The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-31
"A Fearless and Picturesque Body of Men Recruited
 From RancherS
EXPLOITS WHICH
 BROUGHT FAME
Have Not Always Respected the In- ternational Border-Are Feared By Mexicans-Real Gun"
 Fighting Men of World

Fighting along the Texas-Mexico bor- der has served to bring into prominence the name of a bcdy of men who have for years stood not only for law and order on the border but have also been allied with much of the romance of plains war fare, the Texas Rangers, says the Kan sas City Star.
 The Ranger organization was created about 40 years ago and was established primarily for the purpose of frontier pro- lection. But Texas no longer has a frontier The ragged edges of civiliza- tion which once existed along the Rio Grande border and in the vast plains country of western Texas have disap- peared. And the conquest of this former ly turbulent region, infested with various and diverse bands of outlaws, must be attributed largely to the exercise of un- excelled bravery; endurance and expert craftsmanship on the part of the brave bands of men who have at different times comprised the Ranger organization.
 In the old days the Rangers had the distinction of being the real "gun fight ing men of the world, and this distinc- ton still belongs to them. Their methods of operation are different today, however, although the littl- army of men now in the states service is just as brave and as expert in the use of the rifle and pistol as in the time when their chief occupation was fighting bands of depre- dating Indians or running down the ban dits of the border.
 A movement was started sometime ago to disband the Rangers, on the ground that their services are no long neces- sary and that they are used chiefly to perform the duties that properly belong to the peace officers of the different coun- tries. But the fact that they were the first to be called upon when protection was demanded ir. connection with the Mexican situation has probably put an end to this movement for all time. Be- sides, Texans have so much sentimental pride in the wonderful deeds of valor of their Rangers that it is doubtful if such a movement would have terminated diff ferently in any circumstances.
 Recruited From Ranches From the time the Ranger organization was first established its members have hll been picked men, proved experts in marksmanShp, at home in the saddle and absolutely fearless in the face of any danger In addition, they are required to be of good moral character, which means that they do not urlnk or gamble. The majority of them were formerly cow boys, and wehn they leave the service they generally return to the ranch When @ vacancy occurs in company the cap tain of that company selects a man to fill ! it.
 "The way did, said Captain Billy Mcdonald, who saw many years in the service, was to lon into a mans eyes and I could tell in a minute If he had the right stuff in him to make a good ranger. I never got fooled, either"
 There are some folks" continued the captain. who think that because the boys are always ready to fight like a bunch of wild cats they must be a reck- less, rowdy set of men. This is not so. The rangers are just naturally as peace ful and God-fearing men as you'll find anywhere.
 There's Capt John R. Hughes, for Instance. He's been ranger for nearly 3a years and he's killed a lot of men, but he's great Sunday school worker. A few months ago he was ordered from his Ftation, Ysleta, where he was superin- fendent of the Sunday school to put down the boot logging that was going on in that part of the Panhandle region and