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


G.. p. SNYDER, Union Bridge, fO;-
mer chief musician, First Regiment
Band, writes the following to the Bal
timOre sun:
Answering Gen 2ral Macklin's criti-
cism of young men not being more
patriotic by joining the militia, | will
say to the General, is it any wonder
the better class of young men don't
enlist, if the coming reception OF the
Fifth Regiment is to be carried out as
planned? This occurs soon after the
Barber Jones affair. Jones was turn
ed down as an officer because he is a
barber. Think of it-"sOciety 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-called society folk, or
officers friends, from the friends OF
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 up, step lively, by some
smart aleck officer on horseback, who
happens to have a few stripes on his
arm. through Il 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 a musician in the Mary
land militia, | have observed many
beastly things the men are put
through. | don't wonder at the small
percentage OF the young men falling
in line to take their medicine, while
the officers have everything in SPLEEN
dor and njoyment, 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 a little too close to the
dance floor you would hear some
SWcIi-heaj officer. Stand lack, this
is not your place | remember we'll
the last oI~4mpment at HeIair. One
day at meal time hurry order came
TO GA" land TO so 10 the Generals
headquarters, as the Governor was to
make his appearance. But on our
arrange ourselves on our camp stools
on the lawn in front of the Generals
tent. to furnish music for a stag dance
that was to occur on the arrival Of
several auto loads of society friends
from the city, who came along, as
in few minutes, all lit
~ with something that SO entangled
their mental faculties that tn orders
81,
music. as the classic style was too
much for them, during their stay. But
where was the private? lie kept his
not even close enough to get
an odor of the lemonade.
Those are only a few incidents. |
could mention many things that Keep
the private's brother or friend from
as he is made aware Of the
trials and troubles.
Now the coming home of the Fifth,
a reception, tickets at the door or
friends stay on the outside. Shame
on such actions. The boys who long
to see their loved ones, and they COM
PEELED to go in the gallery so they
won't rub elbows with the high Mickey
mOke's wives and friends. | say
shame on such arrangements and the
Then General Macklin
the reason the young men
are not more patriotic | wonder!
Take his stripes off. and with nothing
but the small salary as private left.
would he care to go 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 a wide open house reccp-
ton on their return. They surely
have my sympathy in such a blunder-
ing mistake