The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1910-01-19
A UNION VETERAN IN UNIFORM
DEFENDED HIM AND
STORM CAME.
At Grand Army Camp Memory of
SOUth's Beloved Leader Smirched,
and Bitter Things Were
Done and Said.

Done and Said.
CHICAGO-Th defense of Rob-
ert E. Lee, the confederate leader,
made by union veteran, in uni
form, brought a storm of Kisses,
jeers,E cries of traitor" 'infamy"
and other terms of opprobrium from
more than 400 old soldiers at the
New Years campfire at the Thorn
as, Grant, Custer and Columbia
camps of the G. A. r. at Memorial
hall today.
Rioting nearly followed, and with
a storm of oral protest the meeting
passed resolutions opposing the plac
ing of Lees statue in Statuary hall
at Washington.
DR.. w. A. Gray, member of Grant
Post of the G.. A. R., wearing the
uniform of the union army, made the
defense of Lee that for a time
threatened to stir to violence the
soldiers who fought against Lee and
had been taught to think of him as
a rebel and traitor to his country.
Daughters Denounced.
Bitter condemnation of the Daugh-
ters of the Confederacy for their eff
forts to have Lee in the confederate
uniform immortalized by placing his
statue in the hall of fame in the Vir-
ginia niche was voiced by Colonel
Jasper T. Darling of the G. A. R. in
a singing speech. 1t was his speech
and the resolution opposing the hon
oring of Lee that brought Dr. Gray
to the defense of the confederate gem
eraI.
General Frederick Dent Grant,
commander of the department of the
lakes, had just left the hall after
an address extOlling the union sol
diers for their loyalty to the nation
and for their valor when the storm
broke loose.
Text of Resolution.
The resolution introduced by Col
onel Darling at the close Of his
speech follows:
Resolved, That we. members Of
the G. A. r., vigorously protest
against the placing Of statue of
Robert E. Lee in the Hall of Fame
in Washington as against public pol
Ivy against the luuudlIcI1ldl piiuCl-
pies of our republic and against the
honor and integrity OF the veterans
who nobly gave their lives and
homes to preserve the country Rob-
ert E. Lee attempted to Destroy
MI Chairman" shouted DR..
Gray, who sat in the center of the
hall, wearing his G. A. R. uniform,
AZ desire to say a few words object
ing to this resolution and motion.
/ am against both, and desire to say
a word for General Lees personality
and not his war record
III The Scene Was Wild.
Grizzed veterans leaned far for
ward with hands behind both ears,
to catch every syllable; many gath
cred near and around the frail look
ing, gray-mustached doctor, and his
words were heard almost outside the
building, such was the quiet. His
audience could not grasp his motive
or intentions at first, and allowed
him to continue until it understood
what he was saying. Then the
trouble began.
81 oppose this resolution, DR..
WTdN continued, lot several ISd-
sons. Let me ask, has the house of
representatives the right to desig-
nate what statue shall be placed in
the hall of fame? Has any one?
THE law creating that nall gave
to each state one niche in the hall of
fame, and gave to each state the sole
right to say who should be placed
in it's niche to represent that state.
That is what the law says, and no
one can say otherwise A great hue
and CRY was raised when it was pro-
posed to place Frances Willard s
statue IN a niche. Charges of cater
ing to the temperance movement
were made.
Some Plain Words.
'Now the personality of a brave
man. Robert E. Lee, has been chal.
lenged. The state of Virginia has