The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-07-03
Organization for Order.

Realizing that there will be need fol-
organized attempts to maintain order
and observance of the law in and
around the camp at Wrightstown, the
authorities Of the adjacent townships
met at the home of Prosecutor KELSEY,
in Pemberton, Thursday evening, and
discussed the various matters that
would probably come under their care
and observance. The township authori-
ties know that in camp of 80, 900 men
there will be those who will seek
amusement and while it is not to be
said they will all be iawless yet there
will be among them those who will be
disposed to overstep the mark.
This has already been shown, not in
the personnel Of the soldiers, but in the
class of laborers that have been doing
work on the camp ground. Some of
these men have been carefully watch
ed and their actions have been such as
to show that vigilance is necessary
Still, it must be admitted they have
not been entirely to blame. One set of
men claimed to have come directly
from South Carolina, and when they
got to the camp ground they had been
without food since morning. The
people in the neighborhood of Wrights
town did not seem to have awaken
ed to what was before them and they
were not able to take care of the men
who sought food. Some of the latter
went to Pemberton and after consider
able trouble procured sandwiches.
Some of them were so disgusted with the
condition OF affairs that they said they
we're going South at once. A number
of them wanted drink but the hotel
keepers refused to serve them and in
some instances closed their hotels as
soon as they saw the strangers APP
preaching.
The township authorities are fully
aware that something must be done
toward protecting the people and as
places of amusement are sure to be es-
tablished the certainty that there must
be measures taken to license and
superintend these places is absolute.
For this reason the meeting of Thurs
day evening was held. The first steps
toward consolidation were taken by
effecting an organization consisting Of
the following officers: President,
Thomas c. Shreve, Pemberton town.
ship; vice president, John H. Akin
son, New Hanover township; secretary,
M. Warner Hargrove, Pemberton town
ship; assistant secretary, Joshua M.
Lamb, North Hanover township.
After discussing the various subjects
brought to attention the officers decided
to have meeting of the committees
of the various townships adjacent to
the camp, and this will be held this
evening. A constabulary force will
probably be established and recorders
will be appointed. Uniform regulations
for licensing all places of amusement
will be adopted and there will be a
strict supervision of leases in order that
nothing Objectionable shall creep in
whereby disorder may become prev
alent.
The question of state constabulary
that has been suggested more than
once by the officials of this county.
Samuel A. Atkinson, when prosecutor,
asked that such officials be appointed
and prosecutor Kelsey repeated the re-
bog and the murder at Riders. A bill
was introduced in the last Legislature
by Senator Pierce and got through the
Senate, but died in the House.
This measure called for the appoint
ment of superintendent and about
125 others, including lieutenants, ser
geants and corporals. This body which
would be divided into two companies,
would be mounted and constantly
available for service in any part OF the
state. The Pierce bill was supported
by some very strong interests, includ-
ing the State Chamber of Commerce.
| 1t became known that Governor
Edge and Adjutant General Barber
have been discussing the necessity of
state constabulary and the ACCESSIBILITY
of calling Especial session of the Legis-
lature to obtain the necessary authority
to form such an organization. The
military authorities feel that when the
last Of the National Guard is called
away such an organization as con-
stabulary will be absolutely essential
to the adequate protection of life and
property.
The present task of guarding bridges,
railroads, munition plants and the like
will have to be continued and it will
be an onerous duty. In order to make
possible the creation of a State police
force for this work it was thought to be
necessary to call the Legislature to-
gether, but Governor Edge is reported
to have reached the conclusion that
such step will not have to be taken.