The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1904-06-14
CHOICE OF A COMMANDER
Believed General Lee Will Be
Chosen UNANIMOUSLY.
Proposition for Selection OF a Perma-
1ent Meeting Place VIII Come Up
letter from General Joseph
wheeler.

10 crowded tonight with visitors. vet
Grams and delegates to the fourteenth
annual reunion of the United Confed-
crate Veterans. which opens officially
tomorrow.
All day long and far into the night
trains were arriving at frequent inter-
walls from all parts of the South, bring
ing the old warriors, their friends.
families and sponsors, all eager to fill'
their part in the reunion, which has
since 1890 been a source of much pleas
ure. There are delegations present
from Missouri and as far north as
Montana. The Pat Cleburne division
of the Texas veterans, with headquar-
ters at Waco, arrived during the after.
noon, but the FIVE other Texas special
trains are less fortunate, they having
been delayed by a washout near Pine
Bluff, their destination not being
reached until late tonight.
The Battle Abbey committee met to-
night at the Baptist publication house.
The. most important matter taken up
for consideration was the report of tie
submitted to the convention tomorrow
for its action.
Report of Abbey Committee.
The report of the committee shows
that the treasurer has in his hands
nearly $1o6.o00 In cash. In addition
thereto there is the gift of the city of
Richmond, $4,000; subscriptions col
lectable, $4,000; balance due from
Charles Broadway Rouss, $4,000. This
makes the total money available tor
the erection Of the abbey 100000.
The committee is trying TO raise $780,
00e, but the work can begin any time
now with the money in hand. The
exact date for the inauguration of the
work, however, has not been decided.
The suit against J. w. Underwood,
the report says. has not been settled,
but is in the hands of competent coun-
sell who are bringing the matter to a
satisfactory conclusion. The difference
between Mr.. Underwood and the Abbey
trustees arises as to the amount due
the Abbey Committee from the amount
collected by Mr.. Underwood. Mr.. I'm
derwood was removed as chairman two
years ago and was succeeded by DIR. J.
William Jones of Richmond.
The committee states that more
funds will be raised as soon as possi-
BILE, to establish a complete library or
American and especially Southern his
tory, which will become part OF the
abbey, Numerous portraits and
statues of Southern soldiers, which
have been presented from time to time
bv Southern women will find resting
place in the abbey.
To CompeIete the Sum.
Or Jones, superintendent of the abb
bey. will make trips through the south
as soon as the dates can be arranged,
TO raise money to fill the amount re-
ouired for the historic structure. he
requests all camps of veterans, of sons
and daughters and memorial associa-
lions TO make donations, both large and
small. to aid the abbey fund. The
historical committee of which the
scboIarly General Clement A. Evans, OF
Georgia is chairman, will submit re-
mort to the camp tomorrow setting
forth the congratulations of the COM
vnJttee to the South on the reforms
rnade in the histories in which the
south is now much more fairly treat
I'D by authors than formerly.
1,his has been accomplished, the re-
mort saws, only by the persistent ef-
forts on the part of the people OF the
south. This committee also will re-
nort on the battle flag matter, which
S1as agitated the veterans for several
years. 49,.
che battle flag is square with cross
lines from corner to corner. The con-
sertJon of many has been that the flag
was oblong instead of square.
THE report of the committee on
%reatment of prisoners during the war,
also made by the historical committee
viii be presented. 1t shows that in all
Instances humane treatment was CIV
en- Federal prisoners A large amount
~ data on this subject has been col
Iectaa and It is probable that the COM
,otttee will continue it's investigation
nnotber wear when a final report will
be made.
Ganeral stephen D. Lee. commander
in chief Of the veterans, to-day receiV-
ed a letter from Gen. Joseph wheeler.
who is now at Sandy Hook, N. j.. ex-
pressing his regret at not peins aole
10 attend the Nashville reunion. Gen
eraI Wheeler said he had hoped to
lend his voice in an effort to urge spe-
cial exertion by the veterans in hunt
ing up war rosters and records to be
printed as permanent archives. The
General says further;
The record of the Confederate SOL
der for superb chivalry is without
paralIeI, and In years to come. future
generations will value beyond price
this evidence that an ancestor was one
of the knightly heroes who fought IN
the great battles of 1851 and 1855.
After years of effort the law was
enacted which secured the printing
and preservation of these records ana
the work can only lie completed by
the cooperation and efforts of Con-
federates who must search for and
learn these precious documents.
There is another matter, my dear
General. which is very near my heart.
Many of our comrades are disabled by
wounds. or inhrmities caused by ex-
plosions and no longer able to pro-
cure the comforts, and in many cases
the necessities of life. and during Ihe
next two or three years the wants of
these old soldiers will be greater than
they have been in former years, and