The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-02-20
REFUSED TO INOORSE
SIcLAwS CAMP WOULD NOT RE-
ADOPT RESOLUTIONS OF PRO-
TEST.
RECEIVED AS INFORMATION.
LETTER RELATIVE TO INVITATION
TO PRESIDENT.

McLavs Camp Refused Its IndOrse-
ment to the Resolutions of Zolli-
Golfer Camp of Nashville, which
Denounced the Invitation Extend
cd the President by the People of
Memphis, to visit That City During
the Confederate Reunion, as n PO-
IiticaI Scheme-Nhembers of Camp
Felt and said They Had Nothing to
DO With the Matter.
McLaws Camp of United Confederate
Veterans refused last night to indorse or
readopt the resolutions of the Zollicoffer
Camp, of Nashville. relative to the in
vltation extended the president to be the
guest of the city of Memphis, while the
annual reunion of veterans of the South
is in progress there this year.
The Zolheoffer Camp, in a set of resolu-
tions already published in the Morning
News, denounced the invitation to the
President as measure, originating in the
minds of a few citizens OF Memphis and
designed to advance their own political
ambitions, which was discourteous to the
United Confederate Veterans. The resolu-
lions called upon all the camps of the
general confederation to show their dis
approval of the alleged discourtesy by
refusing to send delegates to Memphis or
10 take any part in the reunion.
The resolutions Of the Zollicoffer Camp
and one or two others along the same
line have been Sent out to all the camps
from the general headquarters of the
confederation, in circular letter OF the
COMMUNICATIVE Chief, Gen. John B. Cor
don. When this letter was read to Nc
Laws Camp last night, a motion to re-
ceive it as information was adopted, after
a somewhat spirited debate.
Some of the members of the camp felt
and said that the motive of the men re-
sponsible for the invitation to President
Mckinley was simply to exhibit him
against background of Confederate vet
Grams, induce some of the more hysterical
of the latter to make some gushing
speeches. and out of the free advertising
thus engendered to manufacture political
capital and influence for themselves
Those who entertained these views said
that President Mckinley, a Union vet
eran and a member of the Grand Army
Of the Republic, had no place at reun-
Jon of Confederate soldiers, and that the
invitation extended him had been I'M
timely and unwise.
Others among them Capt. d. c. Purse,
favored the resolution TO receive the cir
cular letter of the commander in chief as
information and take no further action
upon it. Capt. Purse said that the inVi-
tation had come from the people of Mem
phis and not from the veterans, and that
the veterans were in no wise responsible
for President Mckinley's presence in the
reunion city, should he accept the invita-
ton and attend.
The United Confederate Veterans. by
the very constitution of their organi2a-
ton, had announced that political discuss
sions and politics were altogether outside
their purpose. If some citizens of Mem
phis wanted to advance their political in
terests. and felt they could accomplish
this by inviting President Mckinley to
visit their city, ii was a matter, thought
Capt. Purse. in which the veterans have
no interest.
ITO discuss such Matters said Capt.
Purse. cannot but result in harm to
the entire confedera ton of veterans and
Serve to weaken the bonds that bind us
together. We can't afford such discus
sions nor the ill-effects that they pro-
duce. President McKinley's presence in
Memphis cannot prevent any of us con-
Quoting ourselves with dignity and self
respect; he would not be our guest. and
we would owe him absolutely nothing.
This is none of our business, for Gen.
Gordon can be depended upon to handle
the situation with all needed delicacy and
wisdom. There is no reason why we
should affront either President Mckinley
or the people of Memphis"
A decided majority of the members took
this view of the situation and the mo-
ton to receive as information the circu-
lar letter from headquarters. containing
the Zollieoffer Camp resolutions, was
carried. No further action was taken.
The other Savannah camp. the Confed-
crate Veterans Association, indorsed the
resolutions at its last meeting.
The meeting of the camp was imbued
with additional interest through a paper
read by Adjutant A. X. Wilson, relating
his personal experiences as a private in
the Confederate army. Mr.. Wilson be-
gan with his muster into the service and
left himself in a Federal prison, whittier
he had been conveyed, after his capture
by the enemy, during the three days fight
at Gettysburg.
The paper was a record of individual
experience and impressions and viewed
historic events from the standpoint of a
private in the ranks. The camp passed a
vote of thanks to Mr.. Wilson after his
paper was concluded