Evening star., 1896-04-07
UNION IS PROBABLE
Movement for Consolidation by the
Revolutionary Societies.
IMPORTANT MEETINGS APPROACHING
Review Of the Situation and the
Existing Conditions.
THE SONS AT SAVANNAH

The annual general meeting of the Sons
OF the Revolution will be held in Savan-
nah. Ga. beginning Monday, April 70. This
meeting is one of unusual Importance,
owing.to the fact that the question of union
between the Sons of the Revolution and
the Sons of the American Revolution WILL
after lapse CT four years, be prominently
pressed to the front.
The society in this city has emphatica
placed Itself upon record in favor of the
proposition upon broad grounds, and its
delegates have received imperative instruc-
tionS to spare no effort to bring about the
desired result.
A few years ago it was supposed that
the District Of Columbia society stood
alone for union. Although this was not
the condition then, it certainly is not now.
I Correspondence in the hands of those who
are giving the matter material attention
shows that the societies in Illinois, West
Virginia, Connecticut, Ohio, North Dakota,
California, Massachusetts, Missouri. Min
neSota and Kentucky have already made
favorable expressions in behalf of union,
with a number of other states decidedly
inclined in the same direction.
New York's Opposition.
. AS far is can be ascertained the princi-
pal objection to this movement comes from
New York city. 1t appears that questions
of social prestige and other considerable
foreign to the purposes of the two organi-
cations have been made prominent there
and engenderel a disposition on the part
Of each society to adopt system OF eX-
clusiveness that now, owing to the posi-
tion taken by the societies elsewhere, must
within comparatively short time be aban-
dOned. In the reorganization as proposed
the petty questions of prior organiZd ton,
had m
small figure. The idea has steadily grown
that If these patriotic societies stand for
anything it is Tor a specific purpose, whose
ends can no longer be served by con-
tinued separation, and the cross purposes
that such d separation must necessarily en-
gender.
The Scope of the Plans.
The plan of the reorganization, which
will be discussed at Savannah, is not yet
definitely completed, but the movement will
be along the lines Of general amalga-
nation Of the societies. In the cities where
the two organiZa tions exist, as in the DIS
trict of Columbia and many other places
each society will have the privilege, il de-
sired. Of examining the credentials Of the
other, and where questions may arise the
matter viii be referred to a joint COM
mittee for investigation and settlement
The members of the two societies through
out the country who are ir Spired by purely
patriotic purposes have grown weary Of
the continual introduction of petty PEI
sonal matters irto the affairs Of the organ
:Zations, and believe that the formation of
one strong society will permanently re-
n owe all such questions from the field OF
future discussion.
Coming Convention at Savannah.
The general meeting of the Sons of the
American Revolution will be held at Rich
mond on the Both Of April and this same
question of union will be presented with
equal fervor. OF course, the action of
the meeting will to a considerable eX-
tent, influence the sentiment at Richmond
and it is among the probabilities that
general convention of both organiZa ions
will be called to meet in Washington some
time in June to finally consider and settle
the question of union.
The District of Columbia Society, Sons of
the Revolution. will be represented at the
Savannah meeting by c. f. e. Beale, Will
lam B. Gurley, Albion X. Paris, Henry T.
Kemp and A. Howard Clarke. The deiega-
ton will probably leave Washington Sat
urday, April 1S, by the Southern railway.
The northern and eastern delegates will
rendezvous here and all will leave to-
gether, arriving at Savannah Sunday after
noon. The meeting will be held at the
DE Soto Hotel. The delegates will be the
guests of the Georgia society, which will
entertain them at a banquet on the even
ing of April ~. 1t is probable that the
party on returning will spend a day in
Charleston.