The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-10-09

SEVENTH ANNUAL U. ID.
 c. CONVENTION.
 Last evening in St. Louis the eleventh annual convention of the Uni- ted Daughters of the Confederacy ad- journed after five days full of the con ure The convention opened at 9 a. m. on Tuesday when. the President Mrs. A. T. Smythe was escorted to the rostrum by some St. Louis chill dren of the Confederacy. A Montgom- cry woman writes of Mrs. Smythe:
 ''She is so lovely--a typical Southern woman of the old school. She has so much tact and sweetness. and of Mrs smythe's report she writes:
 After saying: Tt is with great pleasure and some alarm that l greet you from this unaccustomed position, and asking that all unite in an earnest desire for harmony and success, and give her their kindly sympathy and help and pardon short comings, Mrs, Smythe had the following to say of the present state of the order:
 It is but eleven years years since our association was formed. The first printed minutes were of the third an- nual convention held in Nashville in 1ss6. when the report showed seventy eight chapters. The full list of mem- bers was published in the slim pamph- let which contained also these min- utes.
 The last minutes of 1903 show 745 chapters and 3s.S90 members. and our recording secretary will tell you of still further increase. Not only in numbers but in earnest purposes and accom- plished work we have made steady progress.
 Mrs. smythe alluded tenderly to the death of General John B. Gordon, and said: "A committee of our ex- Presidents Mrs. James Rounsaville, Mrs. Edwin G. Weed and Mrs. Katie Cabell Currie has ben asked to pre- pare and present for your considera- fectionate sympathy with the Associa- ton of Confederate veterans in this our common affliction."
 Mrs. Smythe next spoke of the com pletion of the Jefferson Davis monu- ment as the most important work of the Daughters of the Confederacy and for full particulars referred to the officers of the Jefferson Davis Monu- ment Association.
 Among the additional committees suggested by Mrs. Smythe in her re- port was a committee on Jurisprudence to set during the convention and to WHiCH DS IcleEIS Su all uueS- tions of the Interpretation of the law as laid down in the constitution and bylaws of the U. D. C.. She sSid: "As all your former presidents know, numberless questions are asked year by year which must be decided by the president according to her con. scientious understanding of our writ. | ten law.
 The very same point may arise witt each succeeding president, so that with all the labour and effort spent. nc progress is made: there has been nc permanent recorded decision. A committe on Jurisprudence should be appointed at the opening of eacf convention, to whom all decisions mentioned by the president in her re- port should be referred. to be ap proved or disapproved by them, ant | then reported to the convention, whicf by its final approval or disapprova sets the seal upon these decisions ana so puts them beyond future doubt With each year certain number of questions will thus be set at res and a system of law established. tC be found on record in the minEtes. Without such a record each presi dent is liable, perhaps unconsciousis and unintentionally to reverse the de. cision of her predecessors. A list Of such decisions made by your president during the past year Is appended. | Tn Mrs. smythe's report were the following:
 Decisions.
 1. That the president has no power to interfere In disputes between di- visions and chapters. on points on which the constitution of the United Daughters of the Confderacy is si- lent.
 9. That certificates of membership in the United Daughters of the Con federacy and badges. cannot be talk en back from members resigning from the association.
 8. That the president has no au- thority or control as the constitution now stands, over so-oalled auxiliary or junior chapters---no such chapters be- ing mentioned in the constitution of the United Daughters of the Confed- eracy.
 That while young girls and children may be admitted as members in regu- larly chartered chapters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy If those chapters so desire, children are not competent to get out charters for chap ters of United Daughters of the Con- federacy.
 4. That titles cannot be applied to persons or places at the discretion of president or other officers, unless con- ferred by the vote of the associa- tion.
 On this point a word should be said: It is becoming the habit to put on many papers of the United Daughters of the Confederacy the word Head quarters" This is apparently not dis approved of by many as 1t has also been put on some State papers-as the divisions have a perfect right to do if so disposed-but to others 1t is dis agreeable, and it Is truly and properly said, has never been formally adopted or conferred on any place by the Uni ted Daughters of the Confederacy.
 The title does not seem appropri- ate for the use of a woman's society and enquiry shows that so far as has been ascertained 1t is not used on the papers of any other woman's society and lays us open to the question not infrequently and laughingly asked. il we are a military organization.
 5. Thats a State division wishing for reasons good to itself to number It's chapters within the division in any the chapters shall in printed rosters Der of the charter issued to them by United Daughters of the Confederacy
 6. That the authoritative decision of a body can only be obtained from such body when legally assembled and acting as A whole. The action oi the competent parts acting separately and individually is not the action oi the body.
 I, That as the constitution now