The Elk Mountain pilot., 1902-07-29
PRESIDENTS SPEECn
EuLoeIzEs NATIONAL GUARD.
Review of Troops at New Jersey Mill
tary ampment-President Tells
What Is Expected of National
Guardsmen-Expeots to Sign Bill
in Aid of the Organization.


dent ever received more sincere,
heartfelt and patriotic welcome than
that given President Roosevelt yester-
day by the people of New Jersey.
The President. on invitation of Gov.
Franklin Murphy, visited the encamp-
ment of the Second brigade, New Jer-
sey National Guard, at Sea Girt. Ac-
companied by Mrs. Roosevelt. Miss
Alice Roosevelt, Mr.. and Mrs. Emlen
Roosevelt. Miss Christine Roosevelt
and Assistant Secretary Loeb, the Pres
ident left Sycamore Hill at Z o'clock
yesterday morning and boarded the
Mayflower, his official naval vessel.
from launch.
Ten thousand people visited the
President at Sea Girt station. Presi-
dent Roosevelt and the other guests
We're escorted in carriages to the gov
ernor's cottage adjoining the military
encampment, less than half mile from
the station. AS he arrived at the cot
tage a presidents salute of twenty
one guns was fired
After a brief rest and informal re-
ception at the cottage, President Roose-
welt and Governor Murphy and staff
reviewed the troops In camp, the Pres
ident being mounted on magnificent
At the conclusion Of the review. Pres
ident Roosevelt was escorted to a stand
adjoining the parade ground and there
addressed the assembled troops and
the multitude which had gathered ana
which by this time numbered nearly
$1,000. Governor Murphy introduced
the President. and after the demonstra-
ton that followed had subslded Presl-
dent Roosevelt spoke as follows:
In opening his address. President
Roosevelt complimented the national
guardsmen of New Jersey upon their
soldierly bearing and proficiency. and
continued:
"A man is of use as national
guardsman for just exactly the same
reasons as he is of use as citizen; and
that is. If he sets to work with his
whole heart to do his duty for the time
heing, to make himself thoroughly pro-
ficient in the line of business he has
taken up. a national guardsman who
joins only to have good time pretty
generally does not have good time
and certainly makes a poor hand as a
guardsman.
Il earnestly believe continued the
President. that you will never get
into battle, but If you do it is going 10
be mighty important to hit the other
do it largely in consequence of the way
you have put in your time knowing
your rifle until it is just part of your
self until you can handle. take care OF
it and use 1t. 1t has been the pride of
the American army in the past that our
troops have always used their rifles eff
ficiently. We have prided ourselves on
having an army of mnrksmen. Our
army has given us just pride in 1t.
because its constant and Jealous effort
has been to take care of itself in the
field and in all that pertains to the du-
ties of n soldier
II think, gentlemen. that much help
can be given to the national guards of
the states by the action of the govern
ment. | want to see the national guard
armed with the best and most modern
weapons. ! want to see the infantry
with the Krag-Iorgenson and | want
to see the artillery with the three
point-two gun of the regular army.
II am happy to say that bill has
been passed through the lower house
which will enable the national govern
ment materially to aid the national
guard of the different states. At the
next session / firmly believe that we
will get it through the Senate, and then
l can guarantee the signature of the
President
Il think our people have not always
appreciated the debt they We're under
to the national guard. \ man who
goes into the national guard and does
his duty fairly and squarely there puts
the whole country under obligations to
him. Always in our history it has
been the case. as it will be in the fu-
ture, that if war should arise, it is to
be met mainly by the citizen soldier.
We have in the regular army otficered
as 1t is and filed with the type of en-
listed men we have in it. an army
which | firmly believe. for its size. is
unequaled in the civilized world; and
| am sure that l can challenge the
most generous support from the ma
tional guard for the regular army of
the United States. But that army is
and must be. so small that in the event
of trouble in the future. the great bulk
of our troops must come. as in the past
they have come, from the ranks of the
people themselves; and in forming
these regiments the good done by the
presence in them of men who have
served faithfully in the national guard
cannot be overestimated. Those men
are ready. They know what is expect
ed of them. They train others to do the
work that is needed. And anothe-
thing. ladies and gentlemen, the same
qualities that make a man n success,
that make him do his duty decently
and honestly in Il national guard regi-
ment. are fundamentally the qualities
that he needs to make him a good citi-
zen in private life"