under his leadership, with the zealous co-operation of a group of mem- bers of the Dorchester Yacht Club, the idea of a Naval Militia was evolved, with the purpose of providing such a force. His brother, James B. Soley, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, fostered this scheme, and the report of the Massachusetts Adjutant-General for 1890 contained this record: "During the year (1890) a Naval Battalion of four companies has been organized, which has entered upon its duty and has performed acceptable service during the year. This battalion is composed of intelligent officers and men and will prove a valuable acquisition for seacoast defence and naval purposes."
The four original companies were all from Boston and the vicinity. In 1892 four other companies were organized, onc each from Lynn, Fall River, New Bedford and Springfield. This Boston idea of a "Naval Battalion" in the Militia spread throughout the country, until, at the outbreak of the Spanish- American War in 1898, a like force had been organized in seventeen states, with a total enrollment of 427 officers and 4,501 enlisted men - an important addition for our national defense. In Massachusetts its originator, Lieutenant Commander John C. Soley, became the first commander of the newly organized "Naval Battalion" of the M. V. M.
THE FIRST REGIMENT, HEAVY ARTILLERY
It is worthy of note that in this period of improvement of the M. V. M the First Regiment had devoted itself to heavy artillery work at Fort Warren, Boston Harbor. Consequently this regiment was designated the First Regi- ment, Heavy Artillery, in 1897.
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As a result of these preparations the M. V. M. made an efficient response to the call upon the Commonwealth for service in the Spanish-American War.
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
The President's first call for troops from Massachusetts (April 23, 1898) called for four regiments of infantry and four companies of heavy artillery. Governor Wolcott had already taken measures in Boston to prepare the M. V. M. for this service, which scemed inevitable. For this reason the response of Massachusetts was not delayed.
In less than forty-eight hours the First Regiment, Heavy Artillery (Colonel Charles Pfaff), was under orders to procced to Fort Warren. The four infantry regiments ordered into service in response to the call of the President were the Second (Colonel E. M. Clark), Sixth (Colonel C. F. Woodward), Eighth (Colonel W. A. Pew), Ninth (Colonel F. B. Bogan). All these were assembled early in May at Framingham, rechristened "Camp Dewey." And all were duly mustered into the service of the United States as "United States Volun- teers," but retaining their state designations. In addition, in response to a second call of the President (May 25, 1898), the Fifth Infantry, M. V. M. (Colonel J. P. Whitney), was mustercd into service as a part of the Massachusetts quota.
The Naval Battalion, constituted the "Naval Brigade" by an Act of 1892, at once proved its usefulness. It not only was a nucleus to assist the Boston Navy Yard in securing men for the United States Navy, but it also provided officers and crews for converted craft, which took over duties that otherwise would have been tasks for our Navy. These were U. S. S. "Prairie," U. S. S. "Lehigh," U. S. S. "Catskill," U. S. S. "Governor Russell," U. S. S. "Inca" and others.
RETURN OF ADMIRAL DEWEY
It was a notable occasion in Boston when the reception was given to Admiral Dewey on the return of the fleet from the Spanish-American War. The entire Militia was mobilized in Boston, and, after a parade which aroused great enthusiasm, there was an impressive ceremony on Boston Common, at which the colors of the Massachusetts organizations in service in this war and the flags of the naval vessels manned by the Massachusetts Naval Brigade were given in custody to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
FEDERALIZATION OF THE MILITIA
The period from the end of the Spanish-American War to the World War was characterized by the development of the Militia as a Federal force, in con- trast to the former policy of each state maintaining its own Militia. This was the result of the lessons of the Spanish-American War.
There had been tentative efforts to provide Federal aid in the years before this war and there had been appropriations for this purpose. In 1900 this need had become so evident that there was an appropriation of $1,000,000. But it was the Dick Bill, in 1903, which was the beginning of the Federalizcd National Guard of today.
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The Dick Bill
1. This Act of Congress, approved January 21, 1903, provided that the organized and uniformed active Militia in the various states, whether known as National Guard, Militia or otherwise, who had participated or should participate in the annual appropriation made by Congress, should constitute the organized Militia. It further provided that the organization, armament and discipline of the organ- ized Militia should be the same as that prescribed for the Regular and Volunteer Armies of the United States. Finally, it authorized the Secretary of War to issue United States standard arms, ammunition, accoutrements and equipment for arming the organized Militia, the same to be receipted for and to remain the property of the United States. It allowed the President to call out the Militia for the pur- poses enumerated in the Constitution for a period not exceeding nine months, the same length of time as in the act of July 17, 1862. (From 1795 to 1862 the time limit had been three months.)
2. The Dick Bill encouraged the maintenance of adequate and respectable Militia establishments by the various states, brought about a closer co-ordination between the Militia of the states and the Regular Army of the United States, insured a better organization of the Militia, and made it a more effective part of the general military force of the United States Government. Moreover, it encouraged and stimulated the National Guard idca in the minds of the officers of the organized Militia.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE NATIONAL GUARD
This had been a great stride forward, and more was to follow.
By Section II, G. O. No. 24, dated October 12, 1907, it was pro- vided that "For the purposes of administration and convenience, the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia will be divided into the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, the National Guard, the Naval Militia and the Retired List. The Naval Militia will comprise the Naval Brigade, or such other naval organization or organizations as may be allowed by law. The National Guard will comprise all other organizations of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia."
Other divisions of the same Section II define and enumerate the units which shall constitute the Staff of the Commander-in-Chief, the National Guard, and the Naval Militia.
The National Guard is to consist of the following:
The Adjutant General's Department.
The Inspector General's Department. The Judge Advocate General's Department.
The Quartermaster's Department. The Subsistence Department. The Medical Departinent. The Pay Department.
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The Ordinance Department.
The Corps of Engineers.
The Signal Corps.
The Coast Artillery Corps.
2 brigades of infantry, 5 regiments.
1 squadron of cavalry, 3 troops.
1 battalion of field artillery, 3 batteries.
2 corps of Cadets.
The above quoted general order is the first which mentions any part of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia as National Guard.
THE PROGRESS TO THE WORLD WAR
All this had strengthened and consolidated the administration in Boston of the affairs of the troops of the Commonwealth. Typical of this was the reform in the service of supply. Even to the time of the Spanish-American War our organizations had been hampered by being fed by caterers, with no experience of supplies served in the field. Under the new régime there was a system of rationing, as in the United States Ariny, and the different commands were to prepare their food by means of their own cooks. There was also an advance in other respects. Schools of instruction were established. There was an increased attention to field maneuvers, which led to the joint maneuvers with other states. Consequently the World War found a militia very differ- ent from anything that had existed in the past.
BEFORE OUR ENTRANCE INTO THE WORLD WAR
In 1916 it had become evident that the outrageous course of the German Imperial Government might force the United States into the World War. And here it should be stated that the United States did not go to war with the German nation. We fought only against the German Imperial Government. This Imperial Government was vested in a General Staff and this ruling body had committed the German Imperial Government, long years before the out- break in 1914, to one irrevocable plan. This was the "Schlieffen plan of war" for invading France through neutral Belgium, in defiance of all pledges in their treaties. The military regime in control of the German Imperial Govern- ment believed that this plan was infallible, from their overconfident habit of seeing only their own side of the board. The complete failure of this plan drove the German Imperial Government to desperate measures in the attempt to retrieve the original blunder by finding some means of winning the war.
THE QUARREL FORCED UPON THE UNITED STATES BY THE GERMAN IMPERIAL GOVERNMENT
It was this obsession which led the German Imperial Government into the illegal use of the submarine. And it was a just nemesis that this brought the United States into the war - to end all chances of a German victory. In this regard it also should be stated, any reproaches as to the "lateness" of
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our entrance only reflect ignorance of the facts. The truth was, the United States had twice halted the illegal use of submarines. In 1915 the protests of the United States in the "Lusitania" case, instead of being merely futile "notes," as was the impression at the time, actually forced the German Imperial Government into a submission. This was bitterly denounced by Tirpitz as "practically complete cessation of all employment of submarines."
In 1916, when the German Imperial Government attempted a new trial . of this illegal means of warfare, the attack on the "Sussex" brought forth a sudden ultimatum from the United States. Upon this, the German Imperial Government (again in the words of the disappointed Tirpitz) "decided to give in . the beginning of our capitulation." Consequently the German Imperial Government had twice surrendered to the United States. And our repeated domination of the German Imperial Government was ignorantly stigmatized as our "lateness."
The truth as to these two cases of the United States forcing the German Imperial Government to surrender was not known until long after the end of the World War. But, now that the facts are known, Americans should feel nothing but pride as to the conduct of the United States in 1915 and 1916.
THE ENTRANCE OF THE UNITED STATES INTO THE WORLD WAR
In 1917 the German Imperial Government broke away from all interna- tional law. Their leaders again made "infallible" calculations that victory would be assured by the resort to unrestricted submarine warfare. As Hinden- burg himself stated, "On January 9, 1917, our All-Highest War Lord decided in favor of the proposals of the naval and general staffs and against the Imperial Chancellor." The responsibility is thus fixed, as an act of the militaristic régime in Germany, over-riding all civil authority. The result was fatal for the German Imperial Government. War was declared by the United States on April 6, 1917.
There can be no question of the fact that the United States was thus driven into the war by the hostile acts of the German Imperial Government. The German rulers have set forth their own record too plainly to leave any doubt in the matter. In addition to their inexcusable attacks on the sea, they stand self-convicted by the Zimmermann note of attempting to incite Mexico and Japan to war with the United States, to disrupt the country and take away its territory. If ever a nation was justified in entering a war, the United States was justified and in the right - and we should believe that this right prevailed.
THE EFFORT OF THE UNITED STATES IN THE WORLD WAR
The German Imperial Government had made the self-confident calculation that the United States would not be able to exert any influence upon the World War. This error was due to the fixed belief of the German leaders that their own formulas were the only means that would bring success in war. To their minds the United States was helplessly lacking in all forces for making war. Hindenburg has written explicitly, as to whether America "would appear to snatch the victor's laurels from our brows," "I believed I could answer it in
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the negative." Yet, after the surprising advent of the United States forces on the battle field, Ludendorff was obliged to write the confession: "America thus became the decisive power in the war."
The fact was, something was happening in the United States so extraor- dinary that it must be classed as one of the great uprisings of a people which have shown the world that human forces, welded by some fusing impulse, can be stronger than artificial military conditions.
NATIONAL DEFENSE IN 1916
In 1916 the handwriting on the wall had become so evident that the Na- tional Defense Act (June 1, 1916) had been adopted, which was the foundation of our effort in the World War. For Boston and Massachusetts this marked the culmination of the Federalized Militia, the National Guard. By its pro- vision the M. V. M. became the Massachusetts National Guard, subject to the call of the President for service in the United States Army. The first call under this act, for Boston and Massachusetts, was the summons of the President to the National Guard for duty on the Mexican border (June 18, 1916). This tour of duty gave our Massachusetts National Guard a most unusual oppor- tunity to get into touch with the Regular Army and also increased its efficiency in equipment for active service in the field.
But the most important provision of the act stated: "That a Council of National Defense is hereby established for the co-ordination of industries and resources for the national security and welfare." This made possible the close association and co-operation of our army, our navy and our industries. Con- sequently the year 1916 had seen the welding of great forces in our nation.
BOSTON AT THE TIME OF OUR ENTRANCE
Our declaration of war was the electric shock which galvanized into life the accumulating forces of the United States. Boston had already proved true to her traditions as a leader in times of national emergency. Just after the United States had severed relations with Germany, and before war was declared, on February 9, 1917, Governor McCall, at the suggestion of prominent Bos- tonians, named the Massachusetts Committee on Public Safety of one hundred citizens, with James J. Storrow as chairman and Charles F. Weed as vice chair- man. Henry B. Endicott was chosen executive chairman and manager, and he gave efficient service throughout the war. The executive ability of George H. Lyman was also of great value in the work of the Committee, which had its headquarters in the State House, Boston.
This was the first organization of the kind in the United States and its usefulness was at once so evident that similar bodies were organized in other parts of the country. The work of the Committee on Public Safety supple- mented the efforts of the Federal Government over wide fields of activities. Subcommittees were organized of citizens experienced in the different activitics and these at once put their tasks on a practical basis.
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