The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-01-06
SOLDIERS IOMBS
NEED ATTENTION
CONFEDERATE AS WE'LL AS
UNION MEN.
Work Suggested by the Late Presi-
dent Mckinley Taken Up by Sena-
tor Foraker-NOrthern Cemeteries
Should All Be Cared for by General
Government.
From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Building.

Il : F. +. f. i |
From The Journal Bureau, Colorado Building,
Washington.
Washington, Jan. 6.-This is an
era of good will between the north
and the south, and the best men on
both sides are anxious to draw closer
the bonds of union which We're sew
cred by the great civil conflict. An
impetus was given this desire by Pres
ident Mckinley in his celebrated
speech at Atlanta, Dec. IA, 1898, when
he said. addressing members of the
old eonfederacy, that "the time has
now come in the evolution of senu-
ment and feeling under the providence !
of God, when in the spirit OF fraternity
we should share with you in care of
the graves of the confederate SOL
diers.'
Following that address machinery
was set in motion, north and south.
to make it's sentiments effective. Fin
ally, Il bill was introduced in congress, !
providing for carrying out the presl-
dents suggestions, but nothing came
Of it, aside from some work at the |
Arlington cemetery, as the work of
education on both sides had not pro7
crossed far enough to make hasty leg
| Station desirable.
That bill was reintroduced in the
| present session Of congress by Sena-
| tor Foraker of Ohio, who was it's
cham pion several years ago, and al
ready he has had it reported favor
| ably and the outlook for action is
| believed to be exceedingly bright. The
! entire scheme may not be undertake
ell at this time, but it is thought that
a start will be made, and that as a
result it will not be long before con-
federate graves in the north are
| hv ~
menr the same as union graves.
Veteran Societies Requests.
The confederate veteran societies all
over the south have Endorsed the idea
with nue.. enthusiasm, and generally
their resolutions have followed the
lines Of those adopted by the union
confederate veterans, at Memphis, in
1901, when congress was respectful
ly requested to take appropriate ac-
ton looking to the care and preserva-
ton Of the graves Of the confederate
dead now in the various cemeteries
in the northern states In keeping
with this idea, confederate societies
everywhere, under the direction OF
Senator Foraker, and other union SOL
diers. have compiled data for the use
Of congress s.r~1r.
Already s1,2O0,OOO has been appro-
priated by congress for headstones
for the graves Of union soldiers, but
very little has been done for the care
=, of the graves of confederates. Under
!, act of congress, in 1900, the confed-
!. crate dead in Arlington cemetery were
r reburied. and suitable marble head
stones were provided, but in other
!, cemeteries the wooden headboards
l. formerly marking confederate graves
J long ago rotted away, and while
- some of the graves have marble slabs,
), many have no mark whatever, While
others have merely number CORE
:; spending with that in the cemetery
J; register. Outside the national GENE
teries there are probably 100000 con-
;; federate dead, uncared for by the gov
n n ernnent in any manner, and the rap
: idly increasing number Of burials
s, necessitatinS new registers, and the
- obliteration of old grave lines due tc
the lapse of time, render 1T lmpera'
:; tive that it anything is to be done fol
:; the confederate dead it ought not tt
- be delayed.
3; The renter ment Of confederate deat
er at Arlington, and the marking of the
e. graves with marble slabs, was but {
,; beginning of the plan which Presi
?; dent Mckinley had in mind. 1t wa
u, his purpose to do similar work IN ev
y, cry cemetery in the north where thes
dead lie. whether these cemeteries ar
n. national in character or otherwise
., There are $500 confederate dead il
4 national cemeteries, so that more thai
y two thirds Of the total number ar
y in cemeteries not under federal con
"a troll, where they presumably receiv
no attention whatever. Allowing TO
an unreOorled Deaths. the claim is mad
that $4,000 confederates are buried i
northern cemeteries.
% Cost Would Be Small.
81 White marble headstones like thos
20 recently placed over the graves in tn
90 new confederate section at Airing
ton. similarly inscribed, can be dc
livered at national cemeteries at $50
each, ready for setting-thus maxim
the cost for $4,000 graves $1,000
New registers, clerical labor and ma
terial would probably cost $4,000
D and the total amount needed to sa
isfactorily accomplish this desirab
work may be estimated at $4,000
3 The good results to accrue fro
8 the removal of fruitful and pc
sistent cause of friction and bite
? ness, and the honor thus done
81 valiant American soldiers, whose lo'
4 of country led to their separate
: from home, and to death, and tt
Q honor the government would conf
gu on itself in carrying out the compr
hensive, noble and patriotic sentime
}, ., of President Mckinley, would we'll r
pay the trouble and expense.
81 It is in this spirit that Senator Flo
aker has gone to work, and there
much cause for rejoicing because h
labors seem likely at this session
> congress to be crowned with succe:
OF course, it is not necessary to lo'
after the confederate graves in t
nss south, for that labor has been pc
formed by the confederate vetera
long ago.
line w W. 'eihio'Ae.
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