The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-08-21
Need tor Increase
 of Military Forces
Writer Points Out Comparisons Between Colorado Strike and That In Birmingham District-Expert Detectives
 Might Assist In the Preservation of Order
BY FRANK V. EVANS.

It was at the suggestion of Lieutenant Colonel Hubbard, who is in command or the military forces on duty in this dis trict, that his headquarters were re- moved from the business center of the city t. the North Highlands; and the To- cation is ideal. This camp occupies the square founded by Tenth and Eleventh avenues and Twenty-sixth and Twenty seventh streets. The elevation is high, the drainage excellent. There is open space and there is a shady grove; there are 50 tents, mess halls, sanitary ar engagements, electric lights and water service At present there are 80 solliess there on duty. but there is aeccmmoda- ton for 100.
 Colonel Hubbard cells me that he Is celishted with the change; that it is bet ter for the men, and will ;end to make more efficient service. He says his men are kept closer together and there is no str eet ,oltering, nor coming and going to meals, but that everything can be man aged as clockwork, and perfect Ilscip- line preserved. The site for this camp was selected by Lieutenant Ome, who has charge of its general arrangement and construction. Lieutenant Ome, being civil engineer, is excellently qualified for this detail service.
 Why Increase Force?
 When 1 suggested in my letter yester- day the necessity of increasing the mili- tary force In this district l had particu- larly in mind, among other incidents and occasions. one which occurred last week ay Vulcan the railroad station of the Sayre Mining company. A few days pre- yjous to the time mentioned the manage ment of that mint had placed an order in a western city foi a number of miners, with instructions to the labor agent to hold the movement in silence. TWO days sterwards a passenger representative VI one of the railI oads II sce application to have the men transported over his line As it was evident then that th- secret of the proposed movement had been divulged at the other end, the order was immediately countermanded for obvious reasons.
 However on the day appointed for ar rival at Vulcan of these men, the train was met by a squad of 10 or Il strikers. A by-stander who had been watching movements around the station, on being asked by the mine master what they were there for, stated that they had come to meet a car of strkebreakers. ana further stated that on a hill close by there was large body of armed strikers. presenting a dangerous attitude. The mine manager turned his eyes in the di- rection and saw those men waiting and watching.
 It is reasonable to suppose that they intended to fire into the unprotected ar rivals. Reasonable, I say, because such thing had been done at Blocton. Now, there were no soldiers stationed within enough to have responded promptly to an alarm. There should have been.
 Patrol Needed.
 was talking this morning with man who has studied conditions here studlous- Nv and who knows whereof he speaks. He expresses the belief that the entire arned force of the state is necessary to eunpress this season of anarchy, especial lv the four troops of mounted cavalry He believes they should be used to pa trol the district, riding in squads from one point to another, and thus demon- strating their readiness to meet any emergency. Said he: "I have heard of striking miner saying that the handful of soldiers now on duty here were of no conseouence; that while they are at a few sxed places the other places could be biown into atoms, if it was deemed nec- essary." All of which is worthy of con sderaton
 "Lest We Forget"
 MT Farley has said in more than one of his speeches and interviews that con- ditions which exist in this state are .,.orse than they were in Colorado in | 1oos- 1904. Lest we forget it may be ] well to remember things said and done i, in inc earlier days of this strike which l is now causing so much disturbance in I, tbis district. Now, let us see what oc- l e,rred in Colora9n and how near con 1 ditions in AlabaK today resemble those | which existed in that western state in 19Os-1 1904.
 In Colorado the strike leaders publicly 1 admitted that they had no grievance against owners who were paying them the