Perth Amboy evening news., 1924-09-09
GERAN SPEAKS
ON DEFENSE DAY
Congressman Supports Presi-
dent Coolidge's Idea in
Talk Before KiWanianS

Heartily endorsing the Defense
Day idea of President Coolidge.
Congressman Elmer H. Geran, of
Matawan, today gave one of the best
talks ever heard by the local XII
wants Club at a noon luncheon. The
speaker took as his subject Nation
al Defense" and briefly reviewed the
vain efforts nations have made in
the past to prevent wars.
Large standing armies and 100
per cent preparedness on the part of
nations will not prevent wars" the
congressman said, this having been
shown time and again. They are
necessarily a preventative. The solu-
ton of this problem Is the entering
into agreement by nations for the
security of all concerned"
The United States, the speaker
said, has been recognized as a peace
loving country and therefore unpre-
pared for war. Congressman Geran
said one OF the purposes of Defense
Day is to have the government. in
dividuals, industries and business in
general take an inventory so that a
wealth of information might be
available for the government records
relative to the preparedness of the
country.
"Many persons are timid toward
this Defense Day proposal" the
speaker said. "They fear that this
taking of inventory is a gesture to-
ward war. 1t is nothing of the kind.
1t is similar to a fire. drill. The fact
that a school or a factory holds a
fire drill does not necessarily r1ean
that a fire will occur. The drill only
prepares for an emergency. Thus it
is with the Defense Day idea"
The speaker made an earnest plea
for the establishment of an interna-
tional court of justice where the va
rious nations can take their troubles
and have them settled without re-
sorting to war. individuals have
their courts. judges. juries and law
yers in which to settle their differ
ences. We have our courts for
county, state and federal difficulties
but court in which the nations can
make known their grievances and
have them satisfactorily adjusted is
the greatest accomplishment for
world peace that could be carried
out" Congressman Geran earnestly
declared.
THE problem of establishing and
joining an adequate international
court of justice is the most impor-
tant matter before this country at
this time. The questions of tariff
and revenue are minor considera-
tions. There would be no need for
tariff and revenue regulations IL the
international court were established
as wars have caused the debts, the
payment of which are being made
by tariff and revenue"
The individual financial support OF
each Kiwanian was solicited by Pres
ident Derben Bartholomew in the
Kiddie Keep Well campaign now in
progress. The club has made one
donation to the county organization
and is raising funds to send unde:-
nourished children to the camp fol
lowing it's esta blishment.
A report of the baseball game al
Plainfield yesterday was made bs
Herbert Rankin who announced
practice on the Raritan Copper
Works field this Friday afternoon
Another practice will be held on We'd
nesday of next week for the return
game with Plainfield to be played
Friday, Sept. 179. on the r. G. w
diamond. Word of the illness of the
clubs secretary. Chauncey B. Hawley
was received with regret. The at
tendance prize. donated by Ellwood
Johnson, was won by Herman Roe
mer. DIR. Conover Berlew was chair
man of today's meeting and Bill
Garretson batted for Secretary
"Chan."