The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-15
BATTLE ABBEY NO
PLACE FOR CROWD
Ellyson Tells Why He Objects to
Formal Dedication Of Confed-
crate Memorial Institute.
ANSWER MADE TO CRITICISM
Public Statement of Converse
tions Which Led to Differences
With Lee Camp Veterans.

Friday night before r.. z. Lee Camp.
No. 1. United Confederate Veterans.
Lieutenant-Governor j. Taylor Ely
son yesterday Issued a public state
ment In which his objections to
formal dedication of the Confederate
Memorial Institute or Battle Abbey. are
given. Luck of room In tho structure
Itself. or the possible injury to the
grounds by a large public gathering,
In his opinion. makes II undesirable to
have such a demonstration. while. he
believes. n personal inspection under
favorable conditions would be more
satisfactory than formal dedication
under unfavorable circumstances.
Mr.. Ellyson also answers other state
ments made before the camp, among
them that he had intimatcd that the
United Confederate Veterans as an or
ganization had nothing to do with the
institute. and explains his reference to
donations made by President Mckinley
and members OF his Cabinet An ac-
counting Is made every year to tho
convention. and Mr. Ellyson said he
hoped that David A. Brown. Jr.. had
been misquotcd In regard to demand
ing that an inquiry be made as to the
management OF the affairs of the Con-
federate Memorial Association. His
cooperation. both personal and official.
will DO given toward tho success of
reunion in this city next year.
Sir. Ellyson's Statement
Tho full text OF tho letter is rs fol-
lows:
Il received a few days ago letter
from Adjutant j. Taylor Stratton in
forming me that r. ~. Lee Camp would
Ike to have me present on Friday even
ing, February l3, to give some informa-
ton abou; the Confederate Memorial
Institute Battle Abbey. promptly
replied that my absence from the city
would compel me to forego the pleasure
of being present. but that If he would
be kind enough to meet me either at
my Office or at the Capitol, I would be
glad 10 be Informed as to the informa-
ton desired, and would take pleasure
In furnishing 1t TO the camp through
him. Thursday morning incidentally
met Comrade d. a. Brown. Jr., In the
rotunda of the Capitol Building and
told him that regretted that / would
not be able to be present at the meet
ing of the camp Friday night
Question of Invitation.
There ensued some conversation
about extending an Invitation from the
camp ard the city TO the United Con-
fcderate Veterans to hold their con.
vention In 1915 In Richmond. Com
rade Brown suggested that 1t would be
fine thing TO have n great dedication
of the building at that time. told
able TO q dedication at the time of the
reunion. for the reason that the Con-
fcderatc Memorial Institute did not
have any room large enough in which
to hold such meeting, and that to
have II on the grounds around the
building. would so injure the shrubbery
and the lawn as TO make II, in my judg
ment, undesirable to have a great pub
lie gathering on these grounds: for It
must be remembered that II is the pur-
- IL. -
memorial, and to that end, there has
been. and will be. expended thousands
of dollars to make II the most beautiful
park in the city.
II said TO him, however. that If the
building should be ready by that time.
rs we hoped 1T would be, II would be
open to all veterans anc their friends
and thought n personal inspection un-
der these conditions would be moro
satisfactory than a formal dedication
under unfavorable circumstances.
finally said to him that we could not
say with absolute certainty that the
building would be ready-that is, that
plcted by that time. The building it
self Is now practically finished. but we
have always desired that before the
building was formally opened TO the
public, the military paintings In the
Memorial Hall OF the building should
around the building should have
reached such a stage OF development as
to make both building and grounds an
attractive and beautiful memorial to
our Southern cause. I concluded tho
Interview by saying that If r. Il. Lee
Camp should decide to invite the con-
vention to Richmond next year. that l
would be. both personally and officially.
glad to cooperate In any way In my
power to make the sojourn of our visi-
tors both pleasant and profitable.
Glad to See Committee.
~ have had no further communica-
ton from r, E. Lee Camp. though am
appointed to walt on me- l should
feel, therefore. that II is unnecessary
to say anything further at this time;
but /, of course. will be glad to see the
committee and consult with them about
any matters relating to the interests
of the Confederate Memorial Institute
or r. r. Lee Camp.
"Comrade Brown is quoted as say
ing that he would at the Jacksonville
reunion In May. demand that an inquiry
be made as to the management OF the
affairs OF the Confederate Memorial
Association. 1 hope in this respect he
has been misquoted, for he will doubt
less recall that n full and detailed
statement of all receipts and disburse-
year by our treasurer, Hon. George j.
Christian, and in the reports of the
executive committee and Of the presl-
dent there is added full information as
to the nature and progress of our
work In those reports will be found
any information he or any other MEM
Der OF the convention might desire to
have.
AllusiOn to Mckinley.
THE nllusion to the contributions Of
President Mckinley and his Cabinet
made by me was in answer to the
suggestion. OF Comrade Brown that the
Confederate veterans and camps had
made large contributions to the funds
raised for this memorial building. I
simply stated that l regretted the con-
tributions from the veterans in the
South generally had not been large.
and, as an illustration, added that
President Kinley and his Cabinet
made contribution as largo or larger
than had been received by US from
some of the Southern States