Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-01-23

I
forty eight companies Of infantry, or
ganized into four regiments; two bat
teries of artillery, and two troops of
cavalry, composing two brigades and
one division. The present infantry
force should be enlarged. l think it
wise that it be increased to five regi-
ments of infantry, of twelve companies
each, and that the artillery and cav
airy remain as they now are, and that
the headquarters of these regiments be
located In Newark, Jersey City, Pat
erson, Trenton and Camden.
| In each of these cities commodious
armories have been built by the state
at large expense, and too much money
has been expended upon these build
ings to permit them to be useless or to
be damaged by neglect. That, however,
is the smallest of reasons for urging
| their use.
The Importance of a national guard
of reasonable size cannot be disputed.
We are a people given to ways OF
peace The nation does not maintain
large standing army. The chief reli-
ance of the people in times of war as
well, in necessity, as in times of peace
in unfolding the supremacy of the law
and in protecting public and private
property is in thoroughly organized
and perfectly disciplined national
guard The valor of the sons of New
Jersey, their patriotism and their sac
rifice have never failed either the state
| ~ 7 ND oc of q NJ
portance that the militia of the state
should be maintained in reasonable
numbers and at the highest point of
efficiency.
Hospital For Consumptive Poor.
| am inclined to bring to your atten-
ton the subject of providing a state
hospital for the consumptive poor. If I
have had any doubts of the wisdom of
doing so, it is not because there is any
| question in my mind of the good such
an institution would be to those af
hicted with this disease, but for eco
nomic and other reasons. The dread
fulness of this disease lido 1 character
| ize it too stronglyD is not appreciated
! by the average layman. 1t Is not SO
loathsome as smallpox, people do not
| fear it as they do scarlet or typhoid
| fever or diphtheria, and yet the statis-
| tics show that in the last twenty-five
years in the state of New Jersey the
deaths from pulmonary tuberculosis
have been more than from diphtheria,
Group, typhoid fever, scarlet fever,
| whooping cough, malarial fevers,
measles and smallpox combined. If
one has any of these diseases, he has a
chance for his life, but if the grip of
| the white scourge" ever takes hold of
] him, however gentle may be its first
touch, it strengthens its hold month by
| month, never relaxing, never weaken
ing, until the final end.
At least this is SO with the poor. The
rich, with their cleaner general habits
of life, the better air they breathe, the
better food they eat, stand a fighting
chance, and if they take the disease in
time and submit themselves to skilled
treatment they may recover, but with
the poor the bullet of the rife pointed
at the heart is hardly more certain. 1t
is swifter, but not more sure.
II HAS DG0il OcluOuSLIdtSu tudb Win
proper treatment the disease is pre-
ventable and in its early stages durable
isolation, fresh air. proper food. But
these are impossible to the poor.
That it is contagious is now as fully
recognized as that under most condi-
lions it is fatal. 1t is proper subject
for legislative investigation and ac-
ton, and am of the opinion you would
be doing a lasting service to the state
If you were to make reasonable ap-
preparation for the establishment of
hospital for this purpose.
Gentlemen of the legislature, you in
your province, in mine, are intrusted
with high responsibility by the state
we love. The history of New Jersey,
the patriotism and sacrifices of her
sons in the days that are gone, give us
all just cause for pride in the past of
| our state. Her recent remarkable de-
velopment and her increasing influence
in the sisterhood of states appeal not
less to our pride in her present. Let us
dedicate ourselves fully to her service
| Such at least is my determination, and
| in my work l ask the assistance of my
associates, the considerate judgment
! of my fellow citizens and the favor of
Almighty God.
FRANKLIN MURPHY.
Trenton, N. j., Jan. 81, 1902.