The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-06-14
Thousands of Confsderates IT, rive to Take Part in Great
 Reunion Beginning Today
GEN. MICKLE'S REPORT Is
 INTERESTING ID COMRADES
DeLth Rate During the Past Year Haa Been Unusually Large, Which He Attributes In Part to
 Severe Winter.

Louisville, Ky, June 13.-Louisville, decorated to an extent hitherto unknown and smiled on by typical summer wealth CT, extended the hands of hospitality to- day to a never-ending stream of arriving veterans who have come to Kentucky to attend the fifteenth annual reunion of the United Confederate Veterans which opens tomorrow
 In every hotel and at almost every cor ner in the business section of the city the men wearing the gray are to be found. To all purposes the reunion Is al- ready in progress. although the opening is officially set for tomorrow. Among the prominent ex-Confederates now here are Gen. Stephen D. Lee, commander-in- chief; Gen. Joe Wheeler, Gen. Andrew J. West of Atlanta, commanding the North Georgia brigade, who came in at the head of large delegation of Georgians; Lieut.. Gen. Irwin Walker, Gen. simon Bolivar Buckner, Gen. William D. Tickle. New Orleans; Adjt. Gen. and Chief of Stan w. E. Mcke, William Jones of Richmond; Gen. Clement A. Evans of At lanta, the chairman of the history com mittee and the battle abbey committee
 It was the intention of the history com mittee to hold a meeting this afternoon, but owing to the non-arrival or several of its members the meeting has been put over until tomorrow. Governor Beck ham, who will extend the welcome of the state to the veterans, is expected to- morrow morning
 Texans Begin to Arrive.
 The Virginia and Maryland delegations came in this morning and some of the great army of Texans arrived during the afternoon. The Tennesseeans began ar irving in force this evening. followed closely by detachment Of the Arkansas regiments
 Much regret has been expressed over the receipt of a letter from Judge Emery Speer of Macon, Ga, announcing his in- ability to be present. 1t had been ex- pected that Judge Speer would address the Orphan brigade, O. which he is a member.
 The accommodations arranged for the veterans are on a larg9 scale and are be- lleved to be complete. At several places barracks have been arranged for the ac- commodation of 1000 veterans, and the old men will be fed in buildings near by. It matters not the hour the wearer of the gray presents himself for something to eat. 1t will be ready and waiting for him twenty-four hours out of the day.
 Gen. w. E. Mckle, adjutant general and chief of staff, ha1 completed his annual report, which Is highly interest ing. It says:
 Mlckle's Report Is Interesting.
 "It is a source of sincerest pleasure 10 me to be able to report that the debt has been resting on the federation for a number of years has been paid in full. That this matter has been liquidated is due to the extraordinary efforts put forth by you, and while the urgent appeall made by you to the wealthiest members of our order was sent to near three hun dred people and should have had most generous responses, the amount realized was barely sufficient to wipe out the debt This luke warmness on the part of those who were in q position to re- spond most liberally is sad commentary on the degeneracy of the times and dls- plays deplorable lack of interest by men who were once so ready to share the dangers and deprlvatious that ren- dered the Confederate armies famous throughout the world.
 "There has been carried on the roster of the order for a number of years many camps who had made no payment of any kind since they were chartered, some of these really never had any existence, hay ing died abornng.' After conferring with the adjutant general of the various di- visions these camps have been put on the dormant list and no mail matter for the present will be sent them. This means a considerable annual saving to the order There are still on the roster number of camps who do not eontri- bite to the finances of the order, make returns of any kind or manifest the least interest in the federation. As soon as definite information can be secured regarding them they will be added to the dormant list
 Death Rate Exceptionally Heavy
 "rhe death rate among our associates has been exceptionally heavy during the past year owing to the advanced age of the men and the unusually severe winter. From all sections come greatly increased mortuary reports to which must be add ed the names of some of our most dis tinguished and jealous leaders-George G. Vest, Mathew w. Ransom, John H. Rea- gan William B. Bate, John J. Hor- ner, Cullen A. Batel. Fitzhugh Lee. Thom- as J. Churchill and our beloved Mildred Lee all of whom in one way or another added lustre to our dear southland and to it's greatness and renown.
 Dues Are Paid Regularly.
 "I am proud to be able to report that at no period in the history of the feder- ation have the camps paid their dues with more promptness or fin greater num- bers. At the Nashville meeting only about 46 2-3 per cent of the camps paid in full all claims against them while at the present time 47% per cent of them are all present and accounted for
 "The field from which new camps are to be gathered is limited and the ma terial is rapidly diminishing by the hero ism of time. Yet there are those who once were units of our great armies who. desire to associate themselves together and connect themselves with our social literary historical and benevolent order.
 
 (NnaAinIlad