The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-23
BLUES AT A BANQUET
| ANNUAL OCCASION IN HONOR OF
 THE VETERANS.
The survivoors Asneeiatson Elected officers and Was Entertained hy xhe Younger Soldiers---
 Many Happy Speeches.

In accordance with their ancient and time-honored custom the Montgomery True Blues gave a banquet last night in honor Of the S9rylyerssn sn Asseciss,on as.s, fourth annual banquet of the Blues and none In the history of the com pany was ever more enjoyed.
 The banquet was Informal through out and good fellowsnIP reigned from m comradeship between the old and gray haired men who were members Of the Blues in the great war between the States and the younger men, now rpern- bers of the company and who were peculiar pleasure to. the annual %. casion so dear to the hearts of the old and the new Blues.
 The feeling Of comradeship. the sense sf pleasure was saddsned lass est ten of the veterans of the old Blues were present last year only seven were able to be present this year end by the announcement that one membef of the Survivors Association, Thomas 70. Stubbs, had died during the past year. Colonel .B. M Washburn spoke feelingly of the absence of those whose whose faces had been so familiar at the banquets. He warned his hearers only veteran who would be present would be that young man. MT. Albert Thornton. whose youth shamedN the gray hairs of his associates;
 The banquet was preceded by a neSt- ing of the members of the Suryiyor.e { Association held In the office of Col B. M Wasfburn on Commerce Street. The roll was called and It fVas announced passed over the river during the year that was closing. Letters of regret that the writers could not be present at tho meeting and the annual banQuet were iyn and W. F. Punch of Mobile.
 Following the reading of. the letters the following officers were elected for the ensuing year. President B. M. Washburn; Vice-Presldent O.. F. Rod- gers: Secretary and Treasurer F. H.
 Commanded by Captain D. F. Baber, IT., the Montgomery Blues marched from their armory down Dexter Avenue and Commerce Street to Colonel WRsh- burns ofilce where they took charge of the survivors and marched them up to tho Bastiant and Cassimus restaurant where they were the guests of honor at
 Captain Baber, the present com mander of the Blues. proved himself most agreeable and satisfactory toastmaster. His allusions and intro auctions of the various speakers were most happy, Tn his introductory re- marks. Captain Baber explained that the banquet was not given on the 22nd of February because that day, was Washington's birthday, but because it was on that day that the Montgomery Blues were organized. The organIEa- tion. he said. took place on the 22hd of February of 1S36, at which time the Blues volunteered and served in the Seminole war. The company also vol- unteered for service in the Mexican war and the company did valiant ser vice in the war between the States, where a part of the company became an artillery company in the artillery of the Confederate Army and another part became an infantry company in the Confederate Army. He spoke with pride of the. high stand the company achieved and the higher reputation it enjoyed in the halcyon days of the clti- zen soldiery of Alabama between the ending of the war and 1890. He allud- ed. too, to the service of the company in the Spanish American war.
 vors' Association, Colonel Waghburn soeiates felt in the way they were honored by the company each year and the esteem In which they felt the young men held them. He assured the in love and were willing and eager to show in any way they could the friend ship and the love they felt.
 Governor Cunningham, as one of the guests of honor of the evening, delIv- cred an inspiring address on the mili- tary arm of the government of the State. He sought to impress upon each member of the company the fact that although he might be a private he was nevertheless An officer of the State of Alabama and might be called upon before morning to officially pre- serve the peace and dignity of the
 He spoke of the sublimity of duty and in pointing out some instances when their duty might be most un- pleasant he abjured his hearers to ro. call the pledge they took 10 the state in their oath as National GuadsHnen and to measure up to their full respon- slbilities.
 The Governor was given a hearty reception and he was interrupted by applause again and again
 Adtutant General W. w. Brandon aroused grea tenthusiasm in an elo- -quent address upon ''The National Guadsman," e..,a
 An entertaining talk was made by General B l.. Holt and In a brief talk Captain c. P Rodgers of the Survi- vors' Association, was given an en. thusiastic reception.
 Lieutenant W. F. Weiss. in. speak. ing on "The Citizen Soldier proved that he was something of a speaker as we'll as a fine commissioned officer
 Lieutenant Junius Pierce sang a com pie of songs and so well pleased his hearers that they insisted on several encores.
 Other speakers of the evening were