The Kemper herald. (Scooba, Miss.) 1875-1908, 1905-06-22
THE REUNION
WAS BRILLIANT
A STRONG CONTRAST TO FIVE
YEARS AGO.
new ORLEANS SELECTED
Veterans Vote to Hold the Next Re-
union in the Crescent City. Battle
Abbey Fund Complete. $4,000 De-
posit for Davis Monument.

Louisville. For the second time iii
five years the United Confederate
Veterans and auxiliary organizations
gathered in Louisville for their annu-
al reunion, their reception under a
blazing sun and with miles of bril-
liant bunting flying in tn ebreeze, be-
ing in strong contrast to the weather
conditions of five years ago, when re-
cord breaking rains prevailed during
the entire period of the reunion and
even caused postponement of the
parade on the last day. The decora-
tons this year were on lavish scale
and it is remarked that the American
flag predominated.
The reunion was officially opened
by Gen. Bennett H. Young, command
er of the Kentucky division, who call
ed the perspiring mass of humanity in
the Horse Show building to order and
introduced the chaplain general, J.
William Jones, of Richmond, Va. DIR
Jones in his invocation prayed that
the blessing of Almighty God may
rest upon the president of these Unit
ed States and "that he may be en-
abld to be the president of this whole
country and of every section"
A few moments later Gov. j. C. w.
Beckham, in speaking Kentucky's
welcome to the old men in gray said
cit is fitting that you should meet
here on the borderland of the great
struggle, where we were so torn asun-
der. The great contest has been set
tied for all time. Peace has her vic
tories as well as war.
F'It is now gratifying to us all that
there is but one flag. In tender mem
ory We have laid away the stars and
bars and We rejoice that we have the
same flag that foated over us before
the war;"
A rousing reception was given the
commander-in-chief, Gen. Stephen d.
Lee, when he rose to respond for the
veterans to the address Of welcome.
Th general was in splendid voice de-
spite the long wait in the heated
building and his speech was inter
rupted many times by cheering.
Cheers were given the few remain
ing figures of the Confederacy as they
made their appearance. The venerable
Simon Bolivar Buckner, who is ap-
preaching his eightieth year, was
heartily greeted and delivered a.
speech which would have done credit
to man half his age.
The reception accorded to Gen. Joe
Wheeler was second to none OF the
day. He thanked the veterans for
the heartiness of their reception and
assured them that their greeting went
deep into his heart.
The following officers were elected: I:
Commander-in-c chief, Lieutenant
General, Stephen D. Lee, Mississippi
Commander trans-Mississippi de-
partment, Gen. w. L. Cabell,- Texas.
Commander Of the army Of Tennes-
see department, eut.-Gen: Clement
A. Evans, Georgia.
Commander army of northern Vlr-
ginia department, Irvine Walker;
South Carolina.
New Orleans had slight difficulty in
securing the convention of 1906
There was very little speechmaklng
and little in the way of song, but what
was given the delegates along these
lines was most excellent, the singing
of Miss Mollie Blanchard going
straight to the hearts of the veterans
Nashville made a fight which was a
surprise to the convention, but the
sentiment was strongly in favor OF the
Crescent City.
A conservative estimate of the num-
ber Of veterans in town, based on fig
ures given by railroad men OF expe-
rience. places the attendance at the
reunion at or near the 10000 mark
South Cardinals sponsor, Miss Eliz-
abth Tumpkin, was given an ovation
by the old men in gray at the conclu-
sion Of remarkable address Of greet
ing. This. young woman possesses a
splendid voice and she swayed her au-
dience alternatively to tears and then
cheers.
The report of the Davis monument
association says that $4,000 is now
in a bank drawing interest and the
monument to the dead chieftain IS
therefore assured. The reading OF
the report caused continued cheering
The Battle Abbey is now assured.
It will be built in Richmond, but the
exact site in that city has not yet
been decided upon. The suit For
$4,000 commission claimed by John