Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-05-18
COyFEDEnl MEET
Annual Reunion Of the United Con-
federate Veterans Society.
Ten THOUSAND VETERANS IN PARADE
The Commander-in-Chicfs Speech APP
plauded Resolution Concerning "A Re-
mark by President Mckinley Flags
Presented to Gen. Norman.

'1i'NF' tN'eDhf ~ ts' t''Ry - dil,f 'p'
600 visitors and confederate veterans
are here attending the annual reunion
of the United Confederate Veterans so
ciety. The feature Of yesterday was
the parade of the veterans, followed
by the reunion exercises at the new
Auditorium. Ten thousand veterans
were in line when the procession moved,
shortly before three o'clock. They
marched through a dense crowd of
cheering people, led by Gems. Gordon
and Wade Hampton, a long line Of griz-
zled old warriors. At intervals along
the line the huttering Of a war-worn
and shot-torn flag called forth cheers,
while many heads were barred as the
frayed emblems Of a dead cause cleaned
over some organization whose name is
a household word to the south.
Hampton and Gordon were cheered
vociferously at every step and rode al
most the entire route with barred heads.
The absence Of Gen. Joe Wheeler from
the line was a source of considerable
disappointment. He reached the city
early yesterday. but did not partici-
pate in the parade. Following came
the United Sons of Confederate Veter-
ans. led by Commander-in-Chicf r. A.
Smith.
When Gen. G. l.. Walker called the
first session of the reunion to order
with the gavel used at the secession
assembly in 1860 over $500 people
were in the Auditorium. Thousands
were turned away. Gov. Ellerbe could
not attend the reunion on account of
illness and the address of welcome
was delivered by Lieut.. Gov. Me-
Sweeney. Mayor J. A. Smythe fol-
lowed His reference to South Caro-
lima and Charleston as the cradle of
secession" brought forD the rebel
yell. The yell was caught up by the
crowd on the outside and passed along
- "'
Az ll'oU uen' walker introduced ten.
John Il. Gordon, commander-in-chiefO of
the Emitted Confederote Veterans Tha
audience rose and for several minutes
shouted like demons. Hats were
thrown into the air and the band played
"Dixien Every sentence of his sneech
,v,e .n,,,,doa uaaaa,,aaa ~.
''' "fi''""N" Nv eoiie'"'''u W soy
nS,
horo oda ha bsn If hotb "u he W s'"a
guests in procIaining IL message Of good will to
all our untrymen and to send the traternal
sreolInFs Of lhs people Of al confederates and
,T ,e ' 'h 'oS %, a SECTIONS
state in ascrjbinp to the guiding hand Of God tbe
unparalleled victories Of American arms in the
late war on lana ana sea- and lastly, by the
hap - ~ '1 nloaaa hs MnpSo SpI i've N
port to every worthy cause for strengthening
the bonds of American unity and thus accelcrat-
ing the onward march Of the republic in Its
d seua to eyerv power by
section and state the fraternal greetings Of mis-
and of the whole people, to pledge IN
the name of every confederate and son and
VI uon,uuu'sSes, eno souti e.erhal
$500 W e"us. ~, .ae up''.''ls Vi A,ei
da,, w ~. pony VI nnlIi 'o','' ivy
w, my ", Wv ,es'' poop's 'il"1 ny
", @ H. VIZ "y a.. ae.e.e.ao .ne onward
,.a.sA ~ '"e 'ep''o IA ''' oo"'sh nnissioh W
III was several minutes after he had |
taken his seat before quiet could be re-
ctorad Whom order ,r,e sao,rod a.,
'Voi N"' " nen oi'ei was oeeureu ueli'
Gordon said: IL want every comrade to |
stand and sing Praise God from Whom
An p,ass;nrs Elou, ~
~
MIS- 'ehersoh DaVis was introduced
by ten. Gordon as the one whom Jetfer-
son Davis loved better than the con-
feaeraoy and haitian thar h;s ou ,;s.
" '' =, Wv" i'ie'
hs Nirs. pavis appeared the veterans
went wild with enthusiasm. A great
ovation was also giyen Mrs Stonewall
IaoLso, u,har sbo onno,roa
~, "rpN"
Inc ioiio"ihg resolution was INTRO
'uceo oy ueh' ''ephen u Lee OF Mis-
sisslPpl'
whereas In Atlanta ga, december 20 1898,
,,arauo ~ ,' 10 u"''eu n.a..s y, america