UNIVERSAL SERVICE 141 



First we take universal service. Is it not true 

 that co-operation is more liicely to be successful 

 as the physique of the workmen is good ? And 

 it is precisely by universal service that this would 

 be brought about. So certain is this, that it 

 may be predicted of the work done by men 

 fully trained as soldiers, that in bulk and quality 

 it would overtop that of men not so trained, in 

 spite of the apparent loss of the two years or 

 so of civil life to the soldiers. Therefore the 

 extra employment gained for the men of Great 

 Britain, by the introduction of universal service, 

 would be real employment, a preparation of the 

 highest value for the busy life to follow. 



All that has already been said of universal 

 service still holds good here, but with added 

 force. Only in an active army is discipline more 

 valuable than among workmen acting together, 

 who are about to become part owners. In their 

 case also, true discipline is not to be understood 

 as merely cheerful obedience to a command. 

 Where only one man is obedient, discipline is 

 not called upon ; discipline implies the absolute, 

 unconditional, hearty obedience of all : and hence 

 it has come to mean perfect, unquestioning reli- 

 ance on comrades and on leaders. Such reliance 

 is of vast importance where a number of men 

 are striving together towards a single end. 

 When that end is something which is to improve 

 the condition of all, the result of the common 

 effort must be such as to accumulate the additional 

 resources, by which alone the required improve- 

 ment can be effected. This can be accomplished 



