The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-13
MILITARY ID HAVE
 BIG MASS MEETING
Public to Know "Uses and
 Abuses of A. N. G."
PLAIN STATEMENTS MADE
Several Large Firms Are, It Is Said, Compelling Employees to Resign From National Guard at
 Instance of Unions.

A resolution was passed at mass meeting of the military held last night in the armory in the city hall calling a meeting of all commissioned officers in the Birmingham district for 10 o'clock Sunday morning to discuss ways and means of putting the uses and abuses of the A. N. G. before the people of the dis trict in proper light.
 It Is the second step of the movement commenced several weeks ago, when the Jefferson Volunteers held a smoker, at which the matter first took shape. The Birmingham Rifles were the hosts last night, and Captain Lucien c. Brown put the question before the meeting. He said:
 Firms and Employees.
 Tt is time that the National Guard looked Into this matter of firms refusing to allow their employees to serve in the National Guard. We are losing men con- stantly because the labor unions have brought influence to bear on firms to compel them to force their employees to get out of the National Guard. There Is a clause in the constitution of these unions which prevent the members be- ing members of the militia, and they are exerting their powers to have every em- ploye possible prevented from joining the militia
 ''The plan I wish to suggest is that we have a mass meeting at one of the the atres with Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson, Adjutant General w. w. Bran | don and CovarpoY (uppfpqbar, cpaak- CTS, where the Uses and Abuses of the Alabama National Guard may be put before the public in the right light. We need the support of the tax payers and | they need the Alabama National Guard. | We represent the law of the state and stand ready to maintain 1t properly If the tax payers will not support us, we may as we'll disband and give up the fight. It Is through ignorance of the | Alabama National Guard that many of them are acting, and at this mass meet ing we wish to enlighten them. l believe in many of the fundamental principals of unionism, but when the unions seek | to prevent any citizen from serving under his country flag. then they are carrying things too far, and we must take hand and place the citizens and tax payers | right on the subject.
 'I therefore suggest that all the of ficers of the Alabama National Guard in the Birmingham district meet at the Rifles armory on next Sunday morning and discuss this natter
 A motion to hold such a meeting was made by Lieut.. J. Quincy Smith and seconded by a dozen. Adjutant General Brandon as chairman of the meeting put the question and 1t was unanimously passed. In stating the question the ad- jutant general took occasion to say that Captain Brown had voiced his sentiments and that 1t was the right step at the | right time
 The motion followed a number of speeches and one of the most pleasant smokers ever held in the city.
 The Toasts.
 The toasts were as follows:
 "The National Guard as a Reserve of the Regular Army" Capt. c. H. Lanza, | U. s. A.
 "The National Guard of Alabama" Col. Henry B. Gray of the governors | staff
 "rhe Old Guard from the Banks of the Warrior" Major Scott of the bri- gade staff.
 What the Duties of an Officer Are," Lieut. Col. Hughes B. Kennedy, com | nanding the Third regiment A. N. G. | My Ideal Private" Sergeant Rice, Company G. Third regiment. | Alabama Men in the Regular Army" Lieut.. Noble Myley, U. S. A. "Our Country Companies" Capt. Lo- max Smith, Jasper.
 "rhe Ladies'" Capt Ed Mccrossin.
 "The National Guard an Aid to the Law" Chief of Police W. E. Wier.
 "The Medical Profession in the Mlli- tary," Dr. James E. Dedman, major and surgeon brigade staff
 "The Artillery" Lieut.. James Quincy Smith, Brandon Light Artillery. | MilttQFU.b 1 S. R. Trapp.
 '"rhe Sheriff." Lieut.. Sid Cowan, Bes- | semer company.
 "The College Cadet as the National Guardsman of the Future" Captain Do- zier.
 Those Present. | About 300 officers, privates and citi- zens were present in the assembly hall. Among the officers present were Briga- | dier General Brandon, Colonel Henry B. Gray, Colonel Modie Cunningham, Major c. L. Ledbetter. Major J. T. Yeatman, Lieutenant Colonel Hughes B. Kennedy, Captain Oscar Hayes, Major James E. | Dedman, Major Eugene Northington. | Captain Lomax Smith and Captain Long | of Jasper; Captain Earle Evans, Cap | tain Robert Gregory, Captain McCrossin, | Captain Lucien Browne Captain Cliff | Price, Captain Lanza, United States | Army; Colonel s. B. Troop, Lieutetnt Noble Wylza. United States Army; Cap tain Bert Clifford, Captain F. L. Demere Captain Joe Scully, Major Scott, brigade | staff: Captain Meadows and Captain | Dozier, Howard College; Lieutenant J. | O. Smith, Lieutenant Watson. Lieuten- ant Ballard, Lieutenant Francis, Lieu | tenant Scales Lieutenant Matry, Lieuten- any Cowan, Lieutenant Metcalf, Lieuten- ant Donance Leutenat Milleer.