The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-21
Semmes Succeeds Hooper as Commander of Second Brigade as Result of Elec- ti0n in Selma
BIG PARADE TODAY
 TO BRING TO CLOSE
 BIG ANNUAL EVENT
Ideal Weather Adds to Pleas ure of Throngs in Selma.
 Open Air Ball Was the Great Feature Last Night

Selma, October o.-(special )-Gen. c. W. Hooper of Selma was elected as commander of the Alabama veterans and Gadsden was chosen as next meet | ing place this afternoon.
 Selection of Gadsden followed a fiery
 appeal by Congressman John l.. Bur
 nett of Gadsden. General Hooper suc-
 eeeds Gen. Harvey Jones of Montgom ! cry, who was unanimously elected hon. | orary life commander of the Alabama | division.
 Oliver J. Semmes of Mobile, son of
 Raphael Semmes, was elected to suc- | ceed General Hooper as commander of
 the second brigade. Crowds attending | the business sessions are the greatest
 ever gathered in Selma. The Acad- emy of Music is filled to the doors l School children are playing a big part
 In the exercises
 Ideal Weather Conditions 1 Under ideal weather conditions, the | opening day of the fifteenth annual l convention of the Alabama division of United Confederate Veterans was ihHi NtQ ny dCtlNlly lIOD1 IQOTDlng un- l til the shades of darkness crept over | the city. By daylight the old soldiers began to come from their homes and by s o'clock the streets were packed with crowd the like of which was never before seen in Selma. Early morning trains coming into Selma brought their quota of veterans and sponsors and by noon, when the off eial opening was scheduled, the city was in the hands of the gray-clad fighters and their fair ladies.
 At three minutes after noon General Chairman David M. Scott, who has been in full charge of arrangements, intro duced to 1900 persons Col. B. M. Wash burn, adjutant general and chief of staff of the Alabama division, who pre- sided over the session. Invocation by Gen. George E. Brewer, chaplain gen. eral of the Alabama division. was fol- lowed by the address of welcome by Louis Benish president of the Selma city council. who presented to Gen. | Harvey E. Jones. commander, the key ] to Selma. Addresses by General
 Jones. A. T. Goodwin, tableaux by the 1 school children of the city and mu- sical numbers by the high school or
 chestra and the Auburn band made up the opening session. In the afternoon | the convention took up the matter of appointing committees, electing new officers and selecting the next meet ing place
 Auburn Band Arrives The Auburn band arrived in the city at an early hour and gave concert in front of division headquarters, going | from there to the Academy of Music, | where they occupied places on the stage during the exercises The East | Lake Boys band occupied front seats in the auditorium and gave a number | of selections. The boys band is com 1 ing in for much commendation and is giving Auburn a run for its money. Parade This Morning
 The parade Thursday will about I bring to close the festivities and | with the exception of few individual
 functions will mark the close of the
 most successful reunion in the his | tory of the Alabama veterans. The l parade Thursday will start promptly I at II o'clock headed by Gen. c. w. 1 Hooper. commander of the Second bri-
 gade. who will have as his aides men 1 who have seen years of service in the 1 National Guard. The entire student body of Marion Military institute, 175 strong, will reach Selma at o'clock 1 to take part in the parade.
 In the parade Thursday will appear what is said to be the handsomest flag in the state. The flag was present ed to Camp Catesby Jones No. 317 by
 Mrs Catesby Jones. wife of the famous Confederate commander of that name. | The flag was presented to the Selma camp by Mrs. Jones when it was de . sired to present the original battle l flag to the state department of ar 1 chives and history The flag will be carried by Capt. John ]. Babcock. who carried the battle flag through the war and was wounded five times while carrying the colors
 Camp Hardee No. 39 of Birmingham, the oldest camp in the state, is rep resented here by about 50 men, headed with the Fortieth Alabama infantry in repelling General Grant at Vicksburg.
 The sponsorial staff of Camp Hardee is led by Miss Mabel Marler sponsor. and Miss Roberta Lamb maid of honor. A reception Of the Dallas club Wednesday afternoon was the first of hcial function for the visiting ladies and was largely attended. At night the official ball was given in Broad street and was attended by fully 5000 vis- itors, 2000 of them veterans The ball in Broad street marked an innovation and was appreciated by the old soldiers.
 many of whom would not have entered a ballroom. Music was furnished by the Auburn and East Lake bands.
 Governor Arrives
 Gov. Charles Henderson, Mrs. Tender sori and the governors pr:vate secretary, Will Henderson. were among the first visitors to reach Selma Wednesday morn ing, coming over in Governor Tender son's car. The party were guests of Lloyd M. Hooper in Lapsiey street. and
 Governor Henderson will be in the parade Thursday.
 Judge Semmes Attending Judge Oliver J. Semmes, son of the fa-
 mcus naval commander, Raphael Semmes. is here in command of the Mobile camp,
 named for Admiral Semmes. Judge
 Semme for many years has been judge of
 Mobiles city court and Is slated to suc-
 ceed Gen. c. w. Hooper as commander
 of the Second brigade. General Hooper
 VI l doubtless be the successor of Gen.
 Harvey E. Jones of Montgomery as com
 marder of the Alabama division of vet
 erans.
 Services at Cemetery
 An interesting event of Tuesday was
 the simple services conoucied in Live
 Oak cemetery at the graves of United
 States Senator Edmund W. Pettus and
 Colcnel Dedman. who commanded the
 Twentieth Alabama during the four years
 of war. Headed by Commander John G. Smith of Camp Wilcox and carrying the tattered battle flag under which General
 Pettus so often led his men to victory. the little party of old soldiers went to- the cemetery and conducted services at