The Prescott daily news., 1914-02-06
OLD SOLDIERS WILL
NOT WALK IN PARADE
For First Time in History of Confed-
crate Reunion Veterans Will be
Provided With Carriages
For Their Parade

annual reunion oil the United Confed-
crate Veterans Association and Sons
of Confederate Veterans will be held
IN this city three days, April 20, 80
and May l, and plans for entertain
ing them are now being perfected by
the officials of the Jacksonville Reun-
ion Association and thirty commit
tees appointed by President Foor of
the Association.
Jacksonville has an ambition to en-
tertain the survivors of the Confeder-
ate armies, and their friends, better if
possible than they have ever been en-
tertained before. An interesting pro-
gram will be arranged for the recep-
tion and entertainment of the visitors
and no matter how large the atten-
dance may be, all will be satisfactori-
ly entertained. In everything that
goes to make the handling of large
crowds an easy task, Jacksonville is
well supplied. 1t has the transporta-
tion facilities, the hotels and streets,
all necessary to the successful handl-
ing of reunion crowds.
The Jacksonville program will
change in at least two important par
ticulars the customary reunion meth
DDS. 1t is the purpose of the associa-
tion to put many of the old soldiers,
who have at other reunions been cared
for at a camp, in hotels, boarding
houses and private homes where they
will have more comfortable quarters
and better entertainment. Jackson
vile believes that it will be more
pleasant for the veterans to be cared
for in that manner than in camp, and
many if not all of them will be as
signed to such quarters.
Another change in program will be
seen in the parade of old soldiers.
Instead of walking, they will ride in
carriages and automobiles. 1t is rea-
lized here that big majority of the
veterans who followed the fortunes
of the Stars and Bars, are now past
20 years of age. Many of them are
physically unable to march two hours
in the sun, Notwithstanding the fact
that they fight it out with their old
time courage and determination. This
fact has been apparent to younger
observers at recent reunions, if not
the old men themselves. The time is
rapidly approaching when the : wi
vors of the civil war, north and south,
must quit marching in paradee as 4
spectacle for admiring eyes 1t has
been almost ffty-one years since the
battles of Gettysburg and Chickamau-
ga-since the consuming flames Of
war on those historic fields tried
American valor and COZ rage and
found them true. TIE average age
Of the contestants in those titanic
struggles was twenty years; hence
the average age of the survivors must
be seventy-one. " fact very few men
now living who fought in the civil
war are under setenty. When
Younger man is found, he entered the
service as mere boy. A Confederate
parade brings these facts sharply to
the attention Of members of the
younger generation. The bent forms
and white hair of the veterans are
reminders to their descendants tnat
but few years more and all must
pass to their last rewards.
Recognizing the declining years of
the Confederate veterans, Jackson
Vile will set the precedent for a
change in the Confederate parade, as
indicated, confident of its ability to
carry it out. These proposed changes
were submitted to Gen. Bennett II.
Young on a recent visit to Jackson
Vile. and he enthusiastically approved
them. Gen. Young declared that Jack
sonville was setting precedent that
would certainly be appreciated by the
veterans. and paid high compliment
to the citizens who made the PROPOSE
ton.
Jacksonville has confidence in its
ability to carry out these plans. The
first change it made possible by super
ior hotels, boarding houses and pri-
vate homes, all of which will be open
to the veterans; the second change
by the very large number of automo-
biles, carriages and sightseeing cars
in the city Jacksonville has great
er number of hotels than any city that
has entertained the Confederate re-