New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-20
Jersey Militia Ofheer
Openly Opposed Theories
of Adjutant General.
TWICE WON NATIONAL
MILITARY MEDAL
Accused Refuses to Quit, and
Guardsmen Doubt He'll BE
ourt-Martialled.

Trenton. Feb. 1e.-As the result o.
opposing the theories of some OF MS
superiors. Captain Richard Stockton
ir. I'd Infantry, National Guard OF New
Jersey. has been asked to resign HIS
commission. This action brings 10
crisis one Of the most interesting SIT
uations that has ever existed IN inc
National Guard Of New Jersey, and
makes definite issue between Cap
lain Stockton and Adjutant Genera
Wilbur F. Sadler. the highest ranking
officer next TO the Governor.
Although the request for the resig
nation Of Captain Stockton comes from
Colonel Horace NJ Reading, Of the %
Regiment. it is generally taken for
granted that the source Of the request
was the Office Of the adjutant general
A coincidence in connection with the
demand that the militant military man
resign is that almost the same day
committee Of the foremost officers OF
the regular army and the militia con
ferred upon him the highest military
literary award In this eountry-nsmely
the gold medal Of the Military Service
Institution Of the United States. The
same theories which put him in had
with the state military authorities
gained for him the Endorsement Of the
regular army officers and the awarding
of the prize.
Twice Winner Of Medal.
The essay submitted By Captain
stockton was on the subject. "A Rs
tional Programme for Military Legs
lstion." The essays are submitted
anonymously and it is not known who
writes them until after the award -
actually made.
The gold medal carries with il a GER
tihcate O. award, life membership IN
the Military Service Institute and
cash prize Of 500. Captain Stockton
is the only national guard officer in thc
country who has ever won the medal
and this is the second time he has &C
complished the feat. In 1912 he won
the same prize Il is competed FOR Dr
officers in every branch of the gov
kIHIutLl Nl4AAAGlN So wv NV III o."
one OF only two or three men who
have won the medal twice.
At a dinner given a few weeks ago
for the officers OF the regiment by Colo
mel Reading. Captain Stockton. IN his
remarks, told what he thought OF the
guard system of the state and dwelt
particularly on the fact that the high
officers OF the guard are named for po
litical or sOcial reasons. Il was as
sumed that he had IN mind AdJutant
General Sadler, who never had guard
experience previous TO his appointment
as adjutant general
A few days ago General Sadler ad-
dressed the Committee on Military Al
fairs Of the House OF Representatives,,
and he characterized Captain Stockton
as "a young officer of limited expert
ence." To this the captain replied by
making reference to the records o.
himself and General Sadler IN the ma
tionsl guard.
The next move was the request for
the resignation. Captain Stockton has
not resigned. To use his own words;
81 have been asked TO resign from
the New Jersey National Guard. If II
is necessary 10 give up my commission
because ! stand for real preparedness
rather than the personal interests OF
individuals, shall do so, but only
when that necessity Is apparent"
Willing TO Face Court Martial
II Is further understood that he has
not the slightest intention OF resign
ing. and the only way that he can be
removed from the guard Is by court
martial IL charges are prepared
against the captain and court martial
is ordered. then he would have an OPP
portunity TO air his views, not only On
preparedneSs, but also upon the guard
system. Ii is the general opinion OF
guardsmen that no court martial VIII
be ordered.
The military writings Of the captain
are widely quoted in the military pub
locations He is the only officer not IN
the regular army appointed by the War
Oepartment on the board TO write the
"Manual for Officers Of the Organized
Militia and Volunteers of the United
States" He is the author of Peace
Insurance" and Troops on Riot Duty
lie is held in high regard by the high
officers Of the regular army, and his
writings have frequently been quoted
by such men as Major General Leonard
Wood. General Wood Is the president
of the Military Service Institute
The committee that awarded stock
ton the gold medal was composed OF
Brigadier General Thomas NJ. Ander-
son, L. s. A.; Major General Charles
+. Roe, National Guard Of New York,
and Professor Samuel +. Tillman, U. ).
- Dofrf