The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-05-14

be accommodated unless the homes of the people are opened to them. Those who have rooms for rent are asked to communicate with the reunion head quarters at once, as more accommoda- tions are needed.
 A question of importance that will come before the business meeting ot the veterans will be that of ending the general reunions of the Confeder- ate Veterans with the Birmingham meeting. As matter of fact reso- lution to that end will be presented by Gen. John G. Smith. Many reasons are advanced in support of this reso- lution, the principal one being that with increasing years and correspond ing infirmities the old soldiers are not able to stand the strain and excite ment of these annual events; not nec- essarily the marching in the parade, or the attendance on the many func- tions provided, but the hardships in- cident to the travel to and from their respective homes in distant states. The question is one worthy of the deepest consideration, for while we all rejoice in the spirit of the old vets themselves, who willingly put up with these inconvenience, yet sooner or later these annual reunions must end. Each year sees the ranks of the Con- federate Veterans grow thinner and thinner, the eye less bright and the step less firm, and no matter how willing the spirit may be, we, or rath- CT they, must bow to the inevitable, for there is necessarily limit to their endurance. State reunions should and will be held so long as 1.-two or three are gathered together" but there are strong reasons for deciding that the general reunions should end.
 Notwithstanding all these. facts, several cities are making strong bids for the next reunion of the Confed- crate forces, notably Memphis, Washington, D. C., and Hulsa, Okla. There may be others. Each will no doubt present strong claims for the next annual gathering.
 In the event the ending of the gen eral reunions is considered seriously, it seems that it would be fitting and appropriate to end them at Washing ton. The sentiment attached to the nations capital, the momentous ques- tions in connection with the civil war that have been centered there, the deep significance to posterity of such . gathering, make Washington an ideal place to wind up the general re- unions of the Confederate soldiers.
 Such gathering at the nations capital would destroy forever every vestige of sectionalism. It would weld together in bonds indissoluble, in which sentiment would predomi- nate, the peoples of the north and south. It would proclaim to the world as nothing else would that the United States knows no north, no south, no east, no west, but is nation united for the common good and welfare of all it's peo4le.
 A little over fifty years ago the cry, "On to Washington stirred this nation as no other country had ever been stirred. It was tocsin that re- sounded in every city and hamlet of this broad land. It called to arms patriots from every section, some to attack, others to defend. Four long years of daring, desperate, cruel war fare followed At it's close period of sectional hate and bitterness was ex- perienced that is without parallel in the worlds history. But with time these conditions have passed; the wounds of war have been healed; nay, more, the very scars have almost been obliterated, common ties and com- mon interests have banded the sec tions together. Today we rejoice in the fact that history has placed the south in proper view, in admitting that she