The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-11-01
OFFICERS EXAMINED
MEN nEFoRn THE STATE
 BOARD.
Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy> ef Third Infantry, Declares His Regi- ment Win Be Developed
 to High State of
 Perfection.

Hughes B. Kennedy. Lieutenant Col onel-elect of the Sd Regiment. Alabama National Guard. of Birmingham, and Captain -eiect c. D. Waller. Of Company c. Bessemer, appeared before the State
 Military Board at the Capitol ysster- day and were examined coficernins
 their fitness for duties they will be called upon to discharge in the capac- ities to which they have been elected.
 Capt. A. E. Pace of Dothan. who was ordered before the Board also. asked
 for and was granted further time.
 These officers are the first to be ex- amined under the sweeping order re- gently issued by the Governor that all officers of the National Guard must be carefully questioned and instructed In the military laws of the State and the
 tactics which they are expected to
 know before they are commissioned by
 the State.
 The work of blocking out the inter
 rogations was done by Gen Robt. F. Ligon of the State Board of Examln-
 CTS, who has spent the past two or three days getting the questions in
 shape. They were seen yesterday and approved by Gen. Barry Holt. also a
 member of the Board, before befi18 sent in the aspirants for new military hon.
 ors. Adjutant General William w. Brandon, another member of the Stale
 Board, was not present. being In the service of the State Democratic Com
 mittee on a speech.making tour of the
 State.
 The questions were answered by the candidates in writing. If they make ! satisfactory showing commissi ms will be issued to them today or tom 3rrcw. These questions take in and search out the important things for military mon
 to know. On the laws governing the
 military they are especially inauisitive and are broad enough to develop what
 knowledge the aspirants have of ,tse duties and latitude Of military. men in riot and guarding gsemergenciS@s h9tA.
 It is not the purpose of tiaaf Board or
 the Governor to catch any ofiicer by
 questions leading into fiel1s in which
 he is likely not posted. nor wouli .g-
 norance of the duties required keep
 an officer out of his place. He would
 be given every opportunity to make
 himself fit before being finally turned down. The examinations do not antic- ipate the casting out of officers. but only that they shall be forced to. .uual- fly themselves if not so already Lieutenant Colonel Kennedy is one of the best known military men of the State. He has been adjutant of the 3d Regiment three times, and has served
 as Captain of Company c. Birmingham. Ifonrsdifferepte times. lHeHbegnnhservice with the citizen soldiery of fiAiabama as private in the ,Warrior Guards of Tuscaloosa in 1ss6, and was transferred to Company G in Birmingham when he moved to that city in 1889. He be- came Second Lieutenant in 1890, First
 Lieutenant a year later and Captain in 1893. He commanded his company when it volunteered for the spanish- American War and has served with it in number of calls to active duty. As Lieutenant Colonel the commend of the Sd Regiment falls up3:i Colonel Kennedy. Col E. L.. HiEdon, the Col onei, being under indefinite suspension of the Governor.
 When asked for an expre ssion as to his policy in controlling the regiment Colonel Kennedy replied: .It will be military strictly. I will see that the men are given everything the State can provide in the way of equipment and their every comfort will be con- stantly guarded Then they must be soldiers. I will visit every company of the command within thirty or sixty days and impress upon the officers that they must bring their forces up to the very highest state of excellence that drill. practice and study can make them. There is some splendid material in the Regiment and I am sure. with the support of company officers. we can make 1t everything a volunteer force should be. No prejudices of the past or personal preferences will be allowed 1 to retard the work of pushing the Icommand. as g. whole to the top. as "a military organization.' ,-e,,t gste |s|.s | what about the Hlgdon .trophle7' asked a representative of The Adver- tiser. ''Is it a fact that he will resign when you are commissioned Lieuten-
 ant ColonelT'
 Well, let's drop that" replied the young officer, and he would say no more.
 It may be safely stated, however, that there Is little likelihood of Col
 onei Higdon retiring before the explr- | ation of hls term next March. It is Ireported that his recent proposition to drop out, refused by the acting Qov- ernor, because it reflected on Governor | JeIks, is as far as he will so in the matter. When the commission of Col tonel aigdon expires, Capt. w. H. Mo- \ KleFoy of Annistons will probably be l elected as his successor. vaHszI age Colonel Kennedy is quite anxious to bring the Sd Infantry to Montgomery | to camp next summer and will so ex- press himself when the time comes to select a city for that purpose. He is proud of the Sd. of which he has been | member for many years, and said he l would be glad to let the people Of the 1 Capital City see that the Regiment has developed Into a splendid military or ganization during the past two years.
 and what good soldiers and gentlemen he expects to see them remain for all time.
 Captain Waller went into the Bes- | semer company in 1889 when 1t was 1 only a detachment of Company K of
 Birmingham. and was First Lientenant
 when Company 0 was organized. He went up the line rapidly until he
 reached the Captaincy in June. 1894. After serving in that capacity for some time he retired to accept a place
 on the stan Of Col. H. B. Foster.
 Later he went back into his company
 as private and then Surgeon, and on September 25, at the earnest request
 0f the men accepted again the com mgnd He is one of the best posted men of the service.
 Capt. E. G. Evans of Company A,
 Woodlawn. was here with the other officers yesterday. looking after some equipment for his command. The result of the examinations of Colonel Kennedy and Captain Waller
 will be announced at the Capitol to-
 day.
 Captain Waller and Captain Evan returned to Birmingham last night Col 1 opel Kennedy will go to 5irmingham z -Ta