The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-06-03
THE STATES
HONOR AT STAKE

From the Mobile Herald.
Something of a sensation has been sprung
among the officers and men of the First
and Second Alabama volunteers by the an
nouncement that after having finished their
quota of "a men for each company they
must now proceed to recruit up to maxi
mum of of LOG men to the company or 1926
for each regiment.
Such issthe effect of communication re-
ceived by Governor Johnston from the war
department, according to this mornings
press dispatches. No doubt the governor
will order the Companies OF the First and
Second regiments recruited up to the stand
ard mentioned; he can hardly do anything
else. 1t is also understood that no COM
pany organizations will be accepted under
the second call for 1,5OO volunteers until the
companies now in service receive the adj
ditional men.
The effect of this decision by the war de-
partment is disappointing to the volunteers
In many ways. In the first place, $50 men
will be required to raise the two regiments
to the increased standing, leaving $50 under
the second call to be accepted from Ala
bama as additional companies-not enough
for another white regiment. 1t may be de-
cided to form a negro regiment in which
event the number stated Is just exactly
enough to complete such organization,
since battalion or 800 men under the first
call remains available.
Several serious questions are here pre-
sented: How long will 1t take to recruit
the $50 additional volunteers for the First
and Second Alabama? Will a negro regi-
ment be raised, thus crushing the ambi-
ton of various embryo officers in the state
who have been raising companies expecting
them to be accepted? Or will the governor
induce the war department to allow Ala
bama to exceed her quota, and accept
third white regiment in addition to the
colored Battalion?
These and other features of the situation
are being discussed with great concern by
the Alabama volunteers in both camps to-
day. The most serious difficulty they see
is that provision which necessitates the
additional recruiting in the First and Sec
ond before further organization can be
recognized.
Colonel Higdon and Colonel Cox both pre-
fer not to be interviewed, but unquestion-
ably they realize that trouble will be ex-
perienced in getting the 325 additional men,
mainly Tor this reason:-. Volunteers may
hold back, hoping to get in future COM
panies, where they will stand better
chance of receiving office than by volunteer
ing with the exhting regiments. All along,
this ambition has delayed the filing of
Alabama's quota. Men by the hundreds
have been trying to raise companies, and
en- nd tbxau held
their would-be commands together, pre-
venting those who promised to join from
going into the First and Second regiments.
There is now but one thing for the en-
bryo commanders to do, and that is to
send to Mobile $50 recruits, for if this num-
Der is not forthcoming the war department
virtually says that Alabama will not be
allowed to furnish another regiment.
Colonel Higdon probably will not have
much trouble in securing the 925 men need
ed, but with Colonel Cox it may be differ
ent. The Second regiment has not yet filled
its minimum quota. The people in and
around Mobile are absolutely Indifferent as
to whether the regiment is filled or not.
In the four companies representing mobile
there are just forty Mobilians! In the enc
tire regiment, which is supposed to repre-
sent south Alabama, there are less than
of Montgomery. The remaining $50 in the
Second regiment and the entire 1,04S in the
First Alabama come from the northern part
of the state!
North Alabama no doubt, will promptly
furnish the 1926 additional recruits to In
crease the First regiments standing, but
how long, oh, how long will it take south
Alabama to furnish Colonel Cox with q
similar number?
In the meantime the impression prevails
among the volunteer officers that their
services will be called on without waiting
for the men needed to increase each COM
pany's standing.
1t is pointed out that few of the regular
army regiments run over 700, though under
the Hull bill they are entitled to 1,3OO men
EACH Recruiting for the regulars Is SLOW,
Just as in the ease of the volunteers, and
the war department is not waiting for
them to fill up before sending them to the
fyont.
81 believe we will be sent to Cuba or
Porto Rico just as soon as any other vol
unteer regiments receive marching orders,
whether we have 1,300 men or not" said an
officer of the First Alabama. The same idea
holds good In the Second, and also among
the Texas and Louisiana volunteers.
But the situation so far as Alabama Is
concerned now is this: 1t is one of the few
states in the union, not over half dozen,
which have not yet furnished full quota
under the first call for volunteers. Nearly
half of the second call must go to the ex-
listing regiments before the dreams of COM
epany organizers can hope to be accepted and
awarded Office 1t therefore behooves the
men of Alabama to encourage volunteer
ing, first, for the two regiments here, and
then for another regiment, If possible
.Alabama's honor and pride are at stake.