The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-05-27
Camp Stewart and ThOus-
ands of Visitors Await
Reunions Opening
FAIR WEATHER
PREDICTED TO-DAY
Election Of Commander in Chief of
Veterans Already Assuming Inter-
esting Aspect-Many Cities
Want the Next Reunion

Chattanooga, May 2s.-Camp A. p.
Stewart and thousands of visitors in
the city tonight eagerly awaited the
formal opening tomorrow of the TWEEN
ty-third annual United Confederate re-
union. which will continue for three
days. Interest on the eve Of the first
session centered In the weather. the
election of commander in chief and
the contest for the next annual re-
union city
Threatening clouds lowered on the
brow of Lookout mountain the greater
part of the day. Despite the force st
for fair weather, a siigLt precipita-
tion fell early in the afternoon and
again tonight Tris rain only welded
closer together the INTERVIEWING
United States and Confederate flags
and buntings with which the city is
abundanty adorned The showers also
We're beneficial in settling the dust
which had accumulated in the vicinity
of Camp Stewart from the lncessant
marching of veterans to the tent city.
Fair weather is predicted for tomorrow,
while indications tonight were that
there was possibility of a contest
over the election of a comman nder in
chief of the United Confederate vet
Grams it was generally believed, that
Gen. Bennett H. Young, the present
commander would in all probability be
reelected General Young served dur
ing the war between the states under
command of Gen. Nathan Bedford For
rest. known throughout the country as
the wizard of the saddle" General
Young was chosen at the last reunion
held in Macon. Ca
Interest in Elections
Friends of Gen. X. NJ Vanzandt of
Fort Worth. Texas, commander of the
Trans Mississippi department, whose
name has been mentioned as possible
successor to General Young, tonight
announced that the Texas general had
declined to allow his name to be sug-
gestRd as IA candidate for the office.
General yanzandt last year was General
Young's closest contestant for the hon
or. Tulsa, Okla, and Jacksonville, Fla,
delegations tonight entered the field
for the 1914 United Confederate Neter-
ans reunion. Other cities in the con-
test include Nashville. Richmond, Va. :;
Baltimore and San Antonio, Tex A
delegation from Denver. Col. also IS
in the city endeavoring to secure
either the 1914 or 1915 reunion for
that city.
Activities at Camp A. p. Stewart late
today assumed army proportions. At
plete rout of the sturdy veterans oc-
CURED. Noted cavalry men and invinc
ibe infantrymen fled to cover with all
the agility they could muster The enc
my was a sudden shower which came
without warning and ended soon after
the soldiers had rushed pell nell into
the tents.
The first "rashions' of the encamp-
ment were served in the mess" tent
tonight. This impromptu dining room
has a capacity of $500 and was filled
though many veterans obtained food
from the city. Steaming tins of ,of-
fee and abundant supplies of food were
served to all.
Campfires kindled
After the evening meal. camp fires
were kindled. Seated around these on
cots the veterans recounted most of
the important battles and many minor
war between the states
Taps was sounded early end the still :
ness OF the camp was undistui bed ex-
cept for the tramp of incoming detaeh-
ments which continued to arrive during
the night.
At meeting of the Confederate
States Memorial association, held this
afternoon, cordial welcome was ex-
tended to the visiting veterans by this
organization of women. A glowing
tribute was paid the members of the
association present in an address by
A. w. Chambliss representing the sons
of Confederate veterans.
Tonight the first business session of
she latter organization was held
Changes in Work
Radical changes in the work of the
Confederate States Memorial association
were predicted by Mrs. W. H. Behan of
New Orleans. In an address before the
members of the body she declared that
too much attention had been devoted to
honoring the memory of the dead and
not enough toward making provision for
the living. She asserted that resolutions
would be Introduced which If adopted
would materially change the policy OF
the organization In this respect
An enthusiastic meeting the first Of
their reunion. was held tonight by the
Cons of Confederate veterans. A feature
of the occasion was the singing of the
Confederate choir, composed OF young
women from Virginia and Tennessee All
the selections rendered We're southern
melodies and brought forth repeated
cheers from the sons of veterans present
Among the speakers were Gen. j p
Norfleet of Memphis. commander in chief
of the Sons of Confederate veterans, Gem
Codes Richardson of Georgia, W. McDQn-
AID Lee Of Virginia and A. W. HawlA
of Maryland N