The age-herald., 1898-09-03
MAJOR BRANDON
 IN MONTGOMERY
Talks of Military Matters In
 Camp at Jacksonville.
HE FAVORS THE PRIVATES
Thinks Their Wishes Should Be Con- sidered in Mastering Out the Regiments-Other Cap
 ital Notes.

Montgomery, September 2.-(Special)- Major w. w. Brandon, that gallant officer of the Second Alabama volunteers, spent today in the city. He is directly from the camp at Jacksonville. He called at the state house to pay his respects to tne gov ernor but the executive was absent in Birmingham Major Brandon is the only field officer in the Second who favors the mastering out of the command. He says that personally he favors the project of the regiment being sent to Cuba, but that the desire of the privates and non- commissioned officers is manifestly in fa- vor of being mustered out, and he believes that the wishes of the men should be needed.
 4"The men responded cheerfully to the call to bear arms against the foes of their country" he said Tt certainly required as much patriotism and courage to enlist as a private as to accept commission, and I believe that each private's wishes, in the matter of remaining in or mastering out, should weigh as heavily as those of any officer I am convinced that a large ma jority-perhaps 90 per cent-of the men desire to return to private life, and TOT this reason am in favor of the disband- ment of the regiment
 My fellow officers who do not agree with me are not moved, however, as many persons here appear to believe. by entirely selfish motives. In other words, the saia- ries they draw as officers are not the mo- tive powers behind them. Most of them can make as much or more at home. Their idea appears to be that Cuba will offer good opportunities for them and for the'r men in a military as well as business way. There is probably not a field officer in my regiment who could not make as much at home as his salary amounts to-
 "How about Lieutenant-Colonel Thurs ton, who was promoted from lieutenancy in the regular armyg" asked the corres- pondent. "Would he not drop back to lieutenancy?"
 ''I do not think so," Major Brandon re- piled "He has already been promoted to a captaincy in the army. Colonel Thurs ton is too able a military man to fall back ward in rank. The United States army needs him as colonel, and do not believe that there is any probability of his losing anything if his capacity as an officer Is properly brought to the attention or the war department"
 "I am very confident that the Second regiment will be ordered to be mustered out of the service within a fortnight"
 Major Brandon reports the health of the Alabama men at Jacksonville to be, as rule, excellent.
 The Governor Going to Mobile
 Governor JOQnStOn IS III where he will remain till Sunday, and then proceed to Mobile to be present on Monday at fag-raising. The occasion is the open- ing of Duncan Place. small park In that city, named in honor of MT. William But Ter Duncan so long the head of the Mobile and Ohio railroad. A tall steel flagstaff has been erected, from which the American flag is to keep always flying in honor of MT. Duncan. The governor will make speech as will Hon. D.. L. Russell, the present president of the Mobile and Ohio.
 Letters Have Ceased
 The receipt of letters from the Alabama soldiers at Jacksonville to the governor has ceased. Today none have been re- ceived at the executive office.
 Auditor White
 Auditor White left at noon today for Atlanta, and will be absent for several days. The auditors office is very busy just now preparing the annual statement for the fiscal year ended September 8. The auditor is ambitious to make 1t the most complete report yet issued from that office.
 The governor has granted the following pardons:
 Cap Smith, Chambers county false pre- lenses Distressed condition of family and sufficiently punished.
 Judge Cobb, Macon county, trespassng. Upon petition of the judge and solicitor who tried the defendant.
 George Mcleod, Mobile, grand larceny. On petition, to be discharged November 1.
 c. H. Darling, Montgomery, concealed weapon. Upon the agreement of Solicitor Lomax this man plead guilty in one case upon MT. Lomaxs agreement to ask for the remission of the fine on the other. Fine remitted.
 Pardon refused George Morrisette, alias Clay Williams.