The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-02-25

adoption by the Oklahoma legislature
of the bill by Representatives 6ilmer,
Maxey and Castell, providing FOR an
appropriation of $4,000 for lie main
tenance of the home for confederate
veterans TO be established 9t Ardmore
! marks the consummation of seven
years of effort on the part of the
United Confederate Veterans, Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy and Sons of
Confederate Veterans to secure the es-
tablishment of such home and the
assistance Cf the state in maintaining
it.
The matter took form during the
sessions of the legislature last year,
when bills were introduced in both
houses OF the legislature. The Gilmer-
Maxey bill In the house made
straight appropriation of $4,000 for a
confederate home, while the Egger-
man senate bin provided for a Joint
institution for union and confederate
veterans. Both bills were killed In
the house.
It was during this time that an or
ganization was affected to build a con-
federate home. A call meeting of the
Oklahoma division OF the u. G. V. was
held at Oklahoma City on February
IL, 1909, at which strong declarations
were made against the proposed plan
for a joint home and final steps taken
toward securing united action by the
three confederate organizations.
BY direction OF the veterans, Major
General Bin Cross named board Of
seven trustees, one from each of the
confederate brigades Of the state, to
take charge Of financing, locating and
constructing the home That board,
which since has had charge Of the
Il fwork was composed Of DR. John
Threadgill Of Oklahoma City, Colonel
Al. Il. Watson OF Altus, Colonel y. Nj.
Rumph Of Ardmore, General I. D.
Bard Of Chelsea and Major J. NJ, Hall
Of Caddo.
the Daughters OF the Confederacy and
by the Sons Of Confederate Veterans
to cooperate IN the work. The
Daughters committee was composed
of Mrs. T. c. Harrill of Wagner, Mrs
W. R. Clement of Oklahoma City Mrs
T. d. Davis of McAlester, Mrs, X. T.
Bass of Lawton and Mrs. Lewis Paul
lin Of Durant. The Sons of Veterans
we're represented by Lee Cruee oi
Ardmore, Tate Brady of Tulsa. r. L
Lunsford of Cleveland, w F. Gilmel
of Ardmore, George Whltehurst ol
sayre and Judge Askew of Chickasha
Representative w. F. Gilmer of Ard
more was named financial agent of The
committee and made a thorough can
vass Of the state for funds The com
bined efforts of the committees re
eeived very liberal responses and Z
fund of approximately $4,000 has nov
been secured After considering
propositions from a number of citiei
the committee in charge decided upoi
Ardmore The site has been secure,
and plans accepted for a building t.
eoat $4,000
The bill which has just become I
Law requires that this building shall
be completed and site of twent,
s acres decided to the state before tn
appropriation shall be available.
The final signing Of the bill b.
Speaker Wilson OF the house and Gov
ernor Haskell was made an event o
more than ordinary interest speake
Wilson of the house presented the pei
with which the bin was signed I
Representative Frank L. Casteel O
Cimarron county. one of It's authors
who announced that he would In tur
present It to General Brant Kirk q
Oklahoma City, state commander @
the Sons Of Confederate Vetreani
The bill was signed by Governo
Haskell with al eagle GULL pen pre-
yided by Secretary of State Bill Cross
major general commanding the Okl'
homa division. U. c. Y.
Some very dramatic scenes atten'
ed the passing Of the bin in the hous'
notable among them being the in
passioned plea made by Represent
tive G. W Lewis of Beekham count,
himself a Confederate veteran, wh
seemed about to collapse Just at th
climax Of his speech Members an
employees rushed to his assistance. bl
he recovered and finished his addrei
then sank exhausted into chat
Lewis Is one of the Oldest member
Of the legislature and In very feeb
health
A number of Confederate veteran
are on the legislative rosteA Anon
the state officers the veterans are re