Evening star., 1901-05-01
CONFEDERATES' REBURlAL
STIR CAUSED By SECRETARY ROOTS
RECENT ORDER.
Mrs. Randolph of Richmond Protests
fOrmity With Legislation.
Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.

Special Dispatch to The Evening Star.
RICHMOND, Va. May 1.-The order of
Secretary Root for the reburiai of con-
federate soldiers in Arlington cemetery has
aroused the ladies' confederate organiza-
items here to a high pitch. The Daugh-
ters Of the Confederacy and Ladies' Holly
wood Association desire to have them re-
moved to Hollywood. Richmond, where so
many confederate dead already lie The
principal objection. named by the ladies Is
the threat made by certain G. A. r. men
to desecrate the confederate graves II
Secretary Roots order is carried out
Mrs. Norman V. Randolph of this city. a
member of the committee on reinterment
of the ladies' confederate organizations, has
been in correspondence with Secretary
Root, who informed her by letter that he
had directed the auartermaster general to
proceed to execute the provision Of the act
of Congress making an appropriation for
the removal of the bodies of l2s confeder-
ate soldiers buried In the National Soldiers
Home at Washington, and 1876 in the Ma
tional cemetery at Arlington, to be reburied
at Arlington in a proper spot, and their
graves marked by headstones
Mrs. Randolph declares ii is heartless not
to allow these bodies to be removed here,
and she this morning sent kilograms of pro-
test to the Secretary of War and to the
quartermaster general The message to
Secretary Root is as follows:
Letter received on approval of site for
confederate dead. In the name of women
Of Virginia l protest and beg your con-
sideration. Mrs. n. V. RANDOLPH,
Committee on Refinement"
Legislation on the Subject.
1t is stated at the War Department that
the action taken by Secretary Root in re-
spect to the reburial of the confederate
dead at Arlington cemetery is in strict con-
formty with the requirements of special
act of Congress That act requires that the
bodies of lbs confederate soldiers buried In
the National Soldiers Home at Washing
ton and the bodies of 136 confederate SOL
dlers buried in the Arlington cemetery
shall be reburied at the Arlington Gem
etery in a suitable spot to be selected by
the quartermaster general of the armv
Provision was made for marking the new
graves with headstones. An Approximation
OF S2,ao was made for the purpose This
statute was passed at the first session Of
the last Congress- and, it is understood at
the war Department that the legislation
was enacted at the instance of southern
congressman.
Soon after the law took effect. however.
opposition was manifested toward fts uro-
visions by the representatives of certain
confederate organizations. The result was
that the authorities suspended action IN
the matter. Acting under instructions from
the Secretary of War Quartermaster Cen
efai Ludington investigated the question
and set apart section in the Arlington
cemetery for the proposed reinterments
This was in June last.
The opposition to the plan was revived
ana considerable correspondence has taken
place between the officials of the War De-
partment and ladies representing certain
confederate organizations at Richmond and
elsewhere.
Secretary Roots Order.
The matter remained in that condition
until few days ago, when Secretary Root
instructed the quartermaster general to
carry out the law, at the same time In
forming all the parties interested of his
action.
General Ludington placed the matter In
the hands of Col. True, the depot quarter
master in this city. and he has Invited pro-
posals for the work. 1t is understood that
Secretary Root acted in this matter on
representations made by Senator Cock
rell, who has always shown deep personal
interest in the subject and was mainly
instrumental in securing the legislation to
carry 1t into effect.
1t is further stated that the action of the
department is in line with President Nc
Kinley's policy of giving the same care and
attention to the graves of the confederate
dead as is given to those who fell on the
Union side. In her telegram to the quar-
termaster general Mrs. Randolph protested
against the proposed. action in the name of
the women of Virginia" and added: we
nave no right to place our dead against the
protest of the G. A. R. In reference to
this IT Is said that no protest has been
made by the G. A. r.
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