The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-04-28
DIFFERENCES IN
The OPINIONS
OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS
REGARDING PROPOSED CHANGE OF
MEMORIAL DAY TO JUNE 3.


Holidays Now.
Confederate veterans of Savannah
differ in their opinion as to changing
the Memorial Day from April 26 to
June g. Capt. Young is strongly OPP
posed to a change, while Capt. Wilson
of Lafayette McLaws Camp is just as
earnest in his support of the idea.
The idea of making June 3-the an
niversary of the birth of President
jefferson Davis the Confederate
Memorial Day was suggested by
the Hon. John w. Akin of
Gainesville in his address be-
fore the veterans of Atlanta on Tues
day. The idea was enthusiastically re-
| ceived there, the entire audience SEEM
ing to be in favor of the change.
number of the Savannah veterans
were asked about the matter yester-
day and those interviewed differ wide
ly in their opinions. A large number
were strongly opposed to any change,
| while nearly as many favored the idea.
Reasons were advanced by both sides
in favor of their position.
The length of time that April &c
has been observed, the appropriate sea-
son of the year, the event comment
GRATED, and other local reasons were
among the chief arguments of those
| opposed to a change.
| The lessening of the number of holi-
| days, the appropriateness of making
the day on which tribute is paid to
the dead Confederates the anniversary
OF the birth of the Confederate Presi-
dent, and the making of the Confed-
crate Memorial Day uniform through
out the South, were the chief reasons
advanced by the supporters of Mr..
Atkins suggestion.
Capt. Young Opposes Change.
Among those who are opposed to a
| change is Capt. L. G.. Young, for the
last four years commander of the Con-
| federate Veterans Association, and a
| veteran who has always taken the
| greatest interest in all matters per-
| tanning to the veterans and the cause
for which they fought. In speaking
| of the matter, Capt. Young said:
| Il am opposed to any change. April
rs has been set aside by the Legisla-
| ture for some time and we have all
become accustomed to think of it as
Memorial Day.
1.-THE season of the year is also most
appropriate; the time in Georgia when
| Iu6Ie ID the greatest PERCUSSION OF HOW
| ers. AS the anniversary of the last
battle of the Confederate armies, the
real death of the sacred cause for
| which we fought, l think it a most ap-
| propriate day to observe.
Then, too, on June many of us
are absent from our homes and could
not meet with our camps. l believe
that all honor should be paid to Pres
ident Davis in every way, but 1 think
that Memorial Day and Davis Day
should be kept separate and distinct.
| Memorial Day should be a day stand
ing out by itself. Let Davis birthday
also be observed by itself.
"The ones who made April 26 Me
mortal Day were wise in their choice,
both as TO the time of year and the
| event commemorated. 1 believe that
they have made the best choice possi-
BILE, and that April &c should remain
as our Memorial Day."
Capt. Wilson FavOrs Change.
Capt. A. K. Wilson, for number of
years adjutant of Lafayette McLaws
| Camp, United Confederate Veterans,
heartily favors change. In speaking
of the matter he said:
II like the idea and have suggested
| it several times heretofore. We have
too many holidays now and Memorial
Day and Davis Day come very close
| together. Why not combine them and
| reverence the cause, it's heroes and
our chieftain at one, and the same
| time.
II also believe that more honor
should be paid President Davis than is
| paid him now. l never remember a
parade being held on his birthday, and
there is no observance save exercises
in the hall at night. His loyalty to
the cause, his sacrifices in it's inter
ests, the love in which he was held by
every Confederate soldier. all make it
very fitting to make the anniversary
| of his birth the Confederate Memorial
| Day.
Uniformity in the south.
Then it would produce uniformity
| throughout the South. Under the pres
ent arrangement different states OBJ
serve different days as Memorial Day.
All the states were united in the strug
gle, and they should unite in honoring
the heroes who gave up their lives in
| defense of their states.
Taking everything into considera-
| ton, l believe the change is an adj
visable one. A member of the Daugh-
tiers of the Confederacy stated that
| there were not so many flowers in
| June as in April Still there are many
| flowers in that month, and even were
flowers unattainable, the myrtle wreath
is the emblem which we place on the
graves, and this is always to be had.
| l heartily favor the change"