The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-12-16
DISAPPOINTED,
BUT HOPEFUL YET
Veterans, Sorely Taken Back by
Action of Council, Are Hard
at Work.
WILL NEED MORE MONEY NOW
Believed by Many That City Is
Making Mistake in Reducing
Appropriation.

IL would be hard To describe the intense
disappointment felt by the old soldiers OF
tlis city at the refusal Of tho Board OF
Aldermen last Monday night % concur I'm
the action OF the Common Council. which
voted 10 appropriate 10000 to assist the
veterans in defraying the expenses OF
the coming reunion.
The Board IL Is true. did agree 20 give
$1,000. but even this show OF generosity
was accompanied by many groans con-
corning the tax on the treasury and
what had been given in former years
10 assist the Confederate veterans IN
asmuch as the old soldiers. even I'm ne
tuoning the Council for help promised
10 raise by private subscriptions equally
as much the city contributed they felt
hurt At the attitude assumed by soma Of
the city fathers"
one old Johnny Reb. who IS unseldshlv
giving hours and hours-yes. weeks-or
his Time to plans FOR the reunion pa
thetically remarked last Tuesday morn
Ing, We'll, they beat Us out. after all
1t looks TO me as II the people are get
ting tired OF us old Confederate. But
although we feel dreadfully hurt AMI
viii never, never forget the words OF one
Councilman. who said he hoped we'd
never have another reunion hero. we in
tend 10 make this affair next spring
tremendous success. True. Wen have to
work a great deal harder now. but We
viii do our best We have made the cal
culation that the least we can get along
with is Sio.o1-that IL. II we make any
pretense Of doing things the way they
ought 70 be done. We wanted the CITY
to give as $1,000 while We purposed rs
ing $1,000 or $4,000 more"
Niggardly Policy Won't Pay.
Although nobody intimates FOR a mo-
rnent that the Councilmen who opposed
the $50 900 appropriation We're actuated
by any but the best and highest " mo-
tives, Il is felt among the veterans that
Richmond is making a mistake I'm showing
"A niggardly spirit toward the reunion.
Those who have looked carefully over the
field and exchanged many letters with
the veteran camps throughout Dixie con-
hdenty express the belief thar al least
10000 strangers VIII come here 70 at
tend the sessions % the Grand CalnD Of
Confederate Veterans and to witness the
unNeiing the Davis and Stuart monu-
ments
The crowd Of strangers will DO COM
posed principally of Confederate veter-
ans Sons Of Veterans. Daughters ~ the
'onieaeracy and members OF tho Com
Generate Southern Memorial Association
As the reunion begins May 81 1877. and
ccelunues Tor five days. the expenses
OF entertaining will BE- much greater than
they were at the reunion ~ 1857. as thar
affair did not last over three davs
The indications are that Rich,nond will
nave 10 care for al least SOD Of the men
who fought under Lee-inmates OF SOL
diers' homes and others. who will be able
20 procure the railroad fare 20 this city.
out VIII land Ia the quondam capital of
the Confederacy with hardly q dollar ia
their pockets. The spirit Of patriotism
which prompts these grIzzled warriors to
turn their faces 10 Richmond once more
is truly touching. and the committees
in charge OF the reunion are determined
that these old men shall have all the care
and attention that they need
AS Yet il las not been fully deter
mined where these loyal but decrepit
veterans VIII be quartered. The Fair
Grounds have been offered for the pur-
pose. and probably Will be utilized though
II viii require the expenditure Of hum
dreds OF dollars TO put them in proper
hyg1enic and sanitary shape The only
objection 10 this plan IS that the Fair
Grounds are 80 far from the city. Ger
tain II is that II any Of the old soldiers
are quartered there. they viii be furnish
cd with car-fares. so that they can read
lly set back and forth TO the city with
out expense to themselves.
captain David 4. Brown. the chair
man Of the entertainment committee. Will
have charge of this feature Of the re-
union.
he says that De has not vet mapped
out his plans although he will soon be
able 70 procure definite information as
10 just how many OF the gray-coated
guests the city must provide for. Should
Captain Brown. at the last minute, find
that the Fair Grounds Will not AFFORD a
comfortable camp Tor the veterans. he
will cast about in other directions for a
more suitable place.
Indeed. II has already occurred to him
that he could shelter the old men very
well If he could get two or three Blk
tents like circus canvases- It has been
suggested that these tents could be
pitched in the field just opposite the
Home for Incuraoies or even on the
lot which more recently has been used
by the circuscs exhibiting here These
matters. however. can be settled later
IT the requisite money can be raised the
other details Will quickly adjust them
selves. And whatever happens. these old
soldiers are going To have the best OBJ
tainable.
The reunion committees have not Yet
abandoned AN hope Of inducing the Coun-
ell to glvc them so 900. Some feel that
the hght should not be abandoned. and
that when their petition goes back to the
/ Common Council for concurrence in the
$4,000 appropriation. the "old bSys"
should make another Johnny Reb stand"
for the $4,000 asked
But whether these tactics are pursued
or not the veterans feel certain that in a
few weeks they will be able to convince
every one that the city cannot AFFORD 10
be niggardiy tn this matter.
1T is conseryutlveiy estimated that the
I'VE days of the reunion WIN bring at
least 100000 20 Richmond. and this
money Will be scattered in almost ali
directions. IL will go principally to the
botel and boarding house keepers and TO
the provision men. but much Of II will
ind it, way into other channels Assur-
edly n Will help almost everybody. ana.
better SIN. the proper entertainment OF
visitors VII advertise Richmond In a
way she has rarely been advertised be-
fore.