The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-08-02
MississiDpians Will aonGr
Davis As General Lee Was
PROTESTS MADE BY G. AR
Bitter Objection Has Been Raised
Against Honor Paid To Lee and
Similar Action Is Expected If
Davis Is So Honored
BY wArTERsoN sTEALEY

BY WATTERsoN sTEALEY
Washington, August 1.-tSpecial.)-
That the way has now been practical
ly cleared for putting the statue of
Jefferson Davis in the capitol, to rep
resent the state Of Mississippi, in stat
uary hall, is the view taken by those
who today examined the opinion of
Attorney General Wickersham to the
effect that there is nothing in the act
of Congress to restrict the states in
their selection of personages to honor
in this mannfr. Attorney General
Wickersham has given an opinion to
President Taft with especial reference
which the state of Virginia has chosen
to place in statuary hail. General
Lees statue is in the full uniform of
Confederate general. 1t occupies a
place close to the statue of Gen. George
Washington, and it has called forth bit
ter protests from veterans of northern
armies In the civil war, especially from
various members and posts of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
The question has been, was there any
authority for the removal of the statue
of General Lee from statuary hall?
Protests were made to the President
from the departme of New York,
Grand Army of the Republic. Corporal
James Tanner was the head of a COM
mittee instructed to communicate with
the President for the New York de-
partment. 1t was in view of the ac-
tion of New York veterans that Presi-
dent Taft obtained an opinion from
the head of the department of Justice.
Among other things the question was
raised of Virginia's right to place in
,stat,tary hall the statue of man VINO
had fought against the union.
No Legal Restriction
In his opinion, Attorney General
| Wfckersham declares that the act of
Congress places no restriction upon the
designation by the states of those
whom they may desire to honor by
placing their statues In statuary hail.
nor does any official have the author
ity to exercise censorship in the mat
ter of costume. While Attorney Gen
eral Wickersham is speaking specific
ally of the case OF General Lee, his
language as TO the absence of restric-
tions on the states in the law is gen
eral. 1t applies to what other states
may do as well as to Virginia.
Corporal Tanner today gave 1t as his
opinion that the decision of Attorney
General Wickersham made the way
clear, so far as the law is concerned.
or the state of Mississippi to put the
statue of Jefferson Davis in the capitol.
That this matter has been considered
by the Mississippi authorities has been
repeatedly published.
Corporal Tanner today has no criti-
cism to offer of the finding of the At
torney General and he indicated his
belief that this would end the max
ing of any effective opposition of the
establishment of the statue of General
Lee in statuary hall. However, he be-
lieves much will yet be heard from
G. A. R. organizations and others op-
posed to the statue being where 1t is.
The matter will come up at the annual
encampment of the G. A r. at At
lantic City and is expected to lead. to
some animated discussion there.
Objections BY Many
Since the statue of General Lee. was
placed In statuary hall there have been
many objections sent to Congress by
Grand Army organizations. These have
come from every part of the country.
Perhaps the most sensational occurrence
in connection with the Lee statue was
the speech of Senator Hepburn of Idaho
last session. In this he criticised In the
most severe terms the course of the state
of Virginia. That speech attracted the
widest notice. 1t brought denunciation
from some quarters and praise from
others upon the head of Senator Hepburn.
Much of the objection to the statue of
|. General Lee was founded upon the fact
that he was represented in Confederate
uniform.
Should the state of Mississippi follow
the state of Virginia with the statue of
Jefferson Davis, 1t is likely the protest
would be even more vigorous. But 1t ap-
pears from the opinion of Mr.. Wicker
sham that there would be no way of pre-
venting 1t.
The statue of General Lee has not yet
been dedicated 1t is likely that the state
of Virginia will, in view of the opinion of
the Attorney General, take steps ir rea-
sonable time to have the dedication cere-
monies held.
Southern Women Honored
Statues to the women of the south who
played heroic parts In the civil war will
be erected throughout the southern states.
General George w. Gordon, commander
in-chief of the United Confederate Vet
Grams, mas issued OTueTS IOf the erection
Of these monuments. The orders call
upon all Confederate organizations 10
make every effort to arouse interest and
to raise money for the statues
1t is proposed to erect the monuments
In all the capitol buildings of southern
states. The design for a general monu-
ment to these women, which was selected
by the Confederate Veterans at their re-
cent reunion in Mobile. Ala, is the work
or Miss Belle Kinney of Nashville Tenn
who has made reputation for herself as
sculptor, although she is only 20 years
old Her design was chosen in preference
to one submitted by famous italian ar
tist.
Gen. Julian S. Carr, the tobacco mag
nate of Durham, N. c., is chairman of the
monument G.. nmittee which made the Sc
lection Tennessee will purchase n bronze
| cast of the design made by Miss Kinney
money already having been appropriated
| for that purpose.