Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-04-25
SOLDIERS
OF SOUTH
REUNION
Old Confederate Veterans
Have a Grand Meet
ing at New Orleans

@sw Orleans. La, April 25.-The
re.A annual reunion Of the United Con-
Tolerate Veterans opened here this
morning under the most suspieious con
5i.iou.. The fact that, owing 20 an
oversight. the dates selected for the
-suuion conflicts with the date seleetef
for Memorial day in the Southern states
nav have caused some Confederate vet
arsus to remain away from the reun-
ion but their dropping out has esuseG
NJ noticeable diminution Of the crowds
which have come to this city for the
reunion. The city is crowded with Wis
i,ors from all parts Of the United
states, particularly, Of course, from
the southern states. AL public build
:nys and many business houses ana
private residences are handsomely dee
grated and Confederate flags are seer
side by side with the Stars and Stripes.
Every train which arrived in this
e!tv since early morning brought its
contingent Of veterans and other Wis
i.ors and the hotels, particularly in
the vicinity Of the large new audit
orium on Royal and St. Louis streets,
resem bled Nee hives. The veterans
and their ladies were received upon
their arrival by special committees ap
pointed for that purpose, and eseorted
70 their respective headquarters, where
they registered and were assigned to
their respective quarters.
Many of the veterans, not accom-
panied by ladies, put up at the st.
Louis hotel, where 5000 cots had been
set up to afford sleeping aceommoda.
tions at that house. The division head
quarters are located at the St. Charles
hotel.
The Auditorium, where the opening
session of the reunion was held, was
completed just in time. 1t is large
and fairly substantial building, well
equipped with accommodations for the
purposes of the reunion, and its rich
and tasteful decorations presents an
attractive picture. The building is
gaily decorated with Confederate bat
tie flags and the same square flags were
also used in the interior. Everything
has been well arranged for the comfort
Of the veterans. Near the hall are the
old sugar sheds, some of which have
been thoroughly repaired and fitted up
as mess halls, where the veterans will
be served with rations during the re-
union.
The opening meeting of the reunion
was called to order by General Ste
phen d. Lee, commander of the Unit
ed Confederate Veterans. Every avail
able space in the large hall was occu-
pied By veterans, and the gallery was
filed with their ladies and other Wis.
itors. Welcoming addresses were de.
livered by Governor Blanchard, Mayor
Behrman and Z. B. Kruttschmitt,
chairman of the general executive com
mittee, who formally rendered the large
auditorium TO General Stephen D. Lee.
DR.. Thomas NJ. Owen, commander in
chief Of the United Sons of Confeder.
ate Veterans, also delivered an address
at the conclusion of which the business
session began. A great deal Of routine
business was transacted before the re.
union took recess.
This evening an entertainment for
the veterans will be given at the Aud.
itorium. This will open with a drill
by the school cadets of the city, fol.
lowed by concert of vocal and instru.
mental music, contributed by local tai
ent. A feature of the entertainment
will be the songs of the various south
ern states, sung by girls dressed in the
Confederate eolors Miss Mollie G.
Blanchard, representing Divie, will oc.
cupy the center. The Southern Cross
drill viii also be given.
Tomorrow forenoon the business ses.
sion Of the reunion will be continued.
The great feature Of Thursday will be
the great ball at the Auditorium in the
evening. 1t will begin at O'Clock
with the grand march led by General
Stephen ID. Lee and his staff in full
uniform. All the old fashioned dances
which can be given by the veterans
will follow. At 10 O'Clock there will!
be a eotiiliOn, led by Commander
Owen Of the Sons of Veterans. From
that time on round dances will be
danced.
Friday will be the closing dav az