The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-28
'G. 4. R. LEADER IS !. TRYING ID FIGHT THE WAR ALL OVER Hopes to Make Political Capital Out of President
 Wilson's Attitude WILSON UNABLE TO MAKE TWO SPEECHES But He Had Accepted Invitation to Address Daughters of the Con-
 federacy Many Months
 Ago
By c. F. STEWART


 Washington May 27.-(Special.)-Th is general regret expressed in Washington by prominent members or all political par ties that 30 years after the great civil war in this country there are still people who will take the slightest excuse to raise the issue and fight that great war all over again, thereby arousing afiame a spirit dices anew, and keeping aflame spirit of annimosity that ought to have died out long ago.
 The latest outbreak is brought about, of course, by the G. A. R.. or rather not by the rank and file of that organization, who are. as a matter of fact, opposed to it, but by a few disgruntled leaders of the organization of old soldiers in Wash ington. The President himself is the in- nocent cause of this tempest in tea pot out of which political capital Is being made by his opponents.
 A week or 10 days ago Dr. J. K. Gleason, department commander of the G. A. R. in Washington, called upon the President and requested that he make a speech at the G. A. R. exercises Memorial Day, May 30, at Arlington When he left the White I iiotS' iIi. oitdSon dpptdTtu ulSuIy pleased by the general reception that had been given him by the President, and said, although the President had declined to speak on that day, he had made it plain | to him that his reason for not doing so, was because of the Mexican situation. Dr. | Gleason further said that the President l had assured him that he would address I the G. A. R. on some future occasion A lew days later, eX-Secretary of the l Navy Hilary A. Herbert called on the President to submit the programme of the exercises of the Daughters of the Con- federacy to be held at Arlington June 4, at which the President is to make the principal address. MT. Herbert announced to the newspaper men that the President had approved the programme and would speak upon that occasion.
 Instantly there was a big yelp from all over the country. The idea of the Presi- dent turning down the G. A R. and ac- cepting tke invitation of the Confederate organlzaSrn was amazing, especially a. the dates were only four days apart
 But a matter of fact the President has niade it plain, and so has MT. Herbert that the invitation to the President wa. extended many months ago. and his for mai acceptance of it was given to tn, Daughters of the Confederacy over thre months ago. and before the Mexican situa ton became so ac dte. Nevertheless, pr Gleason. notwithstanding the President i. eXpianation of the incident. and his as surance that he would address the G. A l K. later, is now engaged in throwing nin hts minute because of this 'rebuff l. the G. A. R. The c. A. R organization mad accepted an invitation from the Con federate organization to attend the cere monies in connection with the unveliny Of the Confederate monument on June and that the commander-in-chef of tn G. A R. had been invited, and had accept ca, to make an address upon that oc casion. Dr. Gleason declares 1t his pur pose to protest against the commander o the G. A.. R. delivering the address. O even being present, and he is urging al members of the G. A. R. to refrain iron attending the Confederate ceremonies Other prominent members of the G. A. R have appealed to Dr. Glea son. but he re fuses to 'call off the dogs" as he ex presses it.
 Tn view Of this situation MT. Herbert a n mel ,hers of the Confederate veterans hay : decided that they would appeal to th President to reconsider his declination ( the G. A. R. invitation. They seem to CT tertain the idea that this would appeas , the wrath of Dr. Gleason and those wh are supporting him in his protest. 5 It is not likely, however, that the Pres , dc1t vii! do any such thing If there any harm done it is already done from
 political standpoint" said a southern ser ator in discussing the subject today. ..1
 was clearly not the Presidents intentio to show preference for one of these O, ganizations over the other His speec
 on the occasion of unveiling the Confec crate monument will demonstrate th
 and his explanation to Dr. Gleason ougt to be all that is required by any reason able person."
 Another member of Congress Ittl more emphatic declared that it made Iittl
 d1rference. Certain members of the (
 A. K. are continually looking for an OK
 cuse for criticizing the President. an
 way, he said, "and this will serve the, as well as any other he continued ..The
 almost invariably vote the repub,;ca
 ticket any way he said. What I mea
 by that is those who are raising All tb racket, and they are seeking to arouse fin prejudice of the entire organizatio against a democratic President. This tbe
 Will not be able to accomplish, for the, IS too much sound sense and judRmer
 among the old soldiers who fought ff
 the Union to take stock in such piffle. !"
 
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