The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-04-22
M E N, W OM FEN
 A ND THIN G s

l cancelled a previous engagement to attend the Blackfriar play at the lief terson on Wednesday night in order tc accept one to be present and speak at the dinner given by the Junior Chamber of Commerce to the Alabama guardsmen in recognition of their services in the main- tenance of law and order in the mine held during the recent strike.
 Irrespective of any personal views l held in regard to the merits of the con troversy between the striking miners and the operators, felt it a civic duty to show by my presence that as a citizen realized my obligation to the young men who at the call of the governor put behind them business and pleasure and donned the khaki as loyal soldiers should do whenever the constituted authorities make demand upon them in the name of the state for service.
 It was not for the guardsmen to de- eide as to whether the men in the mines or their owners were right in their con- tentions. It was not for them to de- eide as to whether the hour had arrived for them to be called out With these things they had nothing to do. It was simply question of obeying commands from those higher up Their sole busi- ness was to report for duty and await orders
 During war times the soldier is reted, put in peace time too frequently he is baited. When there is danger to the country everyone sees the necessity of having men in arms, and are ready to make sacrifices of time and money to make them in every way efficient. There Is little quibbling about cost when the land is in peril; but when peace comes then there is a woeful falling off in the estimation of men in the uniform, and much grumbling about the expense of Keeping rp even small standing army or adequately supporting the national guard.
 l have scant sympathy and little pa tience with the propaganda which seeks to discredit the national guardsmen and make it appear that 1t is maintained in the interest of the capitalistic class There were some enemies of Uncle Sam who even in the face of the Wilhelm strasse military plunderers did everys. thing in their power to keep loyal sons of his from volunteering and called into question the draft. The sad part of it was that they were not all enemy aliens, but quite number were American born, while out of touch with Americanism.
 
 And now that the war is over. some have grown bolder and are seeking .n every way to hinder the regular army as well as the national guard, and to keep young men who stand for law and order and the preservation of the ideals of this great republic from joining either of the branches of the military forces of these United States. It's the same crowd who in the nidst of the conflict with the ruthless Huns were secretly spreading the poison that it was a rich mans war, and that no laboring man need feel called upon to volunteer and if sensible Wouiu dNoiu or OOuSe the OrdIC.
  thank God that the red-blooded man. hood of this free land of ours turned deaf ear to the underground and in- sidious doctrines of the doctrinaires whose treacherous hearts did not beat in sympathy with true Americans, but secretly hoped that the government would be beaten and thereby give them chance to start a reign of terror in this nf nfYr re iya hn fhn& l., th~ heaval they might ride into power anc get a chance to put their damnable po- litical, social and economic theories into practice
 In spite of the fact that the rich mans son fought side by side with the poor mans boy, and that the employer and employe often became "buddies" in the trenches. and that on the battlefield every man stood on his inherent man. hood, stripped of the petty differences in station which govern on a peace foot ring, there are vet a small but dangerous and determined minority in these United States whose one aim in life is to over- throw the government and set up a reign of anarchy where pillage. riot and mur- der will reign as it has reigned under the red flag o6 Russia, for when Trotzky left the East Side in New York
 
 bear" of the north, he left behind those who shared his views to carry on the unrighteous crusade beneath the Stars and the Stripes. I hope every such one will be rounded up and made to see stars and wear stripes.
 
 This is why I heartily commend the patriotic action of the Junior Chamber of Commerce for honoring the Alabama guardsmen with dinner in order to let them understand that their service to their state and country was appreciated in this great mineral district. I went knowing full well that it would bring down upon me criticisms in certain quar- ters because dared to speak a good word for the citizen soldiery of the state; but I wanted to go on record in favor of law and order, the rights of persons and of property
 I believe in both and therefore .have little regard for those who claim that the state authorities. as well as the na- tional government, are too Jealous of the rights of property and too careless about the rights of persons. I have been a close student of history and it will bear me out in the statement that where there is no regard for the rights of property the lives of men, women and children are unsafe. I may not be able to explain the psychology of the fact. but somehow when ''rnne and thine get confused it is only stop to the abuse of the rights of people.
 It IS because of these indisputable facts that line up with those who be-' iieve in established order. for the reason that its the best thing for all and