The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-24
GEN. GORDON REELECTED
MUST CONTINUE TO ACT AS COM
MANDER OF CONFEDERATEs.
Only Way He Can Retire, His Com
rades Say, Is by Dying-New Or
leans Next Meeting Place.

DALLAS, Tex, April 23.-The United
Confederate Veterans tonight unanimously
reelected Gen. John B. Gordon command
er-in-chief; Gen. Stephen ID. Lee, COM
mander of the Army of the Tennessee De-
partment; Gen w L. Cabell, commander
of the Transmississippi Department, and
G. l. Walker, commander of the Depart
ment of Northern Virginia, to succeed the
late Gen. Wade Hampton. New Orleans
was selected as the place for the next re-
union. General Gordon 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, general, is by dying"
The largest crowd of the reunion was
present to-day. The bureau of information
gave out statement saying that lodgings
for 10000 people had been found. The es-
timated number of veterans present Was
1900. General Gordon called the conven-
ton to order at 1O:45, and memorial serv-
ices for the late Gen Wade Hampton be-
gan. Chaplain General Jones delivered the
invocation and General Lee followed with
a eulogy.
Private John Allen, of Mississippi, who
was to have been the orator of the day
yesterday, next introduced. He said
he could not be an orator without wind
MILL and that his windmill had blown down
and he had to stay at home and fix ii. Then
for an hour the Missjssippian entertained
his hearers with anecdote after anecdote.
In concluding his speech Mr.. Allen said:
1T was not the flash 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 ambition, but for principles and
sentiment, backed by the bravest, truest
women that ever lived. God bless our
country from sea to sea-
At this point there were cries of
wheeler, Wheeler" as a man booking
singularly like that general entered. He
was not General Wheeler. but he bore a
telegram from the latter, dated at Brook
lyn, as follows: Regret that bad cold
prevents my coming. Health, happiness,
good luck and Gods blessings to my De-
loved comrades"
General Gordon then announced that the
hour had come for the memorial services
for the Confederate dead. He mentioned
especially the name OF winnie Davis,
1.-The daughter OF the Confederacy." Chap
lain General ]. William Jones then paid
tribute to Varine Anne Davis and the Con-
federate generals.
At the afternoon session a resolution was
adopted withdrawing the support OF all
Confederate veterans from Grant Uni
versity, Chattanooga, Tenn, on account
of an alleged disparaging article concern
ing Southern women which, ii was stated
had been written by a professor OF that
university.
The report of the historical committee
General Lee chairman, was adopted. II
recommended the compilation OF material
that will help the historian and the student
to understand the civil war, it's causes and
its results and the preparation of brief
biographies and school histories that will
do justice to Southern leadership. Southern
character, Southern environment and
Southern development.
A resolution TO change the Confederate
Memorial day from May 26 to June 3. the
birthday of Jefferson Davis, but to allow
any State desiring a different date TO take
individual action. was passed.
The report of the Davis monument COM
mittee showed slow progress. There is $685.
900 on hand and $4,000 more is needed.
Work towards securing funds for the pro-
posed Southern women's monument was
also reported to be progressing slowly.
The report of the committee Bat
tie Abbey showed that of the 100000 nee
essary for tts construction there is now
on hand s176O53.
one OF the touching incidents Of the day
was the presentation OF Judge John H.
Reagan, the last survivor of the Davis
Cabinet, to the veterans.