The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-12
out OF their respective towns on Januar.
l9, Lees birthday.
| Opening of Convention

10. Lees birthday.
Opening of Convention
The opening exercises of the convention
We're held in the Daughters OF the Amer
lean Revolution Continental Hall Some
| of the papers reported that there was a
great fight over the fact that a confed-
crate flag was placed IN this hall along
side the United States flag All this.
However, came UP after the Dauehters of
the Confederacy had left Washington,
and the Confederate Daughters were in
olssful ignorance of any objection The
washington Daughters of the Confeder-
acy having paid a good round sum to tho
Daughters of the American Revolution
authorities for the use or the hall as we
We're told, it seems a little funny .hat
they wouldn't unfurl their own beloved
emblem. However, it has been fully dem
onstrated that this was not fight of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
against the United Daughters of the Com
federacy, but a political fight of the two
factions in the Daughters of the Amer
ican Revolution ranks.
And | might Just as we'll say right here
that the report that our Washington con-
vention was not harmonious is absolutely
untrue. 1t was entirely the contrary.
Spirited discussions were held, 1t is true,
just enough to make them spicy, points
of order were called, and a few parlia-
mentary slxirmishes enjoyed. and there
was at times much confusion owing to
the acoustic properties of the hail. but
all wound up in the best of good feeling,
and no more enjoyable convention was
ever held.
President Tafts reception of the Con-
federate Daughters on opening night and
the appreciation shown by the United
Daughters of the Confederacy was one of
the finest examples of the true spirit of
cur reunited state that could possibly
have been given. President Taft had
been south and he showed it; we had been
glad to see him; he was glad to see MS,
and he said so in his very happiest vein.
His address showed a strength and
broadness of mind and greatness of heart
that no number of newspaper men telling
the contrary will ever be credited for one
moment, by the Daughters of the Con-
federacy. Indeed, his speech was mag
unanimous and splendid; he showed a
knowledge and sympathetic understand
ing of the work and endeavors of the
United Daughters of the Confederacy,
which some of our southern men would
do we'll to emulate. It was on this open
ing night that Mrs. Williams of North
Carolina presented to the United Daugh-
ters of the confederacy a Confederate
flag
With the claim that this gentleman was
the designer and originator of the Con-
federate flag, / felt this to be mistake
and contrary to Alabama history and
spoke of it to friends who wished me to
enter my protest then and there. But we
decided 1t was not the courteous nor
proper thing at that place and hour and
brought it up before the business meet
ing next day. / hope all veterans, par
ticularly those of Marion, who nave
proof OF Alahama's claim to this honor,
will send the same to me that Ii may be
properly established to the world.
Reception at White House
One of the most pleasant events was the
reception at the White House, when DcC
Daughters, it was estimated. went to
shake hands with the President of the
United States The Alabama delegation
felt very much at home at the White
House when they thought of having fur
nished presidential candidate this year,
remembered the splendid records of our
patriots in times past and how they of the
present are still leading in the affairs of
the government And just here | must
pause to say the Alabama delegation,
United Daughters of the Confederacy, was
unexceled. on the floor of the convention,
was indeed proud of the personnel OF
our party which was 80 strong. the
largest personal attendance of any pre-
vious convention from home.
/ wish | had time and could tell you
OF the many social courtesies prepared
for our entertainment, but this is impos-
sible My duties at the convention hall
prevented my enjoying even the much
coveted trip to Annapolis and to AleXan-
dria, where Mary Custis Lee personally
met the Daughters and showed them
over the old church and other historic
shrines. One CT the most delightful OF
the many receptions was that rendered