The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-29

park by delegations from Florida and
Ala bama. and the parade of the Sons of
Confederate Veterans. A joint memorial
service in honor of the confederate dead
also was held in the auditorium today
at which representatives from the veter-
ans and all other organizations attend
ing the reunion took part. The election
of officers by the veterans this after
noon was preceded by a. lively discussion,
which followed the report of the cons
mittee on credentials This committee
recommended that credentials be withheld
from Gen. w. j. Behan of New Orleans
because 1t was alleged he belonged to
two confederate veterans ORGANIZATIONS.
General Behan mounted the platform and
denounced the recommendation of the
committee malicious. After relating
the battles In which he had participated
during the war between the states, ne
called upon the veterans to defeat the
| committee recommendations. For time
the meeting was in a turmoil. Explana-
tions were called for and it finally was
stated that General Behan had come as
chairman of delegation from one camp
while he still retained membership In the
Is Louisiana camps which seeded from
the veterans organization four years ago.
| Amendment Adopted
| A motion was made to amend the Gre
dentials committee report SO as to ex-
clude the portion of it referring to Cen
| eral Behan When a vote was called
on the motion the presiding officer could
not determine whether the ayes or the
hayes were the more numerous. An
| official vote by state divisions then was
| called for and the amendment was
adopted.
The report of the sessions committee
submitted this afternoon was. adopted
unanimously. Among the resolutions was
one designating the general commander o.
| the veterans, together with state division
! commanders as representatives of the
veterans' association at the centennial
celebration of the signing OF the treaty
of Ghent The resolution was offered
by Lieutenant Governor J. Tyler OF Vir-
ginia.
! The reelection of General Young and
his departmental officers was the occa-
sion for the greatest ovation which has
| occurred at the present reunion. Rousing
lrebel cheers rent the air when the name
of General Young was mentioned. After
| he had been elected by acclamation Gen
| eral Young said
..This is worth more to Ine than all
the gold in the treasury of the United
States I would rather have your rec
ommendation than that of all other men
and women in the world. God bless each
| one of you. l thank you for this high
honor which you have seen fit to bestow
| upon me a second time.
| Three cheers for "Old Kentucky" were
| given as General Young received the
congratulations of many friends
| Each of the departmental officers was
given hearty ovation and all were
deeply moved
Thousands Witness Parade
Many thousands witnessed the parade
| this afternoon of the Sons OF Confeder
ate Veterans. Attired in uniforms SIM
liar to those made famous throughout
| the southland by their fathers, these
| young men presened a striking spectacle.
| The Richmond Howitzers, the Pelham
| Guards from Macon, Ga, and two COM
| panies of Tennessee militia, participated
| in the pageant in addition to sponsors
| from many divisions of the Organization.
| Tonight the aged veterans were given
| an elaborate ball at Bennett II. Young
payillion. Regardless of the fact that they
are to stand the trying ordeal of a street
! parade, many of the veterans danced
| late into the night. On the spacious pa
vilion at various times during the night
| dances of so years ago and of the present
| day were executed. The stately Virginia
reel was followed by the turkey trot''
| and young as well as old appeared to
| enjoy the occasion.
Tomorrow the veterans Iarade, IN
| which the aged soldiers will be given the
| places of honor, viii conclude the twenty
| Grams are concerned. The Sons of Vet
Grams will be the guests of honor at a
| grand ball tomorrow night.