Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-10-29
VETS" HISS SPEAKER
Discourage Talk of Wiping
Out the Color Line.
HASTILY LEAVE THE HALL
When Colored Chaplain Is Called
Upon to Pray.
HALE TO DECIDE QUESTION
His Decision Will Be Awaited With
Interest and Anxiety-News
Of the Meeting.

| in G. a. r. Hall. The meeting was called
| by direction of Commander-in-Chief Wal
| ter S. Hale. who came here from Boston
| on business connected with the organiza-
! ton The course of the meeting was
| marked by several dramatic Incidents.
| The members of the Admiral Thomas
| Camp of colored Spanish War Veterans.
| attired In spick and span new uniforms of
| blue and gray, marched into the hall
| headed by their commander, Julius Oscar
Toson. and Chaplain W. II. Coston. and
occupied seats on the right-hand side of
the hall. The members of the several
white camps, few OF whom wore the
t distinctive uniform of the organization.
| were seated on the left-hand side of the
| audit orium. The members of the ladies'
| auxiliaries were escorted to seats on the
| platform by direction OF Commander in
Chief Hale.
| On the platform besides the national
| commander and Provost Marshal King
| We're Mrs. Ida NJ. Galloway. senior vice
| Hilary; Mrs. Lizzie W. Calver, president
of the District of Columbia Auxiliary;
| Mrs. Isabel WorreN Ball. past District
| president: Mrs Harry F.. Ashton, presi-
| dent Of the Edith K. Roosevelt Auxiliary;
| Mrs. Louise Foster. past department Sc
| NOR vice president: Col NJ. Emmet Urell,
past COMMUNICATIVE chief: Capt. Thomas
| A Green, national aid: National Historian
J. Walter MITCHELL Department Comman-
| der F. T.. Cogan and others. In the au-
dience were Spanish war veterans from
| this and other cities.
Mrs. Ball Gets a Rise.
.The first dramatic incident occurred
when Mrs. Isabel Worrell Ball was adj
| dressing the assemblage. She said she
had shaken hands with every commander
in-chief of the Spanish War Veterans and
| with thrty-two commanders-in-chief of
| the G. a. R, and approaching Comman-
der-in-Clef Hale gave him a hearty
handshake. When in her address Mrs.
Ball asserted that tho war with Spain
had marked the wiping out of the Ma
son and Dixon line and the color line,
and that the color line does not exist
IN the Spanish War Veterans organize
cation. there were Kisses on the white
side of the hall and several of the white
members left the hall.
Several of the officers tried TO stop the
members from going out, but were I'M
successful.
At the close of the meeting Commander
inChief Hale called upon Rev. W. H. Cos
ton. who wore the full uniform of an
army chaplain. having served as such in
he war with Spain. to conclude the ses-
sion with prayer. AS the colored min
lister Of the gospel moved forward to the
platform to comply with the order Of Com
mander Hale number Of the white men,
bers arose and We're leaving the hall
Comrades. II you 20 out Of this room
now 1t IS an insult TO your commander
in-chief," said Commander Hale in a loud
tone.
The members continued to leave without
paying any attention to the words of the
commander-in chief. when, with a wave
of his hand. he declared:
Then GO
The opening address last evening was
made by Commander-in-chi Hale, and
was heartily applauded. especially by the
colored members of the u. s. w V. He
began by saving:
Let us be a happy family"
Praised Stay-at-Homes.
He urged comradery and unity of pur-
pose, and said he believed in actions
rather than words. The speaker praised
the volunteers who remained IN the fever
camps at Chickamauga and other points
In this country while the fighting was in
progress in Cuba and the Philippines. and
said:
In The Cuban campaign that whipped the
Span!aTds, but the go 600 volunteers who
remained in the camps in this country.
waiting expectantly and eager to go to
the front"
In conclusion Commander-in-chief Hale
urged the members to assist national
headquarters In upbuilding the organiza
ton and keeping intact true soldier COM
radery.
Mrs Ida NJ Galloway presented the
greetings of the National Auxiliary to
Commander Hale. and Mrs. Lizzie w Cal
Yer presented those of the District of Co
lumba Auxiliary and its branches.
Col NJ Emmett Urell made plea for
good comradeship, and. referring to the
controversy between a Grand Army post
and Rev. Van Schaick over the utter
ances of the latter complimenting the
Confederate chieftain, said:
"There has been no greater man in the
world. in my opinion, than Robert E. Lee
I am only sorry we did not have him on
our side
Southerners in Volunteers.
Col. Urel also said there were many
southern men in the LIST District Regiment
during the Spanish war. and they were
"all anxious to get at the old Spanish
nag on the hill at Santiago Col. Ure!l
also declared that the Spanish War Vet
Grams would be the logical Successors
of the G. A. R.. and that the honor
could not be conferred on the sons OF
veterans or any other sons" He lauded
Mrs Calver for her work for the boys
In 1898.
Maj Taylor d. Brown of Columbia
Camp. U.sW.v.. OF Chicago, was pre-
sented to the meeting by Capt. King
through Col. E. J. Dimmck. and spoke
in commentator Of the organization and
| its work. He added that it would be the
| legitimate successor of the G. A. r. De
partment Commander Cogan also spoke.
| The speaking was concluded by National
| Commander Hale, who urged that all diff
| ferences, If there be any, be healed in
order that the organization may forge
| ahead and become what it is designed to
| become-''the greatest and grandest soldier
! socia ton on the face Of the globe
Chaplain w. H. Coston, a colored vet
| eran, offered a most devout prayer, and
| led by Commander Hale the audience re-
| peated the Lords prayer. after which
| Capt j. Lyon King, acting adjutant gen
| eral, thanked those in the audience for
being present to greet Gen. Hale.
Hale Will Settle Matter
| Comma nder-in-Chie Walter S. Hale of
the United Spanish War Veterans. having
completed the taking of evidence at the
| New Willard concerning the alleged
drawing of the color line will depart
! for Boston late this afternoon. The tes-
| timony has all been typewriter. and he
will review it at his leisure at national
| headquarters before rendering his dec
sion. He has been assisted materially in
an advisory manner. in his work while
| here by Gen Andrew S. Burt. U. S. A.
also by Acting National Adjt. Gen J.
! Lyon King and Capt. Thomas A. Green
| his aid for the District of Columbia 1t
| is said he Will leave certain matters of
administration connected with the depart
ment of the District OF Columbia to be
! fvav Tod t.S-f az