The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-29
WHITMAN PLEADS
FOR ARMY OF PEACE
Urges Youth TO Join Guard,
Enter Politics, for Ma
tons Good.
AT ROCHESTER, Y. NJ. c. A.

ROCHESTER. N. T.. March 2s.-Gov.
Charles 8. whitman was the guest Of
honor and principal speaker At the dedi-
catory exercises Of the new Rochester
Central Y. NJ. c. A. Building tonight.
The Governor was met and escorted by
National Guard troops. He vas q guest
at a dinner given by James A. Cutler.
and later spoke to an audience Of 1000.
the contributors who made the Y. NJ. c.
A. Building possible. Advocating pre-.
paredness for the nation and enlistment
in the state militia. the Governor also
urged an army for peace defence. COM
posed Of citizens interested In politics.
supporting good public officials and de-
posing the bad. lie said In part:
THE gang instinct 10 strong In every
boy and every young man. and ir<e 10
not given a decent and proper oppor.
tunity Of expression II 10 apt to md .
mean and degrading one.
1.-THE idea Is by no means new that
strong and healthy minds are apt to 90
with healthy bodies. But never was this
truth brought home 10 me more forcibly
thar on a recent visit to the State prison
at Great Meadow. There eleven hundred
or more mon, who have committed az
kinds of crimes. are paying the penalty
imposed by law. Yet there is no wall
about the prison and h men work in
the open largely without guards. kept
from escape apparently by nothing more
binding than the word OF honor that each
man has pledged to the warden. A very
large per cent. Of those when released
are restored TO society AZ sober and use
full members. II Ia a result obtained
very largely through body building and
the strengthening OF character likely to
be existent Herewith.
join Militia, lie urGes.
81 make no secret OF my belief that
the United States should address itself
TO the task Of an adequate defence
against armed invasion or unbearable
aggression. would like to see every
man and boy OF proper age possessed OF
the training that would enable him to
become a NJ defender OF democratic in
stitutions in time Of need. would even
urge you TO identify yourselves with the
National Guard. upon which the State
Of New York spendo upward OF $780,.
900 every year.
But there are other enemies than
thes. that international misunderstand-
ings may bling against US. There 10
other fighting TO be done than that which
calls for sacrifice OF life on battlefields.
rs II any less shameful for n citisen
10 stay away from the polls where the
dat ptno ~ tho nAfinp a = decided NhpY 0
great issues upon which hang the well
fare OF the city. State and nation are
70 be fought TO the conclusion, than II
IL for him. when called to defend the
nations honor. TO stay at home out Of a
selfish refusal TO incur the danger:
Into Politics."
'If politics Is q dirty game does the
fundamental fault lie With professional
politicians or does II lie with an cleo
torate so Indifferent to its duty as to
permit Its public business TO be done By
those whom some OF the electorate de-
light 10 call unreliable and untrust-
worthy and dishonest: Is II more hon.
orable 10 elect men to high office, and
then refuse them continued and active
support in their struggles In the inter-
es,s OF good government and good
things in public life?
Go Int political life-go into politics !
This does not mean necessarily that pub
lie once must be held or sought for
that ones life must be devoted 10 It's de-
tails. Find out what ia being dom in
village. city. state and land Assert
the sovereignty hat is yours BY virtue
OF your birth Uphold those public
servants. wherever they may be found.
that are contend.ng for good things. dis
charge those public servants that betray
YOU"