Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-08
Initial Meeting Of Participants in the
War With Spain.
PERMANENT SOCIETY TO Be FORMED
Temporary Officers Chosen and
Committees Appointed
GENERAL KEIFER'S REMARKS

participants in the late war with Spain at
the inaugural meeting of veterans of that
conflict which was called to order at II 30
o'clock this morning in the drill hall of
Center Market Armory. Maj. Gen. Joseph
Warren keifer was the presiding officer
and Mr.. William Christopher Liller was Sc
lected secretary. About 125 delegates were
present including a large percentage of
commissioned officers. All seemed thor
ough'y interested in the work of the con-
vention, and rapid progress made look
ing to the permanent formation of an or
ganization of the fighters of the Spanish
American war. Several names for the So
ciety were suggested, but the official des-
ignaton will be decided upon later
The drill hall was elaborately decorated
With flags of all nations and the vari-col-
ored bits of bunting forming the United
States naval signal code. A Gatling gun,
several one-pOunderS and the Spanish how
!tzer captured by the 1st District of Column
ba Volunteers near Santiago. well as
stacks of Springfield rifles and a number
of pitched tents, added to the martial as
pect of the great auditorium. The platform
arranged for the officers was surrounded
by many palms and potted plants. The
decorations Were arranged by a committee
headed by Capt d. V. Chisholm, assisted by
Maj. F. S. Hodgson of the executive COM
mittee.
An executive council at the Ebbitt House
preceded the meeting at the armory. 1t
was participated in by the national officers
now in the city. The convention will con-
tinue throughout tomorrow, the program
including a call tomorrow afternoon upon
the President at the White House, when it
is expected Mr.. Mckinley will deliver an
address of welcome and encouragement to
the veterans of the war of 1898.
Presiding Officers Remarks
In calling the general meeting to order
General Keifer said he did so by author
ity of provisional appointment as COM
mander-in-chief made by the executive
council, which included the prime movers
in the organization. He wished the world
to understand that the association or so
ciety growing out of the present Washing
ton meeting would not be antagonistic to
any other patriotic organization. The idea
of the promoters Of the national organiZa-
ton was to concentrate all of the various
legions and veterans associations which
have sprung up in various parts of the
country since peace was declared between
Spain and the United States. A national
organization. embracing all of the soldiers
of the last war, could be made important.
he declared, and medium for much good.
I'VE must all get together said Cen
Keifer. '"The SpanishAmerican war will
be looked upon in the future as the opening
of new and great epoch in our republic.
The war marked by number of i'm
portant things. No battle was lost. either
on land or at SEA; no prisoners We're taken
in battle: there was no defeat. Thus is the
Spanish-American conflict destined to be
distinguished as a great war in the history
of nations. 1t is important then that our
organization should be formed on the right
principles, and in the right spirit, and that
we should all work together.
1T requires time to set such an organi-
cation on its feet and put 1t in flourishing
condition. We may not expect to form a
complete permanent organization at this
meeting. We will, however, form a pro-
visional organization, and before we ad
journ l would advise that council of ad-
mlniStrat1on or an executive committee be
appointed to take such future steps may
be deemed advisable regarding the adop
ton of name, constitution, bylaws and
securing a charter. One thing that will
distinguish our organization will be its
character both nOn-partisan and nonsec-
tional but heroicaly patriotic"
This sentiment applauded to the
echo.
On motion Gen. Keifer. as chairman,
and Capt Liller as secretary, were made
the temporary officers of the convention.
Mr.. Liller made brief statement of the
events leading up to the call for the Wash
ington convention.
Appointment of Committees.
Immediately following this there arose
discussion as to the appointment of vari-
Gus committees and the number of dele
gates to compose each. Amendments and
substitutes were offered in abundance.
Capt. H. d. Green, late of the 9th Pennsyl-
vana Regiment cut the Gordian knot by
introducing a resolution stating that 1t was
the sense of the delegates present that a
permanent organization of the veterans
of the Spanish-American war be effected.
and that for the purpose of completing a
preliminary organization committees on
credentials and plan of organization be ap
pointed to report at the afternoon session.
This was adopted amid applause.
Gen. Kefer announced the committee on
credentials aS follows TT d Green of
Pennsylvania; H. B. Delaigne of New
York and s. C. Cox of the District of Co
lumbil. A number of names were suggest
ed for the committee on plan of organiza-
tion, and the announcement of its personnel
was withheld for a time
Thomas J. Curran of Massachusetts of
the Legion of Spanish War Veterans made
speech, in which he suggested the adop-
ton of that name by the national body.
He said he and a number of comrades had
come on to Washington to attend the con-
vention, and they wanted to see fair play.
He hoped there ould be enmity. and
he dill not want to have to leave the hall
in any such spirit.
The suggestion of ill-will and a doubt as
to fair play brought Capt. F. w. Cole of
Florida to his feet He asked where in the
world the gentleman got his idea there was
to be other than fair play, and what he
meant by such insinuations
There's going to be no ill-will among US
and We are all going to work in harmony"
said Capt. Cole His remarks were greeted
by an outburst Of applause
Capt. Cole and Mr.. Curran shook hands
and the convention proceeded.
recess until 80 o'clock was taken.
Enrolling Delegates.
1t was nearly o'clock, however, when
the afternoon session was called to order.
The time up to the closing of The Stars
report was occupied in the enrolment of
delegates, their rank and regiment, and
the correction and adoption of the report
of the committee on credentials.
The committee. on plan and scope of the
organization will organize this afternoon
and report, If possible at tonights meet
ing, which win begin at 6 o'clock. The
committee is composed as follows: Chair
man, James H. Tillman of South Carolina;
H. A. Axine. Ohio; L. NJ. Maus. Maryland;
C. D. Elliott West Virginia; Geo. W. Bris-
tol, Illinois: J. Walter Mitchell, District of
Columbia; VIM. P. Kennibbs. Massachu-
setts; Percy W. Moss, Arkansas; Theodore
F. Schmidt. New York; Geo A. Horkan,
Jones, New Jersey; Jos. II. Woodbury. Min
nesota; H. H. Blunt. Louisiana; T. R.
Raines, Mississippi.