The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-12

and his men, and if conditions become acute, notify the military to hold them selves in readiness. You fully understand | 1t does not do a state any good, nor a city any good, to have it advertised that the military has been called out to pre- | serve order. am a very strong be- liever in exercising your own resources | to the fullest extent before calling on some one else. The military, I apprehend, Is reserve force to be called upon after you have exhausted civic measures. With regard, I am, yours truly, "B. B. COMER. Governor" Montgomery, October 6. 1910 Hon. B. B. Conner, Governor, Montgom- cry, Ala:
 Sir-I have the honor to report that at 8 p. m. on October 5, 1o10 I ordered Maj w. F. Weiss, Second infantry, A. N. G.. to report to me at the Montgomery coun- ty jail with about one company of the Alabama National Guard
 My orders were obeyed promptly, and at s:3O pm. Major Weiss reported to me with about 10 officers and men, and re- mained orf guard at the jail until a. m. October G.
 My reason for taking this action was because I had reliable information that an attempt would be made to force the jail and lynch one John Adams, now in my custody and charged with murder I am now thoroughly convinced that the presence of the soldiers prevented serious trouble that would otherwise most surely occurred. Very truly yours,
 HORACE HOOD, Sheriff Montgomery County. Thursday night I was still in Mont gomery, and on Friday morning the paper informed me that Sheriff Hood had again IYAI 4I .I-F. l-H afternoon I received a communication from Sheriff Hood that he had again oalled out troops, which is here given, and to which I made answer as follows: Montgomery, October ', 1910. Hon. B. B. Conner, Governor and Com mander-in-Chief, A. N. G.:
 Sir-I have the honor to report that at o'clock a. m. on October I ordered Maj. W. F. Weiss, Second infantry, A. N. G., to report to me at the Montgom- cry county Jail with about one company of the Alabama National Guard.
 My orders were promptly obeyed, and at o'clock Major Weiss reported to me at the jail with about 40 officers and re- mained on guard there until o'clock a. m. October '.
 I did not expect to have to call upon the military again last night, but devel- opments were such that deemed their
 
 I desire to take this occasion to com pliment the officers and men that were on duty with me for the past two nights for their prompt response, and for their splendid conduct and efficient service. I have no doubt but that their presence prevented bloodshed and lawlessness, as 1t did on the previous night. Very re- spectfully, HORACE HOOD,
 Sheriff Montgomery County.
 Montgomery, October T, 1910. Hon. Horace Hood, Sheriff Montgomery County, Montgomery, Ala:
 My Dear Sir-Yours of the 7th, stat ing that fearing a riot was imminent, you ordered out the National Guard last night, received and noted. Will call your attention to my letter of yes terday deprecating the easy calling out of the military, thus advertising to the state and to the world that we have dangerous conditions here in Montgomery; so much so that civic au- thority appears powerless and the mil- itary must be called upon. I direct your attention to the fact that you could have deputized any number of citizens and could also have a strong jail. The statute expressly provides that you must either exhaust every civil resource or pre-suppose them to be utterly incompetent before calling upon the troops. You will also note from
 
 accessible, you should consult him as to the adyisability of ordering out troops. This is written for the purpose of urging that civic auth ority properly exercised will control very serious con- ditions and it Is a bad lesson to in- terior districts and sections that have no troops to see that civic officers are practically inefficient and powerless. have faith that the sheriff and chief of police of Montgomery are powerful and can and should prevent would be breakers of the law and 1t Is best to do 1t with your own force, If possible, and not by calling on the military. am in full accord with your conclu- sion that if the civic auth critics won't and can't do 1t the National Guard can and will. If you anticipate trouble to- night General Graves Is in the city and would suggest that you communi- cate with him. With regards, I am yours very truly. B. B. COMER.
 Governor
 Friday afternoon before leaving the city for Conner, Ala. had a conference with Adjutant General Graves. whom directed to get In communication with Sheriff Hood and inform the sheriff that if applied to, and in his judg- ment he deemed 1t necessary, he, the adjutant general, would furnish the sheriff with troops.
 "On every occasion I have tried to impress upon the officers of the law that the state of Alabama would up- hold them and was in thorough &C., cord with them in the enforcement of all law and that when they. by their