The Montgomery advertiser. [volume], April 12, 1917, Image 1

About The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982

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VOLUME LXXXVIII.
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA. THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 1917-TEN PAGES'
NUMBER 102
LEADERS
ALL PLANS FOR CONDUCT OF WAR
1
PRESIDENT
INSISTS ON
DRAFT PLAN
11 —.,
Wot Department, How
ever, Will Give Full Halj
Million Men an Oppor
• tunity to Volunteer
LATIN-AMERICA IS
WITH U. S. IN CRISIS
Little Costa Rica Endorses
Course of President Wil
son and Is "Ready to
; Prove It!”
JJV _<>m«lrt«4 Press)
WAlHIii GTOBT, April 11—Mtjtr Get
ONW Geetfcsls, builder sf tke
nmmauk emu si, was foratallr reauest
*4 bp FinUrat Wllarn today .to taka
**"*• •* balldla* af 1.009 waadaa
•Uft *99 torelau eeauaeree.
WAHmoTONt April 11—A yasola*
J* aulherlslaa Ike Prasldaat to call
far 1 AM.OM aalaataars was latrodueed
♦•day bp 8easier akenuaa, repablleaa,
aad laid aa Ike table at bis repaest
wttbaat .debate.
_ Washington, April 11—President
Wltoon, in & conference with Speaker
Champ Clark.} anA Majority Leader
Kltchln at the capltol today. Insisted
In the terme of the * administration
plan for raising- a large army on the
principle of eelectlre draft. At the earns
tlm^ however, it was learned that the
.* * at .department -virtually had decided
on Plans under which opportunity
would he Riven for approximately
. 500,000 men to volunteer for service for
v the term Of the war.
Te net result of the new plans would
he to make the total national guard
and regular force to be* ’organized
first Independently of the selective
draft plan approximately 724.000 men.
room for the absorption ol
half a million volunteers. No attempt
to enlist men to accomplish this will
bo made, however, untl\ congress has
aoted, and authority is granted to en
list such volunteers for the duration
of tho war only.
* Pally Diseased Plan
, The president talked for nearly an
hour with Speaker Clark and Reprea
entatlve Kltchln, and dlscuased the
administration army plan (n detail,
making clear that U had been drawn
up only after It had been decided that
It was the only way to meet the de
mand for a great and efficient fight
ing force.
Both Speaker Clark and Represen
tative Kltchln told the president that
moch sentiment existed in congress
against the plan, principally on the
ground that draft should not be re
sorted to until an effort had been
mode to ralso an army through volun
teers.
'Way for war legislation was cleared
In the senate tonight with the pas
sage of tho 9155,000,000 sundry civil
bill, the last of the four annual ap
propriation bills which failed at the
last session of congress. AH of the
measures have passed the house and
amendments added by the senate will
be disposed of quickly In conference.
Ansy Bill Passes
Earlier In the day the senate had
passed the current army bill carrying
5978.000. 000 and thp Military Academy
*>111 carrying about *i,84»,000. The ap
propriations In the army bill were
made Immediately available.
last week the senate passed the
■ general deficiency bill, carrying about
9104.000. 000. of which 8100,000.000 la a
war emergency fund to' be used In the
discretion of the president.
Without, formally announcing aban
donment of their neutrality, two more
Latin-American republics, Argentina
and Costa Rica, have given assurances
of their moral support for the United
States In the war against Germany.
Argentina, choosing a middle course
between those of Brazil and Chile, her
sister nations In ths Influential A.
B. C. trio, has notified the state de
partment that she ‘recognizes the
Justice” of this country's stand against
German aggression. The communica
tion contains no Intimation, however,
that the Argentine authorities con
template • an actual break with Ber
lin, and It le assumed here that for
the present at least neutrality will be
observed.
Coats Rica With Wllsos
Little Costa Rica. Just emerging
from tho throes of a revolution cent
word to her diplomatic representative
here today that she endorsed the
course of President Wilson and was
"ready to prove It If necessary."
I THE WEATHER |
I---i——_i__I
Forecast lattl 7 p. m. Thursday.
For Montgomery nod Vicinity—
Thursday, showers, aot much
chain la tempera tare.
. River Forecast.
The Coosa at Rome will continue to
fall tonight and probably not change
much Thursday; from Gadsden to the
mouth, will continue to fall rapidly
Wednesday night and probably Thurs
day. The upper Alabama will con
tinue to fall rapidly Wednesday night
and probably Thursday.
Note.—The stages of the lower Coo
sa and the upper Alabama Rivers are
subject to Irregular fluctuations, due
to the operation of the dam at Lock
No. 12, Coosa River.
P. H. SMYTH,
"Meteorologist.
UNFOUNDED SLANDER
OF PROMINENT MEN
DENOUNCED BY CAIN
United States Marshal Call s Attention to Seriousness
of Idle Gossip, and Says He Will Investigate Guilty
Persons, in Order to Pro tect Loyal and Law-abid
ing Citizens to Fullest Extent of Law
Libellous rumors of the pest three
days that several Montgomery busi
ness men with Teutonic names had
been arrested for seditious utterance*
were not only denounced as false by
United States Marshal McD. Cain Mon
day. but they were characterised as
“a cruel Injustice to some of the most
loyal and some of the best cltlxens of
Montgomery." Mr. Cain also Inform
ed The Advertiser reporter, who ques
tioned him, tl\at the law laid upon him
the duty of protecting law abiding and
loyal citlsens, and that ' slanderous
stories of this character had to be
stopped, or the marshal's office would
make an official Inquiry Into them.
The reports In qquestlon have been
circulated In the past two or three
days. The rumors had it that at least
half' a dozen well known Montgom
erlans had. been arrested and thrown
Into jail, for Insulting the flag, or for
some seditious utterances. The re
ports spread out of Montgomery. They
were heard from at Andalusia, at Ev
ergreen and at Greenville. They were
generally to the same effect. This or
that Montgomerian had heen guilty of
disloyalty, and the United States mar
shal had taken him and others into
. custody.
Serteaa Slanders,
"These slanders have a serious
side," said Mr. Cain. “They are like
ly to do an incalculable damage to
the men who are subjected to them.
I want the denial of these rumors
made specific. We have arrested no
body for sedition or disloyalty.. We
have not had ‘the slightest word of
complaint as to the bearing and con
duct of these men named In the ru
mors. I want to say that I would
stake my official reputation on the
loyalty and patriotism of the very men
named In the report*. Most of them
I have known tor more than twenty
five years They are as good Ajner
- leans as you Would find anywhere and
they are among our best citizens. I
can,not understand why they should
be subjected to such unpleasant slan
ders, which are not only likely to
break down their business, but to sub
ject them to the distrust If not the
hatred and violence of their neigh
bors.
“This Is an Injustice that should be
stopped. My office Is charged with the
duty of .looking out for spies and
traitors, and at the same time It Is
charged with the duty of protecting
loyal and . law-abiding citizens. Re
ports such as those circulated are cal
culated to do good men an Irreparable
Injury and to cause a break In the
peace. It Is the duty of my office to
prevent such wrongs to good citizens,
and If the rumors continue I will make
a thorough Investigation Into their
source and Into the personalities of
the men who circulate them."
1 It was learned'on Inquiry at the city
hall'and the sheriff's office that not
only had no arrests of this character
been made, but that none had even
been considered. County and city of
ficials said that not one word of com
plaint had been made, and they scoffed
at the libellous rumors.
• Criminal Libel Law.
An attorney Wednesday called at
tention to Section 7,338 of the criminal
code of Alabama of 1907, which, he In
sists, covers the circulation of un
founded slanders and under which, he
declares, persons spreading false re
ports, can be prosecuted and convicted.
As far as Is known, he Indicated, there
Is no Federal law covering such cases,
but he Is conylnced that the Alabama
criminal libel law covers such cases.
The section cited by the lawyer pro
vides that any person who circulates a
libel of another which may tend to pro
voke a breach of the peace must be
lined not exceeding $300 and imprisoned
In Jail or sentenced to hard labor not
exceeding six months. There is a foot
note, giving a definition of libel as fol
lows:
“Libel Is whatever tends to Injure
character, or blacken reputation, or Im
pute fraud, dishonesty, or moral turpi
tude, or reflects shame, or tends to put
one without the pale of intercourse”—
Moody's case, 14 Alabama, page 42.
‘ * It baa been forcefully suggested that
municipal and county authorities
should co-operate with the Federal
authorities In every way possible to
wards not only apprehending violators
against the government, but equally as
much toward the protection of peace
ful and law-abiding aliens. The circu
lation of false reports. It Is recom
mended, are offenses entirely within
the province of such city and county
authorities to handle.
Enemy Alien
Is Responsible
For Explosion
Eddgstone Catastrophe
Caused By “Demon In
' Human Guise ” Who
Probably Perished
■L
(Associated Press.)
CHESTER, PA., April 11.—A state
ment today by a high official of the
Eddystons Ammunition Corporation
placed the blame of yesterday's disas
trous explosion, the worst In the his
tory of the state, on a disloyal em
ploye who Is thought to have sacri
ficed his life with the 116 known dead,
moat of whom were girls and young
women.
Thin amazing development late to
day spurred on the investigations " of
the catastrophe already under way by
federal, totate and county, local officials
and officers of the company. Numerous
suspects were rounded up here, In Phil
adelphia and Villa Nova, Pennsylva
nia, and In Camden, N. J., and In each
case the disposition of the prisoners
wan placed in the hands of agents of
the department of Justice at Philadel
phia. The arrests so far however,
have apparently furnished no tangible
clue to the perpetrator of the alleged
plot. If such was the case.
Demon in Human Guise.
The statement of the company’s rep
resentative, vrtio' declined to permit the
use of his name, said the tragedy "was
the result of a diabolical plot con
ceived In the degenerate brain of a
demon In human gfiltie." and that the
triple explosion was due to a bomb
manufactured front a shell by one of
the employes. Beyond this Informa
tion the official refused .to disclose fur
ther details which would tend to more
thoroughly- clear the exact cause of the
disaster.
It Is known, however, that federal
agents tonight are concentrating their
efforts at running down the clue to the
explanation of the explosion from
this angle. It la po'ntrd out by those
familiar with the explosives manu
factured at the plant that It would
have been possible for workman to car
ry on a plot In midst of unsuspecting
employes, particularly the women en-,
gaged In the parking of time fuses in
the structure which was wrecked.
Plotter May Have Died.
Unless the bomb wan timed, It was
explained, the plotter must have met
the same fats as ths rest of the vic
tims.
The number of known dead, an
nounced late today by Captain W. M.
Wilhelm, vice president and general
manager of the company, after a fair
ly complete canvass of the Hats of em
ployes and the victims, was placed at
116 and of these 62 had been identi
fied,
SS Are Mlsalag.
Unofficial reports of missing today
placed the number 36 hut It la
thought many of these will have been
accounted for when the great exclte
mcnt and confusion attarhed to the rtla
( Cob flawed oa Page Five) ”
Expert Says
Arras Battle
Decisive One
Holds That Action Now
Raging Will Prove Decid
ing Battle of the Euro
pean War
AMSTERDAM, April 11.—(Via Lon
don.)—The military expert of the Ber
lin Vossiche Zeltung consider! that the
battle of Arras will prove the decisive
battle of the war.
It was foreseen, he says, that the
enemy would not try to break through
the Somme, as the basis for any such
attempt had been removed by Von Hln
denburg's strategic retreat. The Ger
mans, however, had been guided by
the theoray that with the strength in
war material possessed by the allies
they could not afford to remain quiet.
Consequently, everything possible was
done by the Germans to strengthen the
Arras line and a surprise there was
impossible.
The expert adds, that it must be
borne in mind that the course the op
erations have taken was not. desired
by the hostile command. '
Speed and Power of
• Assault Big Surprise
(Staff Correspondent Associated Press.)
BRITISH HEADQUARTERS IN
FRANCE. April 10.—(Via London, April
ll.J^-The speed and power of the Brit
ish assault In what probably will be
known In history as tho battle of
Arras, seems to have thoroughly sur
prised the Germans.
So much so. In fact, that their usual
retaliatory artillery firs has been ab
solutely negligible in the last two
days. This is partly dye, of course, to
the number of guns captured, to which
must be added the number knocked
out by the British artillery before the
actual assault began.
Germans Too Busy.
It is also due to the fact that the
Germans have been too busy trying to
get the!!- remaining guns away from
Immediate danger to bother firing them
at the enemy. In a Germany artillery
position east of Arras, known as bat
try valley, could be seen the remains
of twenty-four held pieces.
A trip over the newly taken lines
revealed a condition of trenches close
ly approximating those recently evac
uated by the Germans in the valley
of the Somme. Many dugouts re
mained with only damaged portals but
the trenches Including all communi
cation lines have been unmercifully
battered about. So successful was the
artillery barrier set up by the Brit- i
ish back of the German lines, that
seme of th.e German prisoners report
ed they had been without supplies for
four days.
Entanglements Destroyed.
The barbed wire entanglements pro
tectlng the Germkn positions were ob
(Continue* on Page Five.)
5 HEN WILL
CONTROL ALL
RAILROADS
• i
Board. Headed by Fairfax
Harrison Will Be in
Charge of the Roads
Throughout the War
TO GIVE GOVERNMENT
THE BEST SERVICE
Special Committee on Na
tional Defense to Work
Under Main Board, Says
First Announcement
IAumIiM Press)
WASHINGTON, April 11—Heads of
the princlral railroads in the United
8tates, meeting hers today at the
call of council of national defense,
named a board of live men to direct
the operation of American railroads
throughout the war
It was announced that the purpose
of the board will be to give the gov
ment the best possible service, not
only In transporting troops and mili
tary supplies, but In handling every
necessary commodity
The following railway executives
were named as members of the board
Fairfax Harrison of the .Southern
railway, chairman; Howard Elliott, of
[the New Haven; Samuel Rea, Of the
Pennsylvania; Hale Holden ,of the
Burlington and Julius Kruttachaltt of
the Southern Pacific
Under this' committee will operate
a special committee o« national de
fense. It with the board will com
prise t members. The present national
defense committee Of the American
Railway association will be used as
a basis for forming this committee.
Willard To Be Member.
Daniel Willard, president of the Bal
timore and Ohio, and chairman of the
defense council's advisory commission,
will be an ex-officio member of the
board and the Interstate commerce
commission will be asked to name an
other. *
The board, or central executive com
mittee, as It Is called In an announce
ment by the defense council, will oper
ate through a special committee on
national defense named sometime ago
by the American Railway association.
Mr. Harrison, chairman also of the
committee, announced today Its mem
bership would be Increased to 28, di
vided Into six sub-committees, one
| each In the six military departments
of the country. These sub-commlt
j tees will deal directly with department
| commanders and with the quaftermas
ters departments. The railway -oijao
ciatlon'a car service commission-will
serve as a general sub committee.
Will Decide Policy. * '
The railroad board will decide, all
matters of general railroad policy and
In some respects Its duties will re
semble those of tire British railroad
board, which Is operating for the gov
ernment English lines. In the United
States, however, the rail systems will
operate In cooperation with the gov
ernment Instead of under Its direction.
The railway association’s .defense
committee, as It exists now In the four
military departments, already has
worked out plant for military co
operation with the army which will be
followed In a general way. The board
also will stand between the military
and industrial needs of the country
and will apportion through the sub
committees to each what It considers
necessary to meet Its requirements.
Transportation Considered.
'Transportation needs of the govern
ment were considered today by execu
tive)]. representing the two hundred
awd fifty thousand miles of American
railroads, at the meeting held In re
sponse to the call of Daniel Willard,
president of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad. It was decided during the
war to co-ordinate activities In a con
tinental railway system, thus merging
for the time being all their 1 national
transportation facilities.
Mr. Willard and other railroad presi
dents disrupted the nlana which would
(Continued n Page Five)
■s
"Internal Enemies
Of Garden—How. To
Defeat Them Now
Goal people of Alabama, wo hare
to teal with a boat of Internal ea
omlca BOW.
Io yesterday’* Advertiser w* told
TOO of the Internal enemies la tbo
home*— file*, heat, roaches, rata aad
mice, dirt and carrlesaaea*.
Today we urgently rail year at
teatloa to the 11 relean lateraal en
emies of the Harden—plant dis
eases, chrwlng and eating enemies,
ood enemies that sack plant jalees.
Ge after the** enemies aad keep
after them. They can be whipped
by work and the use of the sim
ple methods given la this copy of
The Advertiser.
It la your high, patriotic duty
new to help defeat thess enemies.
They are Bghtlng your garden*,
and the damage they do prevents
you from doing Just that much la
feeding your finally now when It
u the duty of every family to feed
Itself.
Head and use these methods of
•ghtlag these enemies. Show them
to your neighbors. Help Alabama
do her duty by her country by
feeding herself.
WAR COUNCIL
TO GATHER IN
WASHINGTON
British Foreign Minister
Will Head Commission
Coming For Full Discus
sion of Entente Problem
FRENCH COMMISSION
ALSO IS COMING SOON
Conference, Sought by
Allies, Will Take Up
Every Phase of War
Situation Facing U. S.
(AumUIH hm)
WASHINGTON. April ll.-Assembly
In Washington within a few weekn ol
a groat International war council was
foreshadowed by an announcement
from the state department today that
a British commission, headed by Ar
thur J. Balfour, minister of foreign
affairs, Is expected to arrive within
ten days to discuss with the govern
ment here questions connected with
the conduct of the war. In addition
to the foreign minister, the commlmlon
will Include Admiral De Chair of the
British navy; General Bridges, of the
army, and the governor of the Bank
of England, attended by a numerout
statr.
Tfewrh Commission to Came. \
This was as far aa the announce
ment made by the state department
gses, bpti It waa learned authoritative
ly that a French commission, composed
of officials and officers Squally as dis
tinguished as the British representa
tives, also will be In Washington about
the same time. This commission will
be headed by M. Vivian!, at present
minister of justice In the French cabi
net, and formerly premier.
It Is not known definitely whethet
any other of the allied powers will
send commissioners to Washington but
It is assumed that owing to the diffi
culties In passage tand the pro.bable
delay, thJ Interests of these govern
ments will be confided to their resident
ambassadors. '
i Ns Pslltlcal AlUaaee.
Beyond the statement that the ob
ject of the commission Is to discuss
generally questions of policy connect
ed with the war, no Information waa
given at. the state department. It was
made clear, however, that In no way
will the United States government de
part from the traditional policy ol
avoiding anything- In the nature of poli
tical alliances, tHough of course that
does not exclude full and Intimate
military and naval co-operation In the
prosecution of the war.
• While It Is by no' means certain that
there will be a joint meeting of the
visiting commissions, If the state de
partment should desire to avoid the
appearance of an alliance, there is cer
tain to bs concert of action In some
way.
Sought By Allies.
The conference is stated to have
been sought by the allied leaders them
selves In order to discuss every phase
of the war. No attempt will be made
to go Into detail^ or technical consid
erations, as the general policies In
volved are too stupendous to permit
of It.
The caliber of the men sent, particu
larly Foreign Secretary Balfour, who
Is remembered here most warmly foi
his earnest endorsement of President
Wilson’s plan for world federation tc
Insure peace, and Minister of Justice
Vivian!, one of the first half-doxer
statesmen of France, Is very gratify
ing to officials. Both men. It la re
called, have held the past of premlei
of their respective governments.
One of the first questions to bs tak
en up will be the distribution of the
$3,000,000,000 loan to the allies, foi
which President Wilson has asked con
gress to provide. The greatest prob
lem Is stated to be the maintenance o<
the flow of-American munitions and
food suppliers to Europe. This will be
sought first by naval co-operation to
fight the German submarine, second by
construction of a huge fleet of wooden
merchantmen to negative Its destruct
iveness, and third, by a ways and
means to Increase manufacture and the
allies’ ability to pay for the products.
Cssperatlsa la Arms.
Naval co-operation la understood to
contemplate the policing of all North
and South American watens by the
American navy, allowing the returr
of the British and French vessels en
gaged In that work and the safeguard
ing by American ships of at least pari
of the sea lane to Europe.
The military participation of the
United States also probably will be
discussed In broad termp,'though It 1:
realised on all sides that thin country
will not attempt to send an army tc
Eufope for the present. The military
situation of this country Is well un
derstood by officials abroad. There Is
however, an Intense desire on the pnri
of the general public in the entente
countries to see a small dlvlslcm ol
American troops at the front.
To Touch Peace Tenet.
Neither aide. It Is understood, wll
miss ths opportunity of sounding oul
the other as to the eventual peace
terms and the- reconstruction of the
world. It Is well appreciated abroac
that this country Is not In perfecl
sympathy with some of the peace
terms of the entente and that It does
not look to as complete a crushing ol
Germany as some of the entente coun
tries demand.
For that reason the European dele
gates will be eager to sound out offi
cials here .as far aa possible In ordei
to see to what extent they can coum
on complete American support.
• t ■ ''*J
/n Endorsing President’s Policy and Position, Resi- Jg
dents of Montgomery Demand That 'War Be if
Carried Into Home of the Alien Enemies, Both
by Land and Sea, and That Every Resource Be *
Utilized to Its Fullest; Governor Henderson Pre- j
* sides at Grand Theatre, and Eloquent Oratory 1
Breathes Undivided L oyalty ■'
Whereas, we, the citizens of Montgomery, Alabama, desire • |
to see the war with Germany in which we are engaged brought to
a speedy and successful close: *
Therefore, Be it resolved, that we favor: *
First—A selective call to the colors as advocated by Presi
dent Wilson; 71
Second—A war both on land and sea in close alliance with •
the Entente Allies;
Third—Sending as soon as possible an ever-increasing army -f
to Europe; |
Fourth—The prosecution of the war with all of the re- . I
resources, financial, economic and military at the disposal of the I
government; ^
Fifth—In conformity with the letter and spirit of these * 1
resolutions, we place at the disposal of the government our lives
and our property for such use as the exigencies of the war '
its successful prosecution may demand.
The foregoingresolutions, offered by Dr. M. W. Swartz,
president of the woman's College of Montgomery, were
mously adopted by a rising vote.
In an outburst of patriotic enthusiasm, the Grand Theatre was
crowded to itsj utmost capacity Wednesday night .and hundreds of. ,
persons Wfcre unable to obtain entrance to hear tf e prominent speak
era of Montgomery give voice to expressions and pledges of loyalty *
to the Stars and Stripes. Every speaker was greeted with applause
and the national airs stirred the patriotic fervor to its utmost. Presi
dent Wilson’s name being the signal for prolonged and vociferous
applause.
The mass meeting originally had been scheduled for the west
front of the capitol. During the afternoon thousand of vari-colored
electric lights were entertwined around and over the front of the
capitol building, from the gigantic posts surrounding the spot where
Jefferson Davis stood when he took the oath of office as the first
and only president of the Confederate States of America, to the
stately trees in the lawn. During the night these lights gave the
effect of a beautiful cascade of electricity, and the lawn was bathed
in a flood of light/ ,
The U. S. Flag
Is Carried To
French Front
Texan Takes Stars and
. Stripes to Top of Vimy
Ridge Before Being
Wounded
(AimmIiIH Prtu.)
OTTAWA. ONTARIO. April 11.—
The Stars and Stripes we.it into
battle for the first time during the
wo-h1 war during the racer1 en
i tente storming of Vimy ridge in
France, according to an anrfflclal
despatch received here, today from
Canadian army headquarters in
Europe.
"To a young Texan who came to
Ontario to enlist and who Is now
lying wounded in the hospital," .the
despatch reads, "belongs the honor
of first carrying the American flag
into battle in the European war.
Into which the United States, as a ■
belligerent, has Just entered. He
went up to the assault at Thelus
carrying the Stars and Stripes on
his bayonet and fell thus.”
American Fliers Wilt
Use American Uniforms
PARIS, April 11.—It was decided to
day that the LaFayette Flying Corps,
composed of Americans who have dls
tlngulshed themselves at the front, will
change from the French to the Ameri
can military uniform, and hereafter
carry the American flag at the French
front.
When the American aviators appear
in the uniform of the United States
army this country will have Its first
representation of-the war as a bellig
erent. Heretofore the American unit
has constituted an Integral part of the
French army. After the adoption by
congress of the war resolution the
Americans hoisted the Stars and
Stripes over their headquarters, but
their official status was not changed.
In a semi-official communication Is
sued In Paris last week It was said the
Americans had destroyed thirty Ger
man airplanes. They have taken part in
the heaviest air fighting at Verdun and
on the Somme and have won wide
recognitldh. Sergeant Raeul Lufbery
has brought down Hi* German ma
chines Sub-Lieutenant Bert, Hall, three
and a number of other Americans one
each. Sergeant Kiffen Rockwell and
Sergeant Norman Prince w;ere killed In
action after each had sent two Ger
man machines to destruction.
Corporal Victor Chapman brought
" < Coat lamed ea Page Klve>
t
Mmmj mi the Capitol.
k?!lIl--!L<l8,of..per8.on8* uninformed on
«• . tr i uiuuiuriiieu oil
tne change in the place for holding the
meeting, gathered at the capitol and It
became necessary to riend couriers there
*°1*V d® th*m to the great theatre
building. The theatre Ailed' rapidly,
and long before the hour scheduled for
the commencement of the ceremonies of
*“• ovenlng. the building was alive
with an animated, enthusiastic audience
or both men and women.
Snlth CoMaania Troops.
Major Dallas Smith commanded the
provisional battalion which, with the
Fourth regiment band, formed the mil
itary contingent of the patriotic pa
lade. The three provisional companies
made up from detachments of the
Fourth infantry. National Guard of
Alabama, now stationed at the army
camp. Montgomery, were under the
command of Captains F. E. Haley, M.
H. Jordan and J. P. Essllnger, with
Lieutenant W. I. Cole, acting adjutant.
Along the line of parade the sol
diers received unstinted applause from
the watching crowds and the patriotic
airs with which the Fourth infantry
band enlivened the march were cheer
ed to the echo.
Five Blocks Threaged
The parade formed at court Square,
marching up Dexter avenue. A squad
of mounted police was followed by
Major Dallas Smith and his staff, the
Fourth regiment band and a provision
al battalion of the Fourth Alabama,
infantry. After the military contingent
came an army of civilians carrying
American flags. The marching throng
gathered force as it proceeded, and
became a great throng that filled the
street, five blocks In length.
The curtain arose to strains of Na
tional airs and disclosed Governor
Henderson and the other speakers of
the evening occupying seats upon the
stage. There ascended a mighty wave
of applause as the familiar and belov
ed notes of "Dixie", and then "The
Star Spangled Banner" were sounded
by the Fourth infantry band, within
the theatre.
City’s Soldier Record
"We are here for the purpose of de
claring to the world that we are will
ing to back our country and our presi
dent In the present war,'- said Mayor
W. T. Robertson, who opened the
meeting and introduced Governor
Charles filenderson. who presided and,
in turn, introduced the other speak
ers. The mayor spoke with pride of
the fact that Montgomery has now
more soldiers in the field in propor
tion to its white population than has
any other city in the entire country.
(Applause).
Governor Henderson spoke of the
people of Alabama as a "great people
upon whom thlb nation can depend in
such a crisis as this war. which is not
of our seeking and which we. as a
nation, sought to avoid. This is a time
in the history of our country when she
must arise with the strong arm of her
might to protect the lives of her cit^
Ixens and for the protection of her
?wn self respect." declared the gover
nor. “Alabama has been tried In the
past and we have always known
where to find her. Since the die has
been cast, every citizen must stand as
a stone wall of patriotism.
Councils Peace At Heme
•'We may hear reports.of someone
(Continued en Pngs Five)
y