The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-06-20
VETERANS II SESSION.
Annual Meeting Of the United Gen.
80 s1zs " 2ftAHskt
II Little Eeck yuHe 9.

afternoon by Maj Gen. john O.
Fletcher IN the House Of Representatives
a the state House.
Ii. Gov. J. r. Eagle was called upon
% invoke tias divine blessing up9n Tae
gathering.
Mai. Gen. Fletcher then delivered biz
animal address rseguntlng the work q
the year He said:
There arr D0w hfty=two organized
camps In this state, and ] am happy u
report thar there have been organized
IN 1iae last eighteen months twelve
camps.
This state has been organized into
four divisions. eaen commanded hy =
Brigadier General the northeast By
Brig. Gen. Bsz. " Crowleyi the
northwest by Brig zen 4 3. Hoglns :
the southeast b. Brig. Gen. J. ID.
Hudson and the southwest BY Br1g.
Gen. 4 q. shaver. The state Of Ar
kansas now pave = pension 70 sz5o
pensioners. amounting % ~. 1t9 PEI
anuum, and In addition ~ this main.
tains Confederate Home near this city.
The Confederate Home was organized
July 4, 1853, By large meeting Of ex-
Contedefatss assembled al the capital.
when az organization was perfected and
subscriptions amounting % y, e1o were
raised and On MAY ~. 1850, u acres
of ground was purchased al cost O
-. 5,5 and wzs opened tor inmates On
December / 1850, and wa supported
out Of the voluntary contributions IAtli
April /, 1853, when the state TOOK
charge Of 1t and erected, In lssz, q fne
.sse story brick building. iss ses1cia
ton decided it property. consisting Of
81 acres Of land and all the improve
nlenfs. To the state az q bonus. The
average number Of inmates 70 April ],
fss3 was fifteen. The number now at
the home IL forty two.
aComrades. the object Of our assoei'
alton H. 70 assist the needy and suffering
comrades. who have been stranded ana
are destitute in our state; TO this end
we are working with good results. ana
the further objects and purposes Of this
organization shall be strictly social,
literary. historical and benevolent, and
cultivate the ties Of friendship that
should exist among those who have
shared common dangers, euderings and
prfyafi0ns 10 see that the disabled are
cared for and that helping hand h
extended TO the needy and that the Con
federate widows and orphans are pro
tected and assisted.
I'VE have Confederate cemeteries
scattered over the state which should
BE- properly cared for.
(At this juncture a silken Confederate
banner was brought into the hall and
aroused great enthusiasm.
Urge and aid the erection OF endur.
ing monuments 10 our great leaders and
heroic soldiers, sailors and people, and
10 mark with suitable headstones the
graves Of our Confederate dead where
ever found; TO instill into our descend
ants proper generation for the spirit
and glory Of their fathers, and TO bring
them into association with our organi-
zation, that they may aid us In accom-,
plishing our objects and purposes and
finally succeed us and take up our work
where we may leave II.
by organizing and being united we
can accomplish great good, otherwise
we can do but little
Comrade NJ. +. Locke of Alma. made
a report Of the work performed by the
Daughters Of the Confederacy at Van
Buren, showing that they have raised
SlIs and put the Confederate graves
there In good condition. They have sss
In bank AZ nucleus for a monument
fund. The organization Is called Mary
Lee Chapter United Confederate Daugh'
ters, and has sixty two members.
One Of the delegates arose and pro
ceeded 10 make a speech on pensions 10
ex -Confederates. He was called TO
order by the chairman, AS there was
nothing before the house. The delegate
then concluded by saying: Let us all
stick 10 the silver Democratic party.
Comrade IA. A. Mccoy, Of Pine Blum,
moved that a per capita tax Of . cents
be levied for defraying the expenses OF
the State organization. The motion
was discussed pro and con by several OF
the delegates.
Major General Fletcher stated that
he did not desire any money raised To
defray expenses incurred by him,
wherenpon Coinrade Mccoy Withdrew
his motion.
Col. Ben. T. DuVal. Of Fort Smith,
moved that the commander Of the Ark.
ansas division be requested TO designate
day for the decoration Of Confederate
graves. After discussing the matter
pro and con, the motion to fix day was
lost.
On motion, the chair appointed
committee of FIVE, consisting Of q. i.
G. Rumbough, J. j. HOrnor, j. 7.
Eagle, Is. +. DuVal and j. +. Smith,
10 lay before the legislature the claims
OF ex Confederate soldiers for supple
mental aid, Carried.
A delegate from Faulkner county
protested, as he did not want tx Con
federates TO pose Ms mendicants.
Major w. II. Haynes moved that the
second Tuesday In April be selected AZ
the time for the next annual meeting
Major Hornor amended by making Lit
tie Rock the place of meeting. Carried.
On motion, w. w. Folsom. G. A.
Bridewell and X. G.. Shaver were ap.
pointed ~ prepare a set OF rules and
order Of business for the organization,
The chair announced the appointment
of Major w. p. Campbell on the com,
mittee on Southern school books, and
Major w. q. Radcliffe on the Battle
Abbey.
The election Of officers WAS then pro
ceded with, resulting In the election OF
Gen. Robt q. Shaver, Of Centre Point 4,
Ms major general In command OF the
Arkansas division.
Gen. Shaver accepted the honor In a
feeling speech. stating that he lei,
prouder OF II than If he had been elected
governor Of Arkansas or President oil
the United States.
Four brigsdier generals were elected
as follows.
Jordan u. Cravens, Of Clarksviiie
northwestern division.
j. p. Eagle. Of Lonoke, northeastern
hl..iai..a.