The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-28
BRANDON ANDWESTCOTT
THEY INSPECT THE MILITARY
 COMPANIES OF SELMA.
Banquet Given in Their Honor at Which Many Toasts are. Replied to in Most Eloquent
 Manner.
Advertiser Bureau,

Last evening was a glorious one TOT S.lrlas military. AdJutant General Fran don was here for the purpose of inspect ing the military and he thoroughly en- Westcott of Montgomery. accompanied Colonel Brandon and the officers and privates of Selma's crack military com panies vied with one another in doing honor to these two distinguished military men of Alabama.
 When Colonel Brandon and Major west colt arrived in Selma yesterday morn ing from Montgomery they were met at tain of the Dragons; Captain I. N. Eddy. Captain of the Francis l.. Pettus Light Artillery; Lieutenant Gamble Of the Francis l.. Pettus Light Artillery; R. F. |; Neil, Editor of The Journal; LeT.s nus Times. and J. H. Nunnelee, Manager Of the Selma Bureau of The Advertiser. Ex- Mayor M. J. Meyer had generously loan ed his g, 800 wedding carriage to the mill Brandon and Major Westcott from the station to the Hotel Albert, where many of the officers and privates had assem- bled to welcome the representatives Of the States Guard.
 All day long Colonel Brandon and Ma jor Westcott were the recipients of cour- tesies at the hands of the military men of Selma.
 At 1 o'clock in the afternoon Captain Atkins of the Dallas Light Dragons. called at the Hotel Albert in handsome carriage and took Colonel Brandon, Ma jor Westcott and the representative of The Advertiser for a drive over beautiful Selma. Colonel Brandon and Major Westcott were enthusiastic over the smooth, level streets, magnificent resi- dences. and the neat manner in which the city is kept. Major Westcott said seen a heater. more we'll kept city. and that in his drives through the miles of West Selma Streets he did not run across a single residence that was in need of painting. and the wellkept lawns and beautiful flower yards were delight to the eye and an inspiration to the soul.
 Colonel Brandon is a great favorite with the Selma military men and they enjoy ed his visit to the city on this occasion more than any other.
 After Colonel Brandon and Ma jor Vest cutt had inspected the three military companies of Selma last night, they were rendered a banquet at the armory of the Dallas Light Dragons, in which privates and officers were on an equal footing, and after the reception was over 1t was ac- knowledged by all that the Selma mili- tary men were knit together more close- ly than ever before, and that a spirit of that would be felt for good for a long time to come.
 V. B. Atkins. commander of the Dallas Light Dragons. presided as toastmaster and he ma6S an excellent one. It Is gen. erally conceded on all sides that Captain Atkins will be the next Mayor of Selma, and he will make a good one.
 He first called on Mayor Mcleod to re- spond to the toast, "Selmas Future" Mayor Mcleod pictured in glowing terms the growth and greatness of the city and was rounIy applauded. He has made a good mayor and his popularity was attested on this occasion by the gen. erous applause with which his remarks were received.
 Although a little out of order the mili- tary men commenced to yell for Bran don and Alabama's popular Adfitant Gen. eral was forced to speak in advance of usual he was eloquent, witty and point ed, and his speech was received with rounds of applause. He did not touch upon politics. but paid graceful ttibute to the great men that the Central City had produced chief among whom are Pettus and Morgan. Alabama has few more graceful SD eakers thanColonel Bran don and he surpassed himself upon this occasion.
 Captain Atkins next called on R. F. L. Mel. editor of The Journal to respond fo~ the press of Selma. MT. Mel was at his best and made speech that electri- fled the guests. He brought down the house when he defined the word fame He said fame was to go to battle and be killed in defense of ones country, and then wake up next morning and find your name mfspelled in the papers,
 John F. Burns. the Duke of Burns vile. was present. and responded to the toast the "Old Guard" Captain Burns was a gallant Confederate soldier and Huntsville beat was the first black belt beat In Alabama to come up with a Dem- ocratic majority, and Burns of Evansville interwove war "reminiscences and political redemption into a piece of word painting that caught the ear of all present and received round after round of applause.
 Solicitor w. w. Quarles was present and he responded to the toast to the Ex-Members of the Militia Colonel Quarles was the commanding officer of the 3rd Regiment at one time and he is still popular with the men who served with him, and being a graceful speaker he caught the audience from the first sentence to the closing period of his speech.
 Captain John w. Craig of the United States army. son of Judge George H. Craig. is at home on his bridal tour. He was called upon to respond to the toast Our Army and he did so in a most eloquent and graceful manner. Among other things he told his hearers that Hal Patterson had joined the United States army again, and that a short while ago he had received note from Hal asking to be transferred to the company com manded by Captain Craig. He had com piled with the request of his old Selma boyhood friend and now Hal Patterson Is member of his company and is one of the most gallant men in it. It will be remembered that Hal Patterson left Sel-