The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-11-14
Men With Grey Locks Above the ] Old Grey Uniforms March Along the Streets Beneath the Beloved Stars and Bars, Mingled With the Other Loved Banner, the Stars and Stripes of the Reunited Nation.

When the roll was called yesterday morning at the annual opening of the reunion of the Alabama Division of the United Confederate Veterans forty seven camps were represented and 157 delegates brought their credentials forward. being the largest attendance on the annual reunion yet recorded.
 This does not represent, however, all of the aging survivors of that terri ble struggle of the '60's who were present, as the entire lower floor at the theatre was filled with them, and they were constantly coming in during the day.
 Montgomery truly threw her gates open to the Veterans and Sons of Vet oransi yesterday. Everywhere the eye rested. 1t was greeted with the loved stars and bars. waving in the autumn hreezes in perfect harmony with the stars and stripes.
 On the dome of the State Capitol the stars and bars waved above the flag of the state, while from the flag pole on the terrace the gorgeous emblem of this proud. reunited nation. threw It's inspiring folds to the November breeze.
 Many of the visiting Veterans did not arrive in the city until yesterday morn- ing. and by noon 1t was estimated that RIeY uniforms were everywhere. Many of the Sons of Veterans also attired them selves in the grey that their ancestors had worn.
 The reunion was called to order in its seventh annual session at 9:3O o'clock in the Montgomery Theatre.
 The stage, on whicl were seated men whose grey hairs testified the winters that have passed over their heads since the fsteful days of the '60's. more prop erly represented a council of war of Coufederate Commanders than peace. Fui gathering of old soidiers to revive the memories of tllat struggle petwsen brothers. N
 In the middle of tho stage. suspendsd from the scene setting. was life size portrait of General John B. Gordon, while ranged around in half Girele were members of General George F. Harrison's staff.
 simultaneously with the assembling or khe Veterans in the MonS5 5OfIlsTy : Theatre, the Alabama Division of Sons of Confederate Veterans were assem- bling at the Commercial Club rooms for their annual reunion.
 At the meeting of the Veterans, Colonel Harvey E. Jones, AdJutant General and Chief of Stan, called the meeting to order with 8 few appro- priate words. after which Rev. Dr. James M Mason. Division Chaplain. invoked blessings upon the fast thin ming ranks of the survivors of the great struggle.
 A selected choir sang My Country. Iris of Thee" while the entire audi ence rose and joined in the chorus.
 Touching Tribute to Dead. Major General George P. narrison's tribute to the Confederate dead and to the women of the Confederacy, was one of the most touching efforts of this nature ever listened to. While the comrades all stood. General Harrison read the following.
 ''To memory of those who
 True to the instincts of their birth. Faithful to the teachings of their Constant to their love for the State. Died in the performance of their duty; Who have glorifed 8 Fallen Cause By the manhood of their lives The patient endurance Of sutfertn8, And the heroism of death.
 i" f"I the m"S dark hours of imprisonment. In the hopelessness of the hospital, In the sharp agony of the field, Found hope and consolation
 That they would not be forgotten
 Then the comrades responded as fol- :They died for their country.".
 The GeenraI continued:
 tThese were men Whom power could not corrupt, Whom death> could. not tsrrify. Whom defeat could not dtshonor, And let their virtues plead
 Of the cause in which they perished."
 "They died for their country" was the response.
 And the General continued:
 Alabama taught them 4 Ix kaA
 She has preserved for her children The priceless treasure of their mem Teaching all who may claim
 The same birthright
 That Truth, Courage and Patriotism Endure forever"
 Then the general commanding said:
 Comrades, the women of the Con- federacy! We honor and love the mem ories of their proven worth and bid their successors emulate their virtues"
 Answer by comrades: Cos bless the women of the Confederacy."
 At this juncture Mrs. A. Bruce Ken- nedy sang Dixie" The applause which greeted the first bar of this fam ous old song touched up all of the pent up emotion in the breasts of the old veterans. IA34kG&
 Conner Talks To Veterans.
 Governor B. B. Conner was then in- troduced, and, in behalf of the State of Alabama welcomed the veterans to inc State Capital. He said he was glad to see them, and wanted to say "howdy" to them all. He referred to the req sons why the State should be proud of this Legislature, especially in the mat fer of schools that have been estab- lfshed throughout the State.
 He devoted a greater portion of his address to the political conditions that prevail in the State. and referred es- pecially to the contention between the State and the railroads, declaring the issues now were like those in '61.
 He invited all of the Veterans to the Capitol, and said that 1t IS as much theirs as anybody's and he wanted them to know and feel that the State Is proud of them.
 Clifford 4. Lanier. speaking for Mayor W. M. Teague, welcomed the veterans in the name of the city. He anoke in part as follows: