The age-herald., 1898-08-26

W. P. Lay, a prominent and influential citizen of Gadsden, arrived in Birmingham yesterday morning and left at o'clock in the afternoon for Montgomery. He will consult with Governor Johnston and then proceed to Jacksonville. on the special mis- sion of aiding the, soldiers of the First to get their wishes before the proper author ities.
 He Is Determined
 eff it can possibly be done the young men will be enabled to let the president know their wishes" said MT. Lay, in a. determined manner. T have a son in the First who wants to come home and have been shown letters from scores of other enlisted men expressing the same desire
 And I am not on this trip purely from selfish motives," he continued. While I have 8 son in the service, am represent hneaptg 1 o5.6rdahm hm hn hm hmhm ing the parents of many others. In Gads- den a sort of indignation meeting was held among the parents. They were all of one mind. and I was delegated to go to Jack sonviile and see that the privates are al- lowed 8 voice. l have talked to many parents in Birmingham, and have the first one to meet who did not side with me. I want my boy out, and if can be of any service to the rest of the regiment and they want to be released 1t will be done. If my son wants to go to Cuba I will send him so he can enjoy himself and not as a soldier when there is no fighting to be done.
 "I understood that the president will re-
 
 the officers," he went on. eff the presi- dent desires to do this there must be some way for the private to express his wish and I am going to find out what this is have read in the newspapers where a vote was boiled in other regiments. Why cant this be done in the First Alabama? The president should provide some way for them to circulate a petition, or adopt some other method so that they would not be interrupted by the officers This may be against military rules, but it is in accord with democratic principles.
 Explanation Is Easy
 'It is not hard to explain why many of the officers desire to remain in the service. They are making as much as they ever made and some of them more. Besides the life has no hardships for them in time of peace. The prfvates, many of whom when at home earned as much as the off cers are now making, bear the inconven- fence and are only paid sl5 per month It is nothing but natural that they should de- sire to come home.
 "Coionel Higdon is disposed to respect the wishes Of the privates. He receives stacks Of letters every day from some par sIntsx hi. l,t influences in getting a loved ones dis charge. If he can't get the discharge they, in nearly all cases, express the wish that he remain in command of the regiment and bring the boys safely home.
 Gol. Higdon Will Not Resign
 If the colonel ever had thought of re- signing it has vanished in the face of the pressure that has. been brought to bear upon him. If the First is not mustered out he will go to Cuba at it's head From the information can gather believe that the boys want him to remain"
 MT. Lay consulted with large number of citizens of Birmingham who have sons in the First, and he carries with him their best wishes for success. If he finds that a majority of the men desire to be mus tered out. as has been stated, he will lay the facts before Gov. Johnston and the members of congress from this state. He will leave Montgomery this afternoon, and will arrive in Jacksonville the following morning.
 Every day members of the First arrive home on furioughs. Yesterday several came in, and one young fellow had to be carried from the train by his comrades. He bore plainly the stamp of the fever in- fected water of Miami, where the regiment was encamped before removing to Jack sonviile. They all told the same story: "We want to be mustered out"
 "As long as there was shadow of hope for active service we were willing to. stick to it." said one. "But now that peace has been declared we don't want to be longer kept away from our homes and work"