The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-07-30

At EWSPAPER reports of recent
In practice march by the First
brigade of Illinois troops at one Of
the border camps state that seven
hundred men were compelled by heat
and exhaustion to fall out of line.
Regular army
What Happens When officers were
Soldiers Are "Soft' unanimous in
declaring the
exhibition of these raw troops the
worst they ever saw. General Funs-
ton is said to have called it "ghastly,"
an adjective that might we'll have
been applied, as the men fell out in
squads and others staggering around
like drunken men and fell sprawling
on the ground"
The heat to which the men were I'M
accustomed, the heavy army equip
ment which they were required to
carry and their own physical unfit
ness, combined with the alleged desire
of their officers to establish record
for fast marching, are the causes ad-
vanced for the poor showing they
made.
Could anything better typify the
nations unpreparedness? Suppose
Mr.. Bryan's million men" should
spring to arms overnight? Where
would they get the arms and equip
ment, and if so provided, how much
more capable to stand hardship would
they be than the Illinois troops, who
are in some respects better organized
than the militia of other states?
It is lucky for the national guards
men that events did not call them to
active service in Mexico, however
much they chafe over the present
monotony of camp life. And while
thew are being seasoned bumptious Of
ficers who subject their men to hard
ships greater than they can stand,
merely to "show off," cannot be too
severely condemned.
nyHE call for a convention OF I'M
y compromising progressives, IS
sued by John M. Parker, vice presi-
Dental nominee, to meet in Chicago
August 5 for the purpose of
selecting a new ticket, fell flat.
Instead of convention con-
ference of such former partisans
of Colonel Roose-
Little Left of welt as desire to
Progressive Party keep up the moose
organization will
be held in Indianapolis August to
consider what is best to be done in
view of the present trend of affairs.
The conference has been arranged
by Acting Chairman Matthew Hale,
with the concurrence of Mr.. Parker.
Both of these gentlemen are still of
the opinion that the progressive party
was betrayed at the Chicago conven-
ton in June. They have no idea of
seeing great principles abandoned at
the behest of the republican "old
guard" without a vehement protest
They had enlisted in good cause,
rs they believed, and the only way to
make progressivism felt as political
power would be, they contend, for all
progressives to stand together and
fight both the old parties. But when
q party is sold out and turned over
to the enemy the organization be.
comes demoralized and usually goes
to pieces.
Many of the erstwhile progressives
4 have gone back to the republican party
and many have joined the democratic
forces. On election day it should not
be surprising to find large majority
Of them voting for Wilson and Mar
shall. Be that as it may, the progress
sive remnant still grabbing for life
preservers will be reduced in number
to level of the minor parties whose
combined vote is never worth reckon
ing with.
The progressive banner has beer
shot through and through. The part.
has disintegrated and all that is lef
Eof IL intact might as we'll be laid t