The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-04-16
PLANS FOR THE VETS
BIRMINGHAM PEOPLE PREPARE
 FOR THE REUNION.
Work Has sBeeh In Progress Three Months ana old Soldiers Wili Be Epterfained Royalty
 by Marie City.


 Birmingham. April 15.--tspecial)--. Few people realize the sinmensfty or the task of preparing for the annual reunion Of the United Confederate Veterans. For three months the work of preparation has been going on, in- creasing in size every day. while near ly the same length Of time intervenes between now aud the holding of the re- union in Birmingham next June.
 Birmingham's civic pride Is being exempiiied In the manner Of her prep aration for this great event. Solid, sturdy business men with heavy busi- ness cares upon them are devoting hours of their time to the making of the reunion a success. It Is saie 10 say that 1t would be impossible to con- tract with many of them to devote the same amount of time to an ordi- nary business proposition for sal ary of less than several hundred dol- lars per month- And yet the many com mfttees, and especially the executove and finance committees, have Deen holding meetings two or three after- moons a week for the last eight weeks planning for the best way of enter taining the old soldiers. and 1t rarely happens that q member of the commit tee Is absent. tt The first thing. that which is re- garded above all others. is the care and comfort of the veterans, This IS to come first and the entertainment c: the sponsors and other soclai a, fairs afterward Nothing will be left undone to make the heroes of f6l-eS feel happy and content while they are Birniingh ans guests.
 There will be thousands of them, but Birmingham will be equal to the occa sion. To those who do not feel able to pay for their lodging ana
 
 One of II the largest buildings at tne fair grounds will be converted into hotel for their accommodation This hotel will bear the name or John b. Gordon.
 Several thousand cots will be placed in the building and the only request made of the veterans Is that they bring blankets. Accommodations of all kinds win be supplied, while every thing palatable in the eating line VIII be provided. Huge Kitchens Will De fitted up. while expert barbecue cooks will be kept steadily at work from the time the reunion begins until the finish.
 There will be no limit either as to the amount of food. A veteran may eat once twice or dozen times day If he wishes. as the dining room will be open all day.
 The Hippodreme Skating Auditorium will be used as a convention hall. The acoustics of this building are very sood and the seating capacity will accommo- date more than 5000. The grand pail will also be given in the Hippodrome. From the fair grounds to the Hippo- drome is a ride of only twelve min- utes.
 General headquarters for the as- signment of rooms and other work Of the reunion will be :n the City Hal while the different generals Will estao- fish separate headquarters TOT their commands. Reservations for head quarters are being made right along among those being Gen: stephen D. Lee and Gen. William E.. Mickle, who have reservations at the Hotel Hlilman, while General Tyler has reserved head quarters at the New Morris Hotel Tor himself and the surviving members Of Forests Cavalry. Requests TOT res ervations are being received daily.
 Regimental reunions will be held In Capitol Park. its six acres of beauti- full lawn and closeness to the heart or town making it an ideal place for such occasions. It Is only live blocks from the corner of Second Avenue and Twen- tieth Street, the business center or town. and seven blocks from the Hip podrome Skating Audltorluhi tne Soh- vention hall.
 There will be a number of enter tainments for the pleasure of the vet erans. The customary ball will be held in the Hiddoprome, while at least two concerts at night are being arranged for Special entertainment will also be provided at the fair grounds at night for the veterans registered at the Fair Grounds Hotel while at least one afternoons entertainment in the shape of races anu other open air con- tests will be given.
 A feature of tho reunion will be the music. It will be plentiful. especially in the convention hall. Philip Mem oli has been appointed general direc- tor of all music and will have num- Der of bands under his charge. The executive committee is in communca- tion with several noted bandmasters in regard to bringing their bands to the reunion. In connection with the music. the festival to be given by Inness Band Tn Birmingham during May, the proceeds of which are to go to the reunion fund, will be ono of the many entertain ments which Birmingham people can take advantage of on account of the reunion being held here this year. The vocal music will play promi- nent part An adult chorus of sev- eral hundred voices will take part in | the program while the children's chorus will furnish one of the most 1 fnspiring parts of the reunion. A pro | gram is being arranged for t~.em and nra actice will be started in short while among the students of the public schools. Several thousand school chil- dren will be grouped together in the l grand chorus.