The Sentinel=record., 1911-05-16
2O,OOO VETS
 AT CAPITAL
LITTLE ROCK CROWDED WITH VETERANS ON FIRST DAY OF
 REUNION.
President Taft ends Felieitous Mes sage to the Veterans Who Wore {, the Gray--War Against Raise
 of Meal Prices.

Little Rock Ark. May 15.-A estimated at 2o.0O0 arrived in Little Rock today for the twenty first annual reunion of the United Confederate Veterans. which opens here tomorrow. At Camp Shaver. where the veterans are being enter tained as guests or the city. $500 ex confederates were served with sup per tonight
 The United Sons of Confederate Veterans which organization K hold- Ing its convention ln connection with the reuion held It's first session to- night in the Y. NJ. C. A. hall.
 Addresses were made by the na tional officers and many other noted speakers including John Fox, Jr., the author.
 The Confederate Southern Memorial Associations an organization of south ern women' held its opening session in the City Hall this afternoon.
 Addresses of welcome were deliv- cred by Mayor Charles F. Taylor, if Little Rock, and Congressman Joe T. Robinson Of isenoise.
 The most important matter taken up was the adoption of a resolution asking General George w. Gordon. commander in-chief of the United  Confederate Veterans to allow the women of the association to take an active part in the deliberations at their reunion.
 The first session aill he nefd at tho Auditorium at SEQ o'clock and will be preceded by concert by the twelve bands that have beeen brought here for The reunion.
 Although the streets Of Little Rock are choked with people so syste- matic have been the arrangements. that there has been little confusion and visitors unable to find aceommo- dations in hotels are being placed in private homes, nearly all of which have been thrown open for the re- union.
 Durand Whipple. master in cham cery of the United States court and chairman of the committee having supervision over the local restaurants, engaged in a fist fight with Gaorge Blathos. restaurant proprietor, this morning because 1t was alleged that Blathos had raised the scale of prices agreed upon Blaihos was arr rested and kept locked up at police headquarters all day Men were sta toned outside inc restaurant all day to warn those who entered that prices had been raised in the place
 The Arkansas Gazette will publish tomorrow morning when the reunion of Confederate Veterans opens, the following message from President Taft to the veterans.
 The White House. Washington. D. e. May 15.
 ITO the Confederate Veterans, who are now assembled in Little RockI send heartiest greetings and express the hope that they will have a pleas- ant and successful reunion.
 The men of the Confederate Army fought for principle which they be- lieyed to be right and for which they were willing to sacrifice their lives. their homes-in fact all those things which men hold most dear As ve recognize their heroic services, so they and their descendants must hon. or the services rendered by the gall lant sons of the North in the strug- gle for the preservation of the Union. The contending forces of nearly half century ago has been given respon- abilities and glorious destiny we equally and gratefully share.
 During my visits South it has gratIfied me greatly to see those who fought for the Blue and those who fought for the Gray mingla together. worship the old flag and feel com mon pride in the deeds of heroism that were displayed in the Civil War. One of the most pleasant incidents of my visits through the south was the Ievident desire on the part vi its rsv- ple to confirm to the world that we are getting closer and closer together. l q congratulate the south on the wonderful progress which 1t is now making and on the spirit of civic 1 pride which 1t Is displaying & 1 WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT. :,