Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1897-11-13

The United Daughters of the Con.
federaoy held their fnal, yet most pro.
longed, session yesterday 10 Baltimore.
The meeting was called to order at ten
in the morning, and continued without
intermission until after four. The DAVIS
session was replete with many occur.
rences well calculated to retain the in.
terest of all present. Lively and spicy
debates were numerous. Questions OF
proioundest interest to the order fire..
quently occurred; while last, but by
no means the least, all eyes were turn
ed towards the period set for the cleo.
ton of The officers. The election at.
tracted more genuine interest probably
than all else combined. 1t was a mat.
ter of the most fascinating pleasure to
the ladies' to speculate as to the prob
able successor to Mrs. Fitzbugh Lee.
The Office of president is the highest
in the order, and is one justly coveted
by the ladies of the society.
The mantle of Mrs. Lee after ballot
ing by States, fell upon Mrs. John Cur
RE, of Dallas. Texas. Mrs Currie was
one of the most active and effective del.
egates on the floor during the recent
sessions. Her excellent tact in the
furtherance of several matters brought
before the convention helped to give
her prestige which finally eliminated in
Der election. Mrs. Currie is the daugh.
ter of William Lewis Cabell, who, at
present, is lieutenant general of the
Trans Mississippi department of the
United Confederate Veterans. She is a
colonial dame of Virginia. She was the
originator of the United Daug hters .of
the Confederacy in Texas, aud was and
is the president OF the charter chapter.
Mrs. Daniel Graud Wright, OF Balti.
more, was elected first vice president.
Mrs. Helen Plain, of Atlanta, Ga,
was elected second vice president.
Mrs. John B. Hickman was elected
recording secretary by reclamation.
Mrs. J NJ. Duncan, jr., of Vicksburg,
Miss, was elected corresponding secre.
tary.
Mrs. J. Jefferson Thomas, of Atlanta.
Ca, was elected treasurer, despite her
protest to the con rary.
Among some of the questions sub.
mitted for determination was one per-
tanning to the qualifications of members.
The question was asked by the society,
whether or not the descendant of
Confederate who had sent substitute
to the front instead of himself engaging
in personal service, could be accepted
into the order. This question elected
some caustic and treDchant remarks.
One delegate, in voice tremulus with
excitement, declared that in her section
of the South men who resorted TO such
means of eyading army activity were
looked upon as towards, and consider
cd with contempt, rather than deemed
heroes who bad given material aid to
the cause. This evoked the roundest
outburst of applause; and, for the time
being, it appeare a. though that senti.
ment would prevail in the convention.
But it was fually decided to leave such
matters in the hands of the State chap
ters, as they could best judge the cir
under which substitute
was procured.
At this juncture Mrs. D D. Pendle-
ton exhibited to the convention lock-
ct containing a memento of precious
value to hero worshippers of the Con-
federacy. 1t was q lock of hair cut
from the head of General Stonewali
Jackson shortly after the infic,ion OF
,is death wound. 1t was presented by
Mrs. Jackson to Mr. Alexander R.
8oteler, who was on Jackson's staff.
Mrs. Boteler was the father of Mrs.
Pendleton.
There was also in evidence, careless.
y draped about the piano. an old Con.
'ederate battle flag, which is very
much priced by those who own it.
Subsequently Mrs. Currie, the new
y-elected president, assumed authority
over the convention. She received her
insignia of honor in brief but happily
Dhrased speech of thanks.
The society voted an appropriation
Of $25 to each OF the respective battle
ields, Appomattox and Bull Run. The
same amount was donated to Lee
Camp, to be utilized in promoting tho
proper marking of graves of Conieder-
ate prisoners who died in the North.
1t was decided to meet at Hct
Springs, Ark, next year.