The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-11-16
CONTINUES
 THE CONTROVERSY Answers Col. MckIeroy About Third Regiment Matter HIGH REGARD FOR COLONEL But Major Thinks He Makes Mistake in championine Cause of Those
 Against Whom Charges
 Are Made.
HIGH REGARD FOR COLONEL

| want to give out another interview on the conditions that exist in the Third regi- ment of the state militia said Mai Will liam H. Long, Jr., of Decatur to your correspondent after he had read an n- terview from Col W. H. McKleroy of Anniston, which was printed in the daily newspapers
 Major Long declares that the charges formerly made by him are correct, and that they can be fully substantiated by members of the state militia when the proper time comes to do so. From what Major Long says it seems quite probable that court of inquiry may yet be called the Third regiment
 Major Long had this to say to your De- catur correspondent:
 T wish to state that my former state ments did not bring into question whether Or not the Third regiment had made any improvement since Col. w. H. McKleroy has been in command, and I readily agree with him in his statement that there has been marked improvement in the regi- ment and control of the regiment in re- cent years, due in a measure of course, to his ability to assist in bringing about the improvement. The high state of mil itary efficiency cannot be reached except by gradual raising of the standard of officers and men, by prescribing well-dc- fined rules as provided by the law. l have a very high personal regard for Colonel McKleroy, but l am constrained to be- lieve from the existing conditions in Com pany K that should the 'techniealities' have been compiled with as the law pro- vides, and as was suggested by the gov ernor, the officers in Company K, who were elected July 27, 1908, would have known ere this whether or not they will be commissioned, and in addition the law provides for bond, etc, to the state by the commanding officers. This should have been compiled with.
 q will add by way of parenthesis that the officers of Company K have complied with the technicalities' when they for warded their oaths of office and certifi- cates of their election to regimental head quarters, which was done soon after the day of election.
 IF these officers in Company k had been examined and their commissions rec commended through military channels, the | adjutant general would have issued their commissions, signed by the governor T do not think the record from the | facts as have been set forth by me shows to tho satisfa ction of the nasua1 ohSarvar that an examination has been attempted within a reasonable length of time after the election of the officers in Company K. and I am informed that since this question has been called to the attention lf the proper authorities one of them has been examined and his commission rec ommended.'
 "I do not agree with Colonel McKleroy 1 that Major Ledbetter could not cause any annoyance if he so desired in the matter I of issuing or non-issuing commissions, officiating as he does in the affairs of 1 his battalion.
 q am fully in sympathy with q we'll organized national guard, as I believe it is the only safeguard from a large stand ing army, and it should be supported by the people generally and by the state in increasing the appropriation for the main- tenance of same.
 "The colonel will likely hear further in regard to a court of inquiry. The charges made first by me did not necessarily in- volve the colonel, and I regret he has seen fit to champion the cause of those, who, in the light of the present facts, seemed to be surrounded with a veil of guilt. Those of us who have associated with Maj D. Huston Smith understand the artistic manner in which he conceives his designs. Major Smiths attention is called to the recent military meeting which he attended in Birmingham