The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-09-25

Montgomery. September 24-(Special)- The last two weeks, with their rather lively occurrences, have turned, as not before in years, the limelight of pubic opinion on the citizen soldiers of the state, and renewed the speculation as to their real worth and value to the people of the commonwealth. To the credit of the boys n blue and kaika, the records show them to have been faithful and efficient at most critical periods and to have unselflshly and earnestly borne their parts in every struggle to maintain the laws and keep the peace. The failure at Huntsville is more deeply deplored by the members of the national guard than any other class of citizens, and when 1t Is brought to the attention of one, of them the reply is invariably an invitation to Hook at the way Captain Brown and his men are conducting themselves at Huntsville now"
 Like most unfortunate circumstances the result at Huntsville on the night of September T. may be traced to failure somewhere to bolster up a weak place to which attention has repeatedly been directed, and the fact that 1t has allow ed to continue because there were cir cumstances that kept it from being taken vigorously in hand. This marked the case with the Huntsville military company. In his report to Gov. w. D. Jelks, made December | 1902, Adjutant General Will liam w. Brandon said:
 A Bad Showing.
 "All the other commands stood fairly good inspections but failed to get special mention OF the account of the condition of their equipment, with the exception, however Of Company F, Third infantry, Huntsville, which seemed to be slow to duty and had very little knowledge of what was expected of them. Less than one third of the reported strength of the company z.as present. Tfe property was not accounted for, the appearance rag ged, discipline anything but good. This inspection was not at all satisfactory. s and unless rapid improvement is made, ieammend to your excelency the mus tering Nut of this company"
 This qmtation is taken from General Brandons rsport of inspections made of the individual companies, at their own Rrmories, aid in company with officers of their own regiments.
 second Notice.
 Just following the last encampment, held at Birmingham, Leiut. Col Frank P. MeConnell.s commanding the Third regiment, asket, that the Huntsville cont pany. with those at Decatur and Jasper be mustered out. The recommendation embraced the thse companies, and was considered as a whole. The military board, with the approval of the acting governor, allowed these companies three months to get in shape and make them selves fit for membership in the National guard, recommending that at the expira- tion of said time if sad companies, upon rigid inspection, weie not entirely ef- fcient they were to be Forthwith muster ed out of service Inasmuch as the re- commendaton for muster out had includ- ed all thfee of the cohpanies mentioned the board allowed all Nthe same show. As matter of fact hawever, there was no intention on the part of any member of the military board Ito drop the De- catur company. This rauch is ascertained though nothing will l)e said along that line by any member of the board to the newspapers This cohpany Is in good condition barring some deficiencies, which the officers will correct at once.
 Protest cahae Up.
 While this is the setond suggestion