The age-herald., 1899-11-13
REPUTATION OF
 UNJUST CHARGES
Visiting Troops Were Well Treat
 ed in Birmingham.
SOME HISTORY RECALLED
Montgomerians Said to Have "Gouged" Soldiers When the Second Ala bama Was Mustered Out of
 United States Service

The elarge sized kicks" which certain of the Montgomery troops have made over their alleged mistreatment while in Bir- mlngham during the Schley celebration has caused much comment, especially among the National Guard, many of whom are loud in their praise of Birmingham's hospi- talty, and firm in their denunciation of the Montgomery soldiers unjust complaint.
 The following statement from a member of Company K, First infantry, of Green vile, is complete vndication for the com mittee in charge of the military arrange ments:
 Seeing the different articles in the Mont gomery Advertiser and in The Age-Herald regarding the state troops that took part in the Schey celebration recently, cannot refrain from taking part in the controversy myself.
 q am a member of the Alabama Ma tional Guard, and the company to which belong went to Birmingham with thirty seven men strong and on their return every one expressed their full satisfaction of the occasion.
 "The train carrying the troops was booked to arrive at Birmingham at g o'clock that morning. Instead, it was one hour and thirty minutes late, not reaching there until 1O:30 o'clock.
 Didn't Expect Breakfast
 "Our men, wfno boarded the train al S;S6 o'clock that morning, of course did not ex- pect to get any breakfast on arriving at Birmingham, and most of them got sand Wiches at Montgomery on reaching that point.
 "The parade had all been arranged before our train arrived and of course We were directed at once to the place that had been picked out for our stand of formation.
 I've had scarcely been in line, when the parade begun and onwards we marched to the fair grounds. After the review of the troops they were being fed as fast as could have been expected with such an enormous crowd, and while it was late before some Ol uuGL were led, Still lhCy 5oI 8ii lAASS could eat. The men were then turned loose to enjoy rJhemselves at their own leisure, which they did, doing the occasion full jus tice.
 q think great many of the complaints made by the Montgomery troops are un- founded and entirely uncalled for, and if they were met treated just exactly as they expected to be. I wish to call their atten- Alabama volunteers when that command reached Montgomery in September last year.
 Hot Roast for Montgomery
 s.I was a member of that organization also, and know fully what I am talking about and every member of the late Sec ond Alabama volunteers will bear me out in saying that the only object Montgom- cry had in bringing that regiment within its borders was to gouge the money out of the soldiers that they were about to receive from the government.
 'In return therefor they treated them like
 
 shoulder everywhere they met them, ex- eept inside of a clothing or dry goods store. If anyone doubts this statement, I would respectfully invite him to confer with any member of the late Second Alabama volun- teers outside of the Montgomery compa- nies, whom we of course could not blame flor not giving their pals away.
 'In conclusion. I would thank the com nllttee of arrangements Gn behalf of this command for their kind invitation and ib- erality in defraying our expenses, includ- ing transportation, and would assure them that our men did not go to Birmingham busted" and had, therefore, not to do without supper, and what little money they spent they do not begrudge by any means"