The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-07-25
Reviews National Guardsmen Of
New Jersey
STATE MILITIA A NECESSITY
President Says There Were Plenty of
Brave Soldiers During Recent
Conflict, But Not Enough
War to Go Round.

Sea Girt, N. J.. July 24.-No President
ever received a more sincere, heartfelt
and patriotic welcome than that accord
ed today to President Roosevelt by the
people Of New Jersey. From the time
he landed on New Jersey soil at ATTAIN
tic Highlands pier at 1:3O this afternoon
until he left in tho lauach of the yacht
Mayfiower, anchored several miles off the
pier. he was the recipient of a continu-
Gus ovation.
The President visited the encampment
of the Second brigade of the National
Guard OF the state at Sea Girt. Accom-
panied by Mrs. Roosevelt, Miss Alice
roosevelt and Assistant Secretary Loeb,
the President left Oyster Bay after 7
o'clock this morning on the Mayhower.
and about five hours later came within
sight of Atlantic Highlands. The vessel
came to anchor there as the water was
too shallow to admit of her approaching
the pier. Just as she anchored the
French liner LaSavoie, with Secretary
Root, General Horace Porter, Ambassa-
dor of France, and General Leonard
Wood on board, passed out to sea. The
Mayfiower fired a salute ~ seventeen
guns in honor of the secretary of war.
The liner responded by dipping her col
ors while the passengers crowded her
upper deck and cheered the President en-
Enthusiastically.
Major Frank Murphy, Jr., and Captain
Parker, of the governors staff boarded
the Mayhower from a laV uch and con-
veyed the greetings CT Governor Murphy
and the people Of New jersey. Soon af-
terward at 1885, the President and party
landed at the pier, while the harbor re-
sounded with the din of steam whistles
and cheers of the people.
AS President Roosevelt and his party
stepped upon the pier they were greet
ed by Governor Murphy, Senators Kean
and Dryden, Former Secretary Cornelius
N. Bliss of New York, and the COVER
nor's staff in gorgeous uniforms
Quick Run to Sea Girt.
The party was conducted to a special
train en- Pullman csls In waiting and
started Immediately for s.ss Girt. The
run was made in 45 minutes. AT every
town along the route liberal prepara-
tions had been made for the reception of
the President and the stations were
thronged with people who cheered and
waved flags enthusiastically as the train
passed.
Ten thousand people greeted the Pres
idential party at Sea Girt depot. Pres
ioent Roosevelt and other distinguished
guests were escorted in carriages to the
governors cottage, adjoining the mill
tary camp, less than half a mile from the
station. AS he arrived at tine cottage a
Presidents salute of twerty-one guns
was fired
After brief rest Pr esident Roosevelt
and Governor Murphy and staff reviewed
the troops in camp. At the conclusion of
the review Mr.. Roosevelt was escorted to
a stand adjoining the parade grounds and
there addressed the assembled troops
and the multitude, numbering nearly 49,
900.
Governor Murphy introduced the Pres
ident, and after the demonstration which
followed had subsidized. President Roose-
Welt spoke In part as follows:
"A man Is of use as national
gusrdsman for Just exactly the same rea-
son as he is of use as citizen. and If
he sets to work with his whole heart to
do his duty for the time being, to make
himself thoroughly proficient in the line
of the business he has taken. A national
guardsman who joins only to have a good
time pretty generally does not have a
good time, and certainly makes poor
hand at being a guardsman.
Want Them Armed Well.
"I think, gentlemen, that much can be
given to the national guards of the state
DY Ine dCllOI VI lue OU1lGu Oldl1b BON-
ernmeut want to see the rational guard
armed with the bsst and most modern
weapons. (Applause.) I want to see the
infantry with the Kra g-Jorgensen, and l
want to see the artillery with the three
point two gun of the regular army. l am
happy to say that a bill has passed
through the lower house which will en-
able the national government materially
to aid the national guard of the different
A 7
lieve We will get it through the United
States senate and then I can guarantee
the signature Of the President.
IT think that our people have not al
ways appreciated the debt they were un-
der to the national guard. Always in our
history it has been the case, as 1t will
be In the future, that, If war should
arise 1t is to be met mainly by the cit
izen soldier-the volunteer soldier. We
have in the regular army, differed as 1t
is and filled with the type of enlisted
men, an army which l firmly believe
for it's size, is unequalled In the civilized
world. But that army Is, and of neces-
sty must be, so that in 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 those regi-
ments the good done by the presence in
in the national guard cannot be over es-
timated.
mo doubt some of you were in the
Spanish-American war
A voice: 'Yes, many of u.s.
Not Enough to Go Around.
The only trouble with that war was
that there was not enough war to go
around Iaughter).
A voice: you got your slice"
II did, continued the president. "I
was one of the lucky ones"
After relating the anecdotes of the am
bilious soldier, who entered camp at
Tampa Fla, at the beginning of the
Spanish-American war and was set to
work digging kitchen sinks, President
Roosevelt continued;
Just as 1t is in the army so 1t is in
citizenship. If you are content to go
through life waiting for a chance to be
a hero, you may walt and the chance
may not come. The way to be a good
citizen is to do well the ordinary every
day humdrum work that comes to citi-
zenship. The man who wants to wait
until a battle comes Is not likely to
be the good fighter; and the citizen who
waits for heroic times is likely to be
a mighty bad man.