Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-06-24
CONFEDERATE VETERANS REFUSE
TO COMMEND HER REIGN,
GENERAL GORDON REELECTED,
FOR THE NINTH TINE NAMED COM
MANDER-IN-CHIEF.
The Old War Horses Attempted with
drawaI Greeted with "a Chorus
of NOes-WiII Meet in
Atlanta Next
Year.

trains brought several thousand people TO
the city TO attend the annual reunion of the
United Confederate Veterans. General
John b. Gordon delivered his address at the
business meeting. lie prefaced it with an
announcement OF his intention to resign as
general commanding, but there were cries
of mo" from all parts of the hall. General
Gordon proceeded:
Mr.. President and mrades:-Permt
me with few words to return the commits
sion with which you have hOnored me for
eight years and by unanimous vote. Within
the next few hours you will elect my sue
cessOr. When this duty is performed by
you L shall gladly take my place by those
untitled heroes who so grandly bore the
battles brunt in the stern work of war"
After referring to the rapid growth of
the organization during the eight years
since he was elected from ten camps to
more than a thousand. he said: 1T is an
army still, Mr.. President, but an army for
the bloody work of war no longer. Its ban
ners no longer bear the flaming insignia Of
battle. Its weapons no longer flash defiance
to the foe or deal death TO the opposing
ranks. Its weapons are now to open with
out malice, the tongue without aspCrsiOn
and history without misrepresentation. Its
aims are peaceful, philanthropic and broad
ly patriotic. Failing after the most desper-
ate defensive struggle in human annals to
esta blish their cherished COnfederacy, these
high sOuled sons of the South offer this rec
ord of devotion as the nOblest pledge of
their fealty to freedom and of their readi-
ness to defend the republic of their fathers.
In conclusion. my comrades let us hope
that the wise conservatism. the spirit of
magnanimity which is always the bright
est gem in the crown of courage, will mark
your career in the future, as they have in
the past"
When he had concluded his address, Cen
eral Joseph Wheeler nominated General
Gordon for reelection, and it was carried
unanimously.
The committee on credentials reported
100 names of those present and 1000 camps
represented.
At the business meeting this afternoon
II was voted TO meet in Atlanta next year.
The afternoon session was held for the
purpose OF winding up the business mat
terS before the association. The unanimous
refusal of the association to allow General
John b. Gordon to retire as commander-in-
chief had put an end to probable diff
culties and entanglements and paved the
way for a speedy disposition of the remain
ing business. A resolution commendatory
of the reign of Queen Victoria was voted
down and the resolution Of praise for the
queens jubilee was defeated.
The business matters are all disposed of
and tomorrow the old ConfedeTates and
their friends will devote themselves to
social recreatiOns. There are l5000 of the
Old soldiers In attendance. Official badges
have been issued to more than 1900 and
regularly delegated attendants from camps
and bivouacs number, according to official
reports, more than 5000. There never be-
fore has been so large a gathering in this
city. Hotels are tammed, business houses
are full. temporary lodging places are
other invasion. The great parade occurs
tomorrow. The veterans will move on
the centennial exposition and from every
adjacent county comes information that
thousands are ready to advance upon this
city. Ten thousand men will be in line.
Governor Taylor and staff. Governor O'Fer-
CulberSon. of Texas; members of the Tex
as legislature; Generals Buckner, Stewart,
Evans, Micajah Wood and others
will be in line. All the states forming the
Southern COnfederacy will be represented
in the order in which they voted to secede,
and after passing through the principal
streets of the city the procession will pro-
ceed 10 the centennial exposition grounds,
where jubilee meeting will he held in the
Captain J. B. O'Brien will be
master of ceremonies and the speeches will
be restricted to five minutes each. AT night
the veterans are expected TO witness a
splendid display of fireworks prepared
for the occasion.
Tonight in the Tabernacle for two hours
thousands were delighted with Confed-
crate concert in which were sung and
played old Confederate airs. Governor r.
L. Taylor and Mrs. NJ. NJ. Gardner sang
4 duet which captured the audience.
After this concert the Confederate reun-
ION club gave ball and reception to the
young people attending the reunion at the
capitol which was a brilliant and ornate
affair, and attended by thousands.
Fully 1000 visitors were in the city to-
lay, and tomorrow this number will be
greatly Increased.
The principal reports made TO the busi-
ness meeting to-day were by the commit
zee on history and the Memorial associa-
ion. The history committee in substance
'eported in favor of the plan now pursued
II inviting many writer's into the field Of
history rather than selecting one or more
% write a history. The memorial report
howed the board of trustees were making
excellent progress, and would be able to
eport a location for the memorial build
nE at the next reunion. provided CampS
md bivouacs subscribed literally. Both re-
lortS were adopted.