The Penn's Grove record., 1915-08-27
SUBSCRIPTION ST A YEAR
STATE CAPITOL NEWS
What The State Officials Are Doing.
What The Political Leader Are
Talking About.

90 SC2&8A 0A
THE Relation Of the State to the Ma
tional Defense" viii undoubtedly attract
wide notice, not only throughout the
United States, but also in those Euro
pean countries now at war, where it
will be studied for its probable bearing
upon the preparedness Of this country
for conflict if a break should come with
Germany. The address was calm and
far from belligerent in tone, but took a
stand for a larger standing army and an
improved State Guard.
II take my stand" the Governor said,
with those who believe most sincerely
in peace, but who feel that our United
States should make some reasonable pre-
paration against the happening Of the un-
expected. 1 know that the thought If
military preparations and the establish
ment of a larger trained fighting force
carries with it the thought of the horrors
Of war and all its attendant evils, but
we cannot prevent the possibility OF
those horrors and evils occurring by de-
clining to provide against them, while By
giving heed to our pitiful inability to re-
sist attack we could undoubtedly lessen,
if not avert them.
cit is said that if we increase our mil
itary strength, we are more likely to de-
sire to fight, but those who assert this
also say that we are naturally a peaceful,
righteous nation, c~oyeting no part of the
territory Of others and content to remain
aloof from the conflicts and struggles in
which foreign countries may engage. If
we possess these latter attributes, and I
think we do, 1 cannot believe that in
creased strength win deprive us Of our
moral characteristics and cause us to
seek war, but the obvious answer to such
argument is that if it is impossible to
hope that the strong viii refrain from
depressing the weak, we cannot help but
fear that some day q strong nation
viii take advantage Of our own wedk
condition.
"While we do not seek war, and never
shall so long as the American gpirit OF
fair play continues to rule u nation,
we must be prepared in some measure to
resist foreign aggression"
Governor Fielder showed that the act
ual strength Of the United States Army
consists Of 4,701 officers and S7,7S1 men,
Of these, 75S. officers and 1901 men
belong to the coast artillery and are,
therefore stationArZ ir--eoast Sdsxense
The quartermaster's corps and the hos
pital corps include 1884 men. The staff,
technical and non-combatant branches of
the Army include ZOOS officers and 49,
434 men. This leaves a mobile army
which can be moved from place to place
of only 1885 officers and 51,446 men.
do not these figures disclose a state
of unpreparedness," continued Governor
Fielder, "and does not this condition call
for the exercise of ordinary precautions
such as we take in our daily lives? Why
not guard our nation by increasing our
Standing Army by at least $4,000 officers
and men, and by providing a line of
trained reserves that can be instantly
available in case of necessity
The Governor declared that the num-
Der Of men that the States should at all
times be ready to furnish as q reserve
force should not be less than 250,0O0-
"A nat We really need in each State" he
continued, sis a body. of citizens who viii
agree to serve under competent instruct
ors for a definite period Of time suflci-
entity long to give them a thorough course
of instruction in all military branches"
Governor Fielder emphasized the fact
that it would take six months to equip,
| organize, train and make ready a v0lun-
teer force, and he cited the rapid adj
vance Of the German Army through Bel
GUM and into France almost TO the
doors of Paris, as an illustration of what
might happen here if invasion came in
the present state of unpreparedness. He
spoke in favor of Congress passing the
Military Pay Bill" which has been
pending several years at Washington,
and which provides compensation for the
officers and men Of the National Guard
for the work they do.
Senate President Edge, of Atlantic
City, is now Acting Governor for the
second time this year. Governor Fielder
left for Boston on Monday evening and
yesterday morning Senator Edge took the
oath Of office which made him the Exc
cutiye head of the State governemnt for
the rest Of the week. The oath was ad-
ministered by Chancellor Walker. the
ceremony being very simple owing to the
recent death of Senator Edges wife.
Governor Fielder will return to this State
on Saturday.
Because of the general belief that Sem
ator Edge win be a candidate for United
States Senator or Governor on the Re
publican @ANhCA AC4t 2CUAs
ual interest in his political doings, and
his return to the State House after a
two months absence due to his wife's
death, led to his being questioned as to
his candidacy. He declared that there
was no haste to rush into the announce
mint of a candidacy over a year in sd
vance.
81 consider the next session Of the Leg
a-T-A--- - l--s. -nnf nrar&anE
bearing on 1916 candidates. for all inn
portant offices. / am a member Of that
body, and my desire is to serve through
and give my time and thought to that re
sponsibiIity unhampered By any candl-
dacy for something else.
"In my judgment there are things
much more important than simply realizr
ing a personal ambition. One is friend
| ships. 1 have several friends whose
names are prominently mentioned for both
United States Senator and Governor