Perth Amboy evening news., 1918-11-22
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PRESSING HOME THE VICTORY

rro announcement made by Senator Frelinghuysen yesterday
10, Secretary Of War Baker has promised the removal of all NUM-
tions not only from this vicinity, but from the entire state is me
mos rcess,ring statement that has been received since the explosion
nj Morgan early in October. While we have learned not to place 100
much confidence in mere promises, there seems to be good ground
for feeling that before very long the danger OF a repetition o "ha'
has a1ready happened at Morgan will be passed.
But until the explosives now stored at Morgan and at bonham-
town arr actually removed the utmost vigilance Is necessary ii the
part OF those who have the best interests of the city at heart II would
be the height of folly now, with success practically achieved to lay
down until the victory is complete.
This promise on the part of the War Department that Ill NUM-
.ons vI he removed from this section clnches the vindcation of the
Perth Amboy Council of Defense in the attitude it has assumed IN
regard to the explosion and the reconstruction of the shell LOADING
plant. 1t is a confession ON the part of the government ofDcials tht
the continual storage of the munitions in such quantities in this vnn-
iy is a menace and 1t thoroughly repudates that small coterle vi men
who have s. bitterly and openly assaied the members of the Council
of Defense to satisfy their own personal interests. These men VINO
had so much to say about disloyaty and traitors when the Council OF
Defense was demanding an investigation of the conditions at the Gil
lespie plant, have been utterly dseredited before the whole com
munity and their selfish purposes have been shown up through then
veneer of alleged patriotism.
The people have come to realize the value of the work being done
by the Council of Defense and appreciate the Importance of having
such an organization TO look after the safety and welfare of the city
during such times as these.
We think the evidence thus far produced at the hearings of the
senate investigating committee has shown to the satisfaction of nearly
everyone that as far as the Gillespie interests and the Ordnance De-
partment of the government were concerned the lives and properly
hereabouts were given only secondary consideration. Their main ODD
jet was to produce munitions, and, on the ground that these were war
times they were willing to take chances that they had no right to
take. Should a city or two be blown off the map that, in their opln-
ion, apparently, would be merely one of the fortunes of war and was
to be considered IS au instance in bringing about the victory.
1t was up to the communities that were thus exposed to such
fortunes of war to take measures for their own protection, as has been
done here through the organization of the Council of Defense, as it is
plain that outsiders coming to this vicinity merely to produce NUM-
tions, would not take such steps. 1t is a matter of gratlhcatlon, there
fore, that Perth Amboy has such an organization thoroughly alive to
the best interests of the city and capable of accomplishing such re-
&sts rs r now apparent.
-@-sNIle headings before the senate committee has justified the lnyes-
tigation from the very start. The promise of the War Department
TO remove all munitions from this locality is the elimination of the
effective work done by the Council of Defense in safeguarding the
lives and property of Perth Amboy and vicinity.