The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1917-02-23
Gives General MackHim Something TU
Think Over

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H C. P- Snyder, Union Bridge a foE-
mer chief musician, First Regiment
Band. writes the following tO the Bal
timore Sun:
Answering General Macklin's criti-
Icism of young men not being more
patriotic By joining the militia, I will
say to the General, is it any wonder
tHe better class of young men don't
enlist, if Till coming reception Of the
Fifth Regiment III tO H. carried Out aS
pIanned2 This occurs soon after the
Barber Jones affair. Jones was turn
ed down as an officer because he Is a
barber Think of it-Hsociety the
cause" Now. on the top of this we
have the homecoming of the Fifth.
Instead of wide-Open doors to the
friends of all the boys they must have
tickets for admission and the most
abominable feature of all, the sepa-
ration Of the so-calIed society folk, CT
Officers friends, from the friends Or
the boys, the boys that did all the
work and share all the hardships. For
instance, in hiking the officers ride
and the boys walk and carry jackass
loads, and If they tire little and lag,
they hear step ND, step lively, by some
smart aleck officer or Horseback, who
happens tO have a few stripes OR hiEI
arm, through "a social pull, but often
possessed of less brains than the
horse he rides.
Now, from personal experience Of
more than Is years in the First Regi-
ment Band as musician in the Mary
land militia, | have observed many
beastly things the men are put
through don't wonder att thu small
percentage of TIL young men falling
in line ND take their medicine, while
the officers have everything in SPLEEN
dor and enjoyment, not mentioning
the large pay they receive.
Many times / have mingled with
the onlookers at the so-called officers
functions and dances during encamp-
mentS, and If one of the privates
should happen little too close To the
dance floor you would hear some
NsWell-head officer, Stand back, this
II not your place remember we'll
the last encampment at Belair One
day at meal time hurry order came
to our band to go to the Generals
headquarters, as the Governor was to
make his appearance. But on our
arrival at the place we were told toll
arrange ourselves On our camp stools
On the lawn IRA front Xiii TIL Generals
tent, to furnishNmu for stag dance
that was It'd occur on the arrival of
several auto loads OF society friends
from the city, who came along, as
prearranged in a few minutes, all lit
up with something that so entangled
their mental faculties that the orders
came to the band to play all ragtime
music, A. the classic style was too
much for them during their stay. But
where wa the .private2 He kept his
distance, not even close enough I'D get
ar OdOr OF the lemonade
Those are only few incidents.
could mention many things that Keep
the private's brother or friend from
enlisting, as he is made aware of the
trials and troubles.
Now the coming home or the Fifth,
a reception, tickets at the door Or
friends stay CT the outsidel Shame
CA such actions The boys who long
To see their loved ones, and they com
PEELED to 60 in the gallery 50 they
won't rub elbows with the high mokey
moke's wives and friends. / say
shame ON such arrangements and the
Then General Macklin
wonders the reason the young men
are not more patriotic wonder!
Take his stripes off, md with nothing
hut the small salary al private left,
would he care To 10 through with the
one hundredth part OF hardships that
our boys, the privates Of the Maryland
militia, have gone through the last six
or seven months on the Texas border?
II say, from experience with these
men in camp and while they have
been On the border they have done
nObly and have made very great sac
ritices in many ways, and surely they
should have wide open house recep-
ton on their return They surely
have my sympathy in such blunder-
ing mistake"