The Savannah morning news., 1904-02-18
ASK VETERANS
NOT To ACCEPT
ESCORT OF THE MILITARY.
SONS OF VETERANS WANT TO ACT
ON MEMORIAL DAY.


Ranks of Sons Are Depleted and
They Cannot Make Proper show
ing-Camp Is Proper Escort On
Distinctive Confederate Day--Com-
mittee viii Bring Matter Before
Vcternns-SeVeraI Camps, Report
ed as Lax in Enforcing Eligible
ity Rules, Were Condemned.
A request will be made of the Con-
federate Veterans of Savannah not to
accept the services of more than one
military organization, as an escort to
the cemeteries on Memorial Day.
The request will be made in writing
by the Francis S. Barlow Camp, Sons
of Confederate Veterans, in accordance
with the action taken at the February
meeting last night. The request is
based on the grounds that, owing to
the fact that many of the Sons are
members of the different military COM
panies, they are forced to turn out with
them and, so are unable to march with
the Sons. and that furthermore, the
Sons of Veterans are the proper ones
to act as escorts on a distinctive Con-
federate Day.
The matter was brought before the
camp by Mr.. Kent. who called atten-
ton to the fact that at the meeting
of Lafayette McLaws Camp, U. C. ".
on Tuesday night, the matter of ask
ing the Sons to turn out in as large
numbers as possible, and act as escort,
had been taken up. Though no Off
cial action had been taken OH the mat
ter. it was evident that the Veterans
expected the Sons to act as escorts,
and in Wow of the character of the
celebration, no more fit body could be
secured.
The reason given by the Sons for not
king q better showing in numbers
on previous memorial days, was that
fully 20 per cent of their members be-
! longed to the different military organ
| izations, and as these organizations
usually turned out on Memorial Day,
it was compulsory with them to march
with the military instead Of with the
Sons.
Would Satisfy the Military.
1t was further suggested by several
| of those present who were also MEM
| bers of military organizations, that the
military had rendered it's services as
| an escort mainly as a matter of cour-
tesy and they would be perfectly sat
| isfied if they were not invited to par
| ticipate.
After some discussion the camp de-
| cided to have the Standing Committee
on Memorial Day Celebrations write to
| each of the camps of veterans in the
city asking them not to accept the
services of more than one military
| company as escort on Memorial Day,
| in order that the Sons of Veterans
might be better enabled to make a good
| showing The committee was further
empowered to confer with the veterans
! in regard to arrangements.
| Attention was called to the fact that
many of the CAMPS of Sons IN, Geor-
| gia and other states were becoming
| very lax in regard TO the qualifications
for membership. Especial attention
| was called to one camp which admit
ted persons to membership on the mere
assertion that they were descendants
of those who had fought in the army
or navy of the Confederate States.
Raise Standard of Camps.
Attention was further called to the
! fact that the Virginia camps did not
require the applicant to be descended
! from one who had fought for the Con-
federacy, but admitted those who were
/
| the Confederate cause. This latter ac-
| ton is in distinct violation Of the con-
stitution of the order.
| After some discussion 1t was decided
TO instruct the delegates to the Ma
| tional and State declarations to re-
quest that some action be taken to
put a stop to this practice, and that
| clause be inserted in the constitution
making it compulsory for applicants to
prove that they were descended of
actual participants in the war in eth
er the Confederate army or navy
In addition Adjt. Miller was instruct
ed to inform the national body that
the Savannah camp was strongly OPP
posed to any relaxation of the require
ment of eligibility. He was also in
structed to ask other camps for an ex-
preston of opinion on the matter and
to instruct their delegates to the Ma
tional Federation to take a definite po-
sition regarding the question.
Picture of Floral Tribute.
Comrade Harry T. Beckett, who car
ried the floral emblem of the camp to
Gen Gordon's funeral at Atlanta, pre-
sented the Savannah camp with a
handsome picture of the Savannah
delegation and the beautiful emblem
which they carried. On motion a vote
of thanks was extended to the donor
for his kindness.
The thanks of the camp was also ex-
tended to Comrades Beckett and
OMara for their efforts on the night
of the entertainment to the Confederate
veterans of the city.
-e-e-s