Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-25
CONFEDERATESASK
G. AR. TO ATTEND
Appeal to Union Veterans Not
to Spoil Reunion of "BIue
and Gray"
MAY REQUEST PRESIDENT
TO RECONSIDER STAND
DR.. Gleeson Firm in Determination
Not to Be Present at Exer-
cises June 4.

A committee representing Confed-
crate veterans, who are to unveil
monument to the Confederate dead at
Arlington June 4. has called on DR..
J. K. P. Gleeson. department commander
of the Grand Army of the Republic,
urging that Grand Army men recon-
slider their intention. announced in The
Star yesterday, to absent themselves
from the monument unveiling services
of the Confederates, to which they have
been invited.
DIR. Gleeson said today that he has
refused to call off the dogs" as he ex-
presses it. and as consequence it is
said that the Confederate veterans in
tend 10 ask President Wilson to recon-
slider his decision not to attend the q. A
r. Memorial day exercises at Arlington.
in view of the fact that the President s
refusal to be present at the G. A. r.
exercises May 80 and his acceptance
of the invitation to be present at the
Confederate exercises June 4 has
brought about the resentment of the
G. \. r. men, which made them resolve
to stay away from the Confederate
monument unveiling.
Would Rival Gettysburg Reunion.
The Confederate Veterans it is said,
are moved to the idea of appealing to the
President to attend the G. A. r. Me-
mortal day exercises as well as their
own monument unveiling by their keen
desire that their exercises of June 4 shall
be as great a reunion of the "blue and
the gray in spirit If not in numbers, as
was the Gettysburg reunion last year.
Whether they will carry out this plan OF
appealing to the President In behalf OF
the G. A. r. remains to be seen. Hilary
A. Herbert, in charge of the plans fol
the Confederate unveiling, will not dis
cuss the matter. 1t was he who called
on DR.. j. K. Gleeson. department COM
mander Of the G. A. R., In an effort to
tention to remain away from the Con-
federate exercises and to induce other
G. A. r. men to absent themselves.
There are suggestions in some quar-
tiers that before an attack Is begun on
the President by G. A. r. men it might
be well for G. A. r. officials to wait for
the Presidents speech at the Confederate
dedication.
The White House made no comment to-
day upon the attacks Of these officials
upon the declination of the President to
speak at Arlington 6. A. r. exercises
May 30. except to say that the Prest-
dents acceptance of the Confederate
dedication invitation took place three
came acute or mediation had been
thought of.
Address to Show Regard.
1t is intimated that the address of the
President on the occasion of the Con-
federate monument unveiling June 4. at
which the commander in chief Of the
Grand Army of the Republic has been
invited to be present and to speak. will
demonstrate beyond question President
Wilson's high regard for the Grand Army
of the Republic, as well as other veterans
of the civil war who fought to preserve
the Union.
DR.. Gleeson, department commander of
the G. A. R.. said today that when Hilary
A. Herbert, former Secretary of the Navy,
who is in charge of the plans for the
Confederate event. called on him as a
committee to induce him to alter his in
tention to remain away from the Con-
federate event. he was accompanied by
Myron NJ. Parker. another member of the
G. A. R., and that he told Mr.. Herbert
and Mr.. Parker that he still intends to
do everything in his power to induce
Washington Gardner. commander-in-chief
of the G. A. R.. to cancel the speech he
has agreed to make at the Confederate
event.
Following this conversation. DR.. Gleeson
says. Mr.. Herbert said the Confederate
veterans would ask the President to at
tend the G. A. r. meeting as well as their
own.