The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-04-29
MIR. OWENS CANDIDACY
ALABAMA WILL PROPOSE HIM FOR
 COMMANDER-IN-CH
He Is the Present Head of the Alabama Division, United Sons
 of Confederate
 Vetepuua.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans in the Alabama Division express great en- couragement over the candidacy of Commander Thomas Nj. owen for Com mander- -in- Chief of the entire organt- zation. The election will take place in Louisville at the annual reunion of the United Confederate Veterans in the middle of June.
 It is said that a majority of the camps that have been heard from ex- press high regard for Dr. Owen. The comrades of the commander are still working. however, and will not let up until the day for the selection.
 Commander Owen was unanimously proposed for the office which he seeks when the Alabama Division had its fourth annual session in Mobile last November. The candidacy was started then in the form of a committee which reported a resolution to the confeder- ation carrying the nomination.
 The resolution was highly compli- mentary of the qualifications of pr. Owen, saying that as commander of the State Division he has shown "an en- thusiastic and earnest zeal in the per- formance of his duties and In the ac- complishment of the objects and pur- poses of the Confederation" Refer ence in the resolution was also made to the historical work of Or. owen, who as Director of the State Department of Archives and History has attracted wide and favorable attention"
 Commander owen on November IS, 1897, was appointed judge advocate on the staff of P. H. Nell. first Comman- der of the Alabama Division. On Oc- tober 12, 1898, he was appointed Com mander of the Division and served con tinuously until September 9, 1901, when he voluntarily retired. He was, how ever, reelected Commander November 12, 1902. November 4, 1903, and Mo- vember 15, 1904.
 Dr. Owen has been likewise promi- nent in Confederation affairs. At the reunion in Nashville, 1904, he respond ed to the address of welcome on be- half of the United Sons of Confederate Veterans bbefore the joint session Of Veteran and Sons. He served as a member of the Historical Committee, 19O2-1903, and as chairman Of the com mittee, 1903-1904.
 The excellent plan of Alabama to meet its duty to its public records and history by a separate Department of State, established by the Legislature in February, 1901, has proven very sue cessful under the administration of Dr. owen, who has been the Director ever since the Department has been in ex- istence. The Department has met with such favor universally that he was in- 'vited before the Legislature of Ten nessee to explain his methods to that body and as presented by the Director before the wisconsin Historical Society the plan was approved. It has been copied by the State of Mississippi.
 The committee which presented the candidacy of Commander owen consist ed of w. W. Brandon of Montgomery, Chairman; w. B. Bankhead of Hunts vilIa Clarence J Owens of Anniston, Howard Gaillard of Mobile, and VIII T. Sheehan of Montgomery.
 Commander owen has not yet an- nounced the sponsor and maids of honor at the reunion in Louisville. It is understood, however, that he has about completed his choices and will name them within the next few days.