The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1910-02-21

adoption by the Oklahoma Legislature
of the bill by Representatives Gilmer
Maxey and Castell. providing for al
appropriation of $4,000 for the main
tenance of the home for confederat,
veterans to be established ut Ardmors
marks the consummation of sever
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
Establishment of such a home and the
assistance of the state in maintaining
lit.
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 a
straight appropriation Of $4,000 for a
confederate home, while the Egger.
man senate bill provided for a joint
institution for union and confederate
veterans. Both bills were killed in
the house.
1t 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. c. V. was
held at Oklahoma City on February
liz, 1909, at which strong declarations
were made against the proposed plan
for joint home and final steps taken
toward securing united action by the
three confederate organizations.
BY direction of the veterans, Major
General Bill Cross named a 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
work was composed Of DR.. John
Threadgill of Oklahoma City, Colonel
A. p Watson of Altus, Colonel D. NJ.
Rumph of Ardmore, General t. D.
Bard of Chelsea and Major ]. M. Hall
|of Caddo.
Committees also were appointed by
the Daughters of the Confederacy and
by the Sons of Confederate Veterans
to cooperate in the work. The
Daughters committee was composed
of Mrs. 7. G. Harrill of Wagner, Mrs.
w, R. Clement of Oklahoma City, Mrs.
T. D. Davis of McAlester, Mrs. K. T.
Bass of Lawton and Mrs. Lewis Paul
lin of Durant. The Sons of Veterans
were represented by Lee Cruce of
Ardmore, Tate Brady of Tulsa r. L.
Lunsford OF Cleveland, W. f. GiImer
of Ardmore, George Whitehurst of
Sayre and Judge Askew of Chickasha.
w. F. Gilmer of Ard
more was named financial agent of the
committee and made thorough can
vass of the state for funds. The COM
bined efforts of the committees re-
ceived very liberal responses and a
fund of approximately $4,000 has now
been secured. After considering |
from number of cities
the committee in charge decided upon
Ardmore. The site has been secured |
and plans accepted for building to |
cost $4,000.
The bill which has just become
law requires that this building shall
be completed and site of twenty
acres decided to the state before the
shall be available.
The final signing of the bill by
Speaker Wilson Of the house and Gov
ernor Haskell was made an event of
more than ordinary interest. Speaker
Wilson of the house presented the pen
with which the bill was signed to
Frank L. Casteel of
Cimarron county, one Of its authors.
who announced that he would In turn
present it to General Brant Kirk of
Oklahoma City, state commander of
he Sons of Confederate vetreans.
rhe bill was signed by Governor
Haskell with an eagle quill pen pro-
5ided by Secretary OF State Bill Cross,
major general commanding the Okla
IONA division, U. C. V.
Some very dramatic scenes attend
ID the passing of the bill in the house,
sotable among them being the Inn
,assioned plea made by Representa-
i've G. w Lewis of Beckham county