Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-20
BLACKBURN LAUDS TAFT
FOR APPOINTING WHITE
Tells Veterans at Lee Memo.
rial Meeting Action Binds
North and South.

The action OF President Taft in ap-
pointing Edward Douglas White Of Louis
lana. a former Confederate soldier as
Chief Justice of. the United States, was
praised by former Senator Joseph Clay
Styles Blackburn Of Kentucky last even-
ing at the commemoration of Gen. Rob-
ert E. Lees birthday by Camp Ill of
Confederat Veterans at the Arlington Ho-
tel. In an eloquent speech the Kentuck-
ian praised the spirit which led repub-
lican executive to pick a democrat for
this high position, and declared 1t was
the same spirit which has obliterated the
scars of war and which has made this
nation a reunited one.
Mai. Holmes Conrad. comma nder Of the
camp, presided. and everywhere were
representatives Of the old south. Long
before the meeting was called TO order
this great saSherinS had been collecting
until every available seat and standing
room in the large hall we're occupied.
The former senator spoke OF the splen-
did character of Gen. Lee and of the fond
reverence the people of the south bear
to his memory. He spoke Of him as great
upon the battlefield and still greater in
the moment of his last defeat, showing
then the real spirit which characterized
every movement Of the great southern
chieftain.
Lauds Men of the North.
Tie fact that today the men OF the
north have allowed the state Of Virginia
to place his efTigy in the rotunda of the
Capitol side by side With other favorite
sons. who carried arms SO CALAMITY that
the breaking of the British authority re-
cyvIf 4A
upon at length. Mr. Blackburn declared
that 1t shows the true feeling Of the ma
ton, which is one calling for the taking
of the arm of the soldier IN gray by the
man who wore the blue. and the cordial
handshake following showing that the
spirit Of brotherly love is again In the
ascendant. and with a united nation at
their head they propose to follow the
flag and defend It with their life's blood.
Speaking OF the principles for which
the south fought, the former senator de-
clared that I'm realty the south was
fighting for human rights and human lib
erty, and the slaves would have been
freed without any war In this connec-
ton he averred that the south would have
Won II the people Of Europe lad thought
the same way and had not withheld their
sympathy from the lost cause.
He said that Europe believed that in
reality the south was carrying on its
warfare to prolong human slavery. and
wise the south would have received as
sistance and would have triumphed over
the arms of the north.
Award Crosses of Honor.
Later Miss Lulu Sims sang 'StonewaN
Jacksons Way" and the Confederate
choir sang Dixie" The Daughters Of
the Confederacy presented a number OF
Confederate veterans and descendants OF
veterans. with crosses of honor. This
list includes:
Veterans, J. f. Belts. Company c, Vir-
g1nfa Volunteers; L. r. Belts Company
y, Ninth Virginia Cavalry; Joseph d.
9Th Virginia Cavalry: A. IL Jacobs, scout
and guard; John Iittlepage. Company III.
eth Virginia Cavalry; James F. Tough
eoro1<h: G W,sm A. 10th virgints
pany b, ed virginia cavalry: Frank
3. Robert, Company c, I'd Georgia Vol
unteers: W. r. Rust. Company c, 9th
Virginia Cavalry; Thcophilis Tunis, Com
gcendant. Stephen B. Ellery. son Of Capt:
Albert Ellery: George 7. Kearsley, son Of
W. T. Kearsley: Mrs. Alma Saffell,
daughter Of John T. Thomas; Mrs. Susan
U. sneed, daughter Of Charles ": sneed::
Bush Underwood.
The invocation was delivered by Rev.
Edward InEie. Rev. William Taliaferro
Thompson gave the behediction. Capt.
III. A. Marmaduke was chairman Of the
committee in charge, and Capt. ]. 7.
CaIlaghan. adiutant OF camp Ill. also
aided in making the occasion a success.
Seats on the platform were occupied by
former Senator Blackburn. Maj. Conrad,
former Interstate Commerce Commission
er Francis Marion Cockre!l, Col. Thomas
Smith, Judge C. B. Howry and Gen. L.
l.. Lonlax.