The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-05-16

All Ohio veterans of the c. A. R. vrhose special mission was to return it. proving the bitterness and resent rnent of the war belongs to the past in the noble words of William Mckin- ley. Hon. H. S. D. Mallory spoke fesiingiy as he received the nag TOT Selma. Captain Goddard and John A. Pitts. of the Ohio cavalry, responded. The act was magnanfmous. And how noble the act to return captured flags to their native homes.
 Crosses of Honor.
 Only a little while and the Crosses Of Honor will not be given. In lslo the giving of crosses will cease. Can fl be possible there is a veteran with out a cross? It is his for the asking Four hundred and fifty-three Crosses of Honor were given out the past year.
 One. of the most Interesting features os the U. D. c. convention was the report of Mrs. J. A. Rountree' re- corder of the Crosses of Honor" The report showed excellent progress, ana is given in full as follows:
 .sIn the once of recorder the work has somewhat increased since last year. and many new chapters have undertaken the bestowal Of crosses upon vetreans in this county.
 'since our division met last May, the following number of crosses mas been conferred in Alabama:
 Crosses Conferred.
 septenber 27. 1908. Applications
 received and crosses secured. ..17s January is, 1sos Applications re-
 cetved and crosses secured... bS April 2s. 1908 Aplications received
 and crosses secured. ..llt June 2. 1908. Applications received
 and crosses secured. ..los Total number crosses secured: ..tSs Tn my work as recorder for the year just closed. I have communicated with every chapter in the State at least four times, and have sent the
 cemmunieatisns.
 Nnumber letters written. .. ..140 Number postais.. ..S2S Number packages of material. 72 Total number communications. ..535 since you honored me with re-elec- ton last May. have endeavored' to give you the very best work of which [ was capable. and to make smooth for your chapters president. as far as lay in my power, the rough places that win come in the course of any under taking of real importance.
 ~With a department of such tremen- dous volume as that of the Cross of Honor. there is only one way in which to handle 1t, and that is by having ex- plicit rules and following them most rigidly.
 awere 1t not for this our custodian. Mrs. l.. H. Raines, would have found 1t impossible to handle the situation as she has done. by requiring of the state recorders the utmost accuracy Ah xe f1xy ] keeping in constant communication with every chapter. 1t has afforded me the opportunity to be In close touch with you and your work and has giv- en me a personal Interest in what ever you undertake.
 -In my duties as your recorder. I realize more constantly the importance and historic value of this great branch Of our U. D. c. work, and since the action of the last general convention in deciding that no crosses shall be conferred after the year 1910, It be- comes the urgent duty of every chap ter in Alabama to see that not sim gle Confederate veteran ia overlooked and left without this badge of honor.
 ''in my intimate association with this work, I find that many veterans do not apply for crosses. for the req son that they feel that 1t is a request
 
 deem should come to them unsolicited. They fail to see that this cross of hon. or is our means of securing their com piete record, properly endorsed. to be preserved unQuestioned, for future generations.
 "so valuable will these records be- come. that for the safety of their pres- ervation. and as e precaution against loss by fire, or otherwise. recommend that when this branch of our work Is Finished and the records closed, that the division have a duplicate made of the recorders register to be placed In the State Department of Archives and History.
 And so. to you chapters, here rep resented, I make this appeal: That you impress upon your chapter the necessity of immediate action; make a thorough canvass of your county and confer a cross upon every Confederate veteran, for whom you can secure g proper endorsement. Some chapters have never conferred crosses; begin before 1t Is too late.
 "Only one more year remains to you for this work. and the veterans ranks are rapidly thinning; so begin at once In earnest, and when the close of 1910 brings the end of this branch of work let 1t not be said that one single vet eran in Alabama has failed to receive from some daughter our little bronze cross. to be worn for the honor of the cause for which he fought and suffered.
 Faithfully yours.
 Mrs. T. A. Rountree,