The Indianapolis journal., 1885-07-03
COOL RECEPTION IN PHILADELPHIA.
A st. Louis Captain Frees His Mind Con-
,i1,c. the Cre -, I,ft tl,o IiIiti.,

A st. Louis Captain Frees His Mind Con-
cerning the Treatment of the Militia.
Philadelphia Telegraph.
''In conversation here with the people OF this
city" said Captain Priest Il find there is great
antinathv to us We are looked upon as a lot of
ntruders. They want to know why we came.
They seem to think that we ought not to have
come here and to have charged them to see the
prize drills We have come here at our own ey-
pense, and are spending our own money freely.
The State of Missouri does not contribute any
thing for the support of the militia, and the
result is that every man has TO pay his own way.
We are not professionals, aud are not here to
show ourselves. Our only object in coming was
to test our superiority in drill with other crack
organizations that we knew would be here. The
premiums offered were large enough, in case we
won them, to jus tify us in coming here, and the
honor would be even greater. We took part in
the inauguration of Cleveland at Washing
ton and were the guests Of the city
of Baltimore for two days. We were
present at the national encampment at Mobile,
Ala, May 4, and two weeks later at the
national encampment at New Orleans. We
were carried right TO the peoples houses there.
They turned out to meet u.s. and suspended
business while we were there, and encouragedx
US in every way The same reception was given
to all the visiting troops from the North.
.'If Governor Underwood had concluded TO
hold this encampment either in st. Louis
Chicago the merchants ani business men would
have subscribed at least $3.50, 600, If necessary,
to defray the expenses incurred Even now, we
expect to hold national encampment IN st.
Louis in 1886 and, although the project is yet in
embryo about $40, 900 has been subscribed by
six or eight leading citizens. The shortsighUed
policy of Philadelphia has surprised us very
much. Philadelphia has been known as the City
of Brotherly Love, but our reception here has
not been nearly cordial as IN some or the
Southern cities where we hardly expected it.
There where we might have looked for at least
a lack of welcOme-being from the North-we.
were greeted by crowded Streets flying flags
and enthusiastic shouts and cheers. Here, there
is hardly flag TO be seen, and the gloomy looking
streets and stores make us feel as If we were
invaders.
lit takes a great deal of time and trouble to
perfect company for drill Of this kind. 1t IS
usual for company preparing for an cncamp-
ment of this kind to drill three or four nights
week fora period of four or five months We
have worked very hard, and 1T IS rather DIS
couraging to be told now by the people OF this
city that they don't intend to come to see Us be-
cause they will have to pay. We get none Of
this gate money. 1t doesn't go to us. We Get
what we win. If we win first or second prize
we get it. If not. we get nothing. If We get
left we won't cry about it. What object to-
is TO being looked upon lot OF professionals
travelling about to make money II the people
of Philadelphia object TO paying to see us dF.li
they ought to have subscribed enough 10 pay
the expenses Of the ercampment AS they
| haven't done that they ought not to object TO
! paying the small admission fee If they object
not only to subscribing but also to paying to
see US drill, they ought to keep quiet
| about it. If they don't want to 60
| they ought not TO say so and keep others from
| going and discourage the men, Some o. r6e
| men are already so disguised at what we have
heard and are still hearing, that they have left
the city. Colonel Bull, inspector-genera of tEe
State militia, and Captain Vandeverter, of Com
pany ID, First regiment-a crack organization
left the city this morning for Cape May, and
are not expected to return. They will remainas
fha for dow and HON hY
way of New York. Colonel Bull came here with
the intention to take part in the encampment,
and to do everything In his power to make 1t a
success We will be deprived of his services at
least. / myself would go home if l were not de-
tanned by private business.
The cool reception We have met is particularly
CALLING to me because | am an old Philadelphian.
and because l assured our men that they would
be warmly welcomed l even went so far as to
say that the receptions they had met in Balt-
more, Mobile, and New Orleans would pale into
insignifcance in comparison with the warmth Of
the greeting from the City of Brotherly Love.
What is the resultE We are looked upon s lot 4
of professionals travelling about to make money
We get the cold shoulder wherever we 60, and
the men so disgusted that strict discipline
alone prevents them from going home immedi.
ately. They would like to take the first train
for the West. .
experience of othersl What impression viii
the representatives of many of the Western and
Southern States carry away with them! There
are troops here from nearly all the Western and
many of the Southern States, and when they
get home they can't speak in very favorable
terms Of Philadelphia. If this encampment is
as many of the citizens appear to believe, a
private speculation, they ought to remember
that we are here, and that we will not share in
the profits, if any. They ought to remember
that are strangers, and that certain courte-
sizes should be extended to us-lf nothing else
by displaying few flags"