Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-05-01
GORDON REELECTED.
Confederates Again Choose Their
Old Command.r.in.Chief.
NEW ORLEANS NEXT MEETING PLACE
Memorial Services for the Late Gen Wade
Hampton and for the Confederate Dead
Private John Aliens Address
Judge Reagan Presented.

Confederate Veterans last night
unanimously reelected Gen. John B.
Gordon commander-in-chief; Gen.
Stephen ID. Lee, commander of the
Army of the Tennessee department;
Gen. W. L. Cabell, commander of
the Transmississippi department,
and elected {. |. Walker commander
of the department Of Northern Vir-
ginia, to succeed the late Gen. Wade
Hampton. New Orleans was selected
as the place for the next reunion.
Gen. Gordon was given no chance
to retire. A voice from the back Of
the hall cried: 1.-THE only way you
can get away from the Office, gen.
eral, is by dying"
The largest crowd Of the reunion
was present yesterday. The bureau
of information gave out a statement
that lodgings for 100000 people had
been found. The estimated number
of veterans present was $4,000. Gen.
Gordon called the convention to or
der at 10:45 and memorial services
for the late Gen. Wade Hampton be-
gan. Chaplain General Jones deliv-
cred the invocation and Gen. Lee fol-
lowed with a eulogy. Gen. Gordon
spoke briefly of the dead soldier.
Nearer, My God, to Thee" was then
sung by the audience, following
which eulogistic resolutions for Gen.
Hampton were adopted.
"Private" John Allen, of MISSISSIPPI
pi, was next introduced and for an
hour the Mississippian entertained
his hearers with anecdote after an
ecdote. In concluding his speech
Mr.. Allen said: 1T was not the
fash of the generals sword that
struck terror to the Yankees hearts.
1t was the rebel yell and the crack
of the privates' rifles. They were
the men who kept the Yankees off
the generals while they slept. They
fought not for conquest, nor for am
bition, but for principle and senti-
ment, backed by the brayest, truest
women that ever lived. God bless
our country from sea to sea-
At that point there were cries of
"Wheeler, Wheeler" as a man look
ing singuarly like that general en-
tered. He was not Gen. Wheeler,
but he bore a telegram from the
latter, dated Brooklyn, as follows;
"Regret that bad cold prevents my
coming. Health, happiness, good
luck and Gods blessings to my be-
loved comrades"
Gen. Gordon then announced that
the hour had come for the memorial
services for the confederate dead.
He mentioned especially the name
of "Winnie' Davis, 'the Daughter
of the Confederacy." Chaplain Gen
eral ]. William Jones then paid
tribute to Varina Anne Davis and
the confederate generals.
Gen. Stephen d. Lee appealed for
the decoration of confederate SOL
diers' graves by the government.
At the afternoon session a resolu-
ton was adopted withdrawing the
support Of all confederate veterans
from Grant university, Chattanoo-
ga, Tenn, on account OF an alleged
disparaging article concerning south
ern women, which it was stated had
been written by professor of that
university.
The report of the historical COM
mittee, Gen. Lee, chairman, was
adopted. 1t recommended the COM
pilation of material that will help
understand the civil war, its causes
and its results and the preparation
of brief biographies and school his
tories that will do justice to south.
ern leadership, southern character,
southern environment and southern
development.
A resolution to change the confed.
crate memorial day from May 26 to
June 3, the birthday of Jefferson
Davis, but to allow any state desir-
ing different date to take individual
action, was passed.
The report Of the Davis monument
committee showed slow progress.
There Is $4,000 on hand and $4,000
more Is needed. Work toward secur.
ing funds for the proposed south.
ern women's monument was also re-
ported to be progressing slowly.
The report Of the committee on
Battle Abbey showed that of the
100000 necessary for its construc.
ton there is now on hand $l76,053.
One Of the touching incidents OF
the day was the presentation OF
Judge John II. Reagan, the last SUR
viving member of the Davis cabinet,
to the veterans.
At the convention of the United
Sons of Confederate Veterans yes
terday Commander-in-Chief r. b.
Haughton, of St. Louis, delivered his
annual address, following which rou-
tine business was transacted.
The kaliph's parade furnished en-
tertainment for the crowds in the
evening. There were 80 floats.