Perth Amboy evening news., 1919-03-06
THE RIOT CALL

u, 4horo s misunderstanding as to the request Of the
militia reserve battalion for a special call on the ire alarms system nv
control Labor Union sent to the Board Of Aldermen a resolution pro
- ocairst . so.cared riot call, claiming that Perth Amboy had
not had any riots thus far and that the police force is ample o me
protection Of the city.
In the first place, to argue that because there have been nc riots
there never will be any, is rather far-fetched. Seattle do OF nav
riots either until suddenly there was an attempt to take over LIE
mnnnpal government by a band of Bolsheviki and the ponce were 10
sufficient to meet the situation, either. Federal troops were caneo
upon. .o
Bnt that is not the question. Perth Amboy has a battalion OF the
militia reserve and lit sa decided credit to the city. When an average
Of 172 men will turn out once a week to drill it shows an interest ana
ar enthusiasm that is most commendabe. The mlhtla reSerSe uu
wonderful work during the explosion and because the men were pre-
pared for an emergency they were able to protect homes oi JIG '"',
;ncluding the homes of the men who are protesting against the speclal
call for the assembly of the battalion and who now declare ha' Tue
notice force is adequate. There is no telling what the condition wouio
have been in Perth Amboy during October 5 and . OF last year a lS
,,ii+;a reserve not been ready for instant service. The city can never
bee too grateful for the work that was so freely done by these men IN
uniform at that time. The hundreds Of outsiders who came u fer1n
Amboy to render what help they could, continue Il comment moS
favorablv on the efficiency of the Perth Amboy battalion.
But we do not believe there is any misunderstanding IN REGARD 10
the excellent work done by the militia reserve; the misundestandmg
is in regard to the call that the aldermen were requested TO autnoiiIe
m the fire alarm system. In the first place, it is not a riot call that is
reouested The city already has a riot call. 1t is known as The Tour
fves,, In other words, when the members Of the militia reserve near
five taps sounded on the fire alarm four times they know that they are
wanted to report at the city hall at once. 1t is also the signal for the
automobile division to assemble with their cars ready to rush Inc men
in uniform to any part of the city that they are needed.
1t was this signal of "fourfves" that called out the men early
in the morning of October 5 last when the fire at the shell LOADING plaht
at Morgan got beyond contrOl. lie Iour1'e "0o
a test drill during the summer of 1917 when the members II the nome
defense. as the organization was then called, made a wonderful sho"
ing.
But it is not desirable to sound the "four-hves" merely TO as
sembIe the men for drill. "Fourfves' mean trouble and IS long as
the present unsettled conditions exist throughout the world 1t snoulo
continue to mean trouble and it is most gratifying to know that there
re four companies of well trained men, fully armed and equipped
ready to respond the instant the -four 6ves are sounded. These men,
VIE HI + serving without pay and solslyfsF *l-srfxre 81 \ com
mpnitv and the protection of the homes of the city, are to De com
mended for their interest and should be encouraged IN every way pos
sibe. u,I
If it is deemed unnecessary to have merely al assembly aIJa
there might be some confusion in having so many different calls to De
heard all over the city, there is no harm done in having the request re-
fused. 1t is well, however, to have it understood that the mot "a OF
five taps repeated four times still stands and there i a great deal OF
satisfaction ON the part of thousands of citizens to know that there is
Al efficient body of men ready to respond when it is sounded.