The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-17
Mobile Register

To the Editor of The Register:
 With the reunion assembling in your city. 1t is in order. although there are four months of time be- tween now and the date. to let an old soldier venture Q suggestion.
 These reunions are gotten up and promoted by men who are. old soldiers, assisted by their friends. for the Dur pose of social commingiing. not for the purpose of an opportunity for dis play coupled with carriage rides. etc.
 The old men, as a rule. have on most former occasions been persuaded by aI'nring statements to believe that a good time was to be provided them; barracks. fed sparingly and cheaply, and had then to tramp through the streets while the favored few strad- died some old oasy-going steed and has been too much of this. The old men are growing tired of 1t. and if you want to mako the reunion a. suc- cess just keep the fact in view that the men who shot to lxill'' are to re- ceive some attention.
 I am anxious that this reunion should be enjoyed by the old yeter- ans. There Is every reason to know that but few years arc left them for meeting on such occasions. and, as these draw nearer to a close, let us try to show to them that they are not to he used as an attraction for the gold-laced men and high-heeled girls
 The old soldier has been and Is be- chestnut out for others. There is. to my Knowledge. considerable of this profiting. grating and appropriating done here in Alabama. Stop it. and stop It now.
 Mountain Creek. Ala. Dec. 12. 1909.
 We would like it to be known, not only in Mountain Creek. but every where, that Mobiles intention Is to regard the veterans as chief guests and not as part of an exhibition. We shall receive all our friends with cor dial hospitality. but the old soldiers are first in our hearts, and will bc first In our thoughts when the great to have the entertainment arranged better here than the veterans have experienced elsewhere. We understand that this is to be veterans reunion. make 1t such in fact as well as in name. In some of the cities that have entertained the old heroes. the only reunion that was possible was such as took place in the convention hall or on the streets, the various commands be- ing duartered in separate halls or ho- tels. often at considerable distances apart. Mobile will arrange to quar- ter all the veterans in one place. in first class encampment. where every.
  be supplied. The several commands will be In adjacent streets" of the encampment. and these streets will bear the names of the several States. Comrades will have great fun. visit ing and associating together. and we think they will enjoy themselves more thoroughly under these conditions than they have ever been able to do at any reunion Besides this, the convention will be held in the same locality. and there will he no long dis tances for the veterans to cover. AS for the parade, none of the aged or lame will be asked to walk. Wo will take care of all who find that the years have begun to tell upon them.
 What we want most is for all the old fellows to come There will be no other reunion for some of them. We want them to have the time of their lives. If they trust themselves to Mo- bile they will have no reason to re- gret 1t.