The age-herald., 1900-09-16

by Mayor Edwin c. Payne of New Decatur, Mayor Henry A. Skeggs of Decatur, the Dick Adams Rifles of the two Decaturs, and a committee of citsens from both towns.
 carriage was in waiting at the station when the train arrived, and after a number of hearty handshakes, the little hero of three wars stepped lthely into the carriage and was driven rapidly to the courthouse, where 1t had been announced he was to addres sthe people of the Decaturs and Morgan County.
 The general Is as sprightly as he was some two years ago when he offered his services in behalf of his country's honor, although in appearance he has aged some what since that time.
 The auditorium and galleries of the court house were we'll filled when the general walked down the center aisle in company with Hon. Sam Blackwell, Mayor Edwin c. Payne of New Decatur and Mayor Henry A. Skeggs of Decatur.
 When the general entered the courtroom the cheering for several minutes was deaf ening. He was welcomed to the Decaturs by Mayor Skeggs of Decatur, Mayor Payne of New Decatur and by Hon. Sam Blackwell, Morgan County's silver-tongued orator.
 Senator s. P. Rather presented the gen. eral with a lovely bouquet of flowers on behalf of the General Joe Wheeler Chapter of the Daughter of the Confederacy
 The bouquet was tied with red and white ribbon. colors emblematic of the southern Confederacy.
 General Wheeler Introduced
 Following this the general was introduced to the vast audience by Hon. Sam Black well, and when he Srose he was again greet ed with tremendous applause.
 After expressing his appreciation of the cordial welcome which he had received, General Wheeler spoke briefly about the Philippines, the Nicaragua canal and other questions, but politics were not mentioned in any manner.
 He said that the soil of the Philippines is exceedingly fertile; that corn will mature in sixty days after it is planted; that four crops of rice year can be raised on the same land; that there are many good open ings there for Americans to accumulate wealth, but after all, that during all of his travels the past few years he had seen no country which possesses so many na- tural advantages as does Alabama.
 He said that the Nicaragua canal bill would be passed by Congress in Decem- Der and that with the completion of the canal and the opening up of trade with the East Alabama and the entire South would bloom as the rose.
 He urged the youth of Alabama to ac- quire education and temperate habits so that they might be able to control this in creased business and trade which the fu ture holds in Store
 He spoke of the Decaturs as the coming iron center of the South and said that the day was not far distant when they would even surpass Birmingham on account of their accessibility to the sea via the Ten nessee and Mississippi rivers. His War Reco. d Speaking of his war record for the past few years, he said that what ever distinc- | ton he may have acquired was due solely | to Alabama soldiers, for 1t was by their | earnest and unsolicited requests that he received his appointment in the volunteer | army and later in the regular army. l His speech was listened to with great | interest.
 l At the close of his speech the General | shook hands with all present and then re- | entered his carriage and was driven to l the Tavern hotel where he was dined and | given a reception.
 l At 3 o'clock in the afternoon he depart | ed for Athens.
 One of the most conspicuous figures al l the speaking was Colonel Dick Adams oi
 this city, in whose honor the Dick Adams | Rifles wore named. He was dressed in 8 1 Confederate uniform of gray and attracted
 much attention.