Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-05-18
Washington Takes Contede-
rate Reunion From Tulsa,
OKLA, and Memphis.
SONS ARE TO MERGE
WITH THE OLDER BODY
Under Sky Gray as Their Uniforms
Old Soldiers Close Birmingham
Gathering With Parade.

BIRMINGHAM. Ala. May 1s.-The
desire of the old Confederate soldiers
to parade down Pennsylvania avenue
and be reviewed by the President of
the United States led them to choose
Washington. D. C. for the 1917 re-
union city at the closing business ses-
sion of their reunion here last night.
Tulsa, Okla. and Memphis. Tenn, re-
order named
Washingtons claims for the honor
of entertaining the boys in gray"
next year were presented by Col Hill
ary A. Herbert, Secretary of the Navy
in the abinet of the late President
Cleveland In an eloquent speech MI
Herbert pointed to the historic fea-
| lures surrounding such an invasion of
the capital of the country with mes
sage of peace at time when the in
ternational relations of the nation are
strained to high tension.
The movement, he said, was started
by Hancock Corps of the Grand Army
of the Republic. which desired that the
old soldiers in gray be accorded the
same privileges and pleasures in their
blue.
Others Supporting Washington.
Gen. c. W. Hooker of Alabama, Gen.
A. ]. West of Georgia and Mrs. Cor
nelia Branch Stone of Galveston. Tex.
| supported Washington's claims in
short speeches
Gen. A B. Booth of Louisiana in
sisted that the next reunion go to a
southern city. He injected the negro
question into the discussion for the
| first time. declaring that the lack of
segregation laws would force southern
women. as well as southern men, to mix
with negroes promiscously in street
| cars and other public places.
! J. P. Norf1eet, former commander-in-
| chief of the Sons of Veterans, and Mrs.
J. T. Latham made enthusiastic speech
| es In favor of Memphis. while the
claims of Tulsa, the other contestant.
were voiced by Tate Brady of Tulsa
and William D. Matthews of Oklahoma
| City.
Sons to Merge With Veterans.
! The recommendations of the resolu-
tions committee. with the exception OF
one favoring q reduction in the salary
| of the adjutant general from $500 to
$500 annually and another favoring
the consolidation of the veterans and
referred to the commanding general
and the heads of the three depart
ments. The resolution favoring the
consolidation of the two organizations
was adopted. and a committee COM
posed of the general officers and one
representative from each division was
appointed to cooperate with a similar
committee from the Sons, to report at
the next reunion.
The effort to reduce the adjutant
generals salary failed when it was
learned that the constitution leaves
that matter in the hands of the execu-
tive council and commander-in-ch chief.
At the election of officers late in the
afternoon Gen. George P. Harrison.
commander of the Alabama division of
the United Confederate Veterans, was
selected comma nder-i -in-chief of the vet
erans. succeeding Gen. Bennett Young
of Louisville, KY. who refused to per-
init his name to be presented as a can
didate for reelection. Other officers
named were:
Commander department of the army
of Tennessee. Gen. John P. Hickman
OF Tennessee.
Commander transmississippi depart
ment, Gen. X. NJ Van Zdnt of Texas,
reelected.
Commander department army of
Virginia, Gen. John Brown of Vir-
ginia.
A number of speakers insisted Gen.
Young should not be permitted to
tire absolutely and the title of honorary
president for life was conferred upon
him by unanimous vote of the conven-
ton.
Dies on Ballroom Floor.