The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-09
May Be Fight, but 1t Looks
Like He Will Be Chosen
to Succeed Gen. Lee.
VETERANS GATHER
FOR THE REUNION.
Expected That Attendance Will
Reach 10000 Lee Camps
Headquarters One Of the
Bcst-Old for Com
nandcr of
Sons.
I Especial TO The Times Dtspatch.J
BIRMINGHAM, Ala, Juno

|
~ BIRMINGHAM, Ala. Juno S.
General w. l.. Cabell, COM
~ mander-in-chief of United Con-
federate Veterans. arrived last
night on q special train, and
the city was filling UP all day with
veterans and visitors. The streets are
crowded Tonight, and the decorations
In the business district arc unusually
elaborate Neither the financial de-
preston nor the recent death Of Gem
! eral stephen D. Lee have affected the
attendance, which General Clement
Evans. Adjutant Micllle and other Off
cials estimated at 5000 veterans,
! which, supplemented by the Sons and
| Daughters and sponsors and maids and
visitors to the reunion. will run up the
| attendance to about 10000.
a striking feature of the reunion Is
| that Northern and Western people.
who constitute large proportion Of
Birmingham's population, Including
children and relatives of men who
fought In the Union Army, have given
generously to the entertainment fund,
| have decorated their stores and homes
| in celebration OF the reunion. and have
thrown open their homes to the vet
| -
siderable criticisms of the sponsors and
maids monopolizing the reunion. and
there are rumors that movement will
be started to curtail the part they take
in future meetings.
Evnns for Commander.
! 1t is learned from inside circles to-
night General Clement A. Evans, of
| Atlanta. commander Of tho Department
of Tennessee. is slated to succeed Gem
eral Lee as commander in-chief of the
veterans. 1t Is understood that Cen
eral Cabell. who assumed official charge
on the death OF General Lee, and will
I,open the reunion Tomorrow. does not
desire the comnnandership. 1t appears
to be settled that General Evans will
be the next commander.
The crowds began to arrive earlier
than expected, and every passenger
! train entering the city to-day carried
! extra coaches Practically all OF the
leaders Of the Organization came in
| to-day and opened their headquarters.
Thus far Atlanta is the only Southern
| city with q delegation on hand work.
ing for the next reunion. There is al
ready much rivalry and politics in the
! air as to the commander to succeed the
late General Stephen D. Lee.
Hotel John b Gordon has already
proved itself one Of the most popular
/ places In the city. This Is the name;
given to the hotel which was equipped
! at the State fair grounds. and 1t is here
4 that all who wish will be entertained
4 free.
First Days Features.
! The convention will be called to
| order tomorrow at 10 o'clock by the
| commander OF Alabama Division. and
1 - 4, bx,C CJ,ov
| lain General ]. William Jones, of Rich
mond. General Harrison will deliver
an address and Governor B. B. Conner.
Of Alabama. will welcome the veterans
| in behalf of the State. Welcome ad-
dresses will be made by Mayor Ward,
| OF Birmingham: Brigadier-General j.
| w. Bush. OF Camp Hardee, Birming-
ham; Rufus N. Rhoades. of Camp
1 Morgan-P Pettus, Sons of Veterans,
Birmingham, and Mrs. Charles G.,
| Brown, President Alabama Daughters
Of tbs Confederacy. General w. Is
cabell will assume charge and deliver
q response.
In the afternoon the addresses of
| Colonel II. l. Russell, of Mobile reunion
! orator, and Judge A. Q. Wright, OF
Jacksonville. Fla, commander OF the
| Confed deratc naval veterans, will be de-
| livered.
! There will be band concerts and open
| air reunions in Capital park late In
the afternoon, and Governor and Mrs,
C,cmer will hold a reception at night.
There will also be concerts at the liip-
| podrome and fireworks at tho fair
4 grounds.
Lee Camps Headqunrtcrs.
/ Lee Camp, Of Richmond, has head
| quarters at tho Colonial Hotel, and
! this is one of the most popular places
among all the division headquarters.
4 Among the prominent Ntrginians al
ready here are Rev. Dr. John W'lllhm
4 Jones, who will open tho session to-
morrow. with tho Invocation, and Polk
4 Miller ana Thomas Booker Of Rich
4 mond. who will give their "Old Times
/ Down South" at tho Jefferson Theatre
/ Tomorrow night, all the seats having
j been engaged several days ago; 3 Nj.
/ robertson, OF Richmond; ]. NJ, Miller,
5Iof Wytheville; Mrs Cornelia Branch
stone, presldent-general. United Daugh-
l |ters Of the Conrederacy, and Mrs, ALL
4 son MacGill Drewry, OF Chcsteriiela
county; Miss Mary L. Gilhapl, MISS
i Mary Ci.s Talbot, Dr. O. w. ~ BrocK.
i A large number Of Virglntans are eM-
4 nectcd late Tonight and to-morroW
lmorninS,
Comma ntcrs Of Sons.
\. II is learned Tonight that ", ".
4 Old Jr.. OF Norfolk, will be chosen as
\ the next misunderstanding. OF the
i sons. of Veterans The name OF Ralston
I. n Green, OF Beauregard Camp New
i lOrleans, was to have been presented,
4 MT was Withdrawn. and the Louisiana
sons will stand for the Norfolk man,
In tho great floral parade on We'd
nesday, which will be one of the most
4 sIstriking features OF the reunion. there
4 viii be- a representation of the famous
4 Confederate ironclad Merrlmac cor
u |rectly called tho Virginia. She will be
manned by u crew OF beautiful glrlN
Among the Textures OF tho reunion
will ba the union of the United Con-
federate choirs OF America. which will
(Continped on Second Page.) i