Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1917-06-03
Washington Gorgeously necorated Honor United
 Confederate Veterans.
MEMORIAL DAY
 EXERCISES TODAY
rrosses of Honor to Be Distributed as Part of the Ceremonies, This Being Anniversary of Jeffer-
 son Davis Birthday.

Washington, June 2.-Washington is ablaze wit hcolor and thronged with the advance army of visitors for the national reunion of the United Con- federate Veterans and auxiliary as-
 sociations, whose conventions begin
 Monday and last almost throughout
 the week.
 When the wearers of the gray cross
 ed the Potomac and took possession
 of the capital today they found Wash
 ington smothered in bunting and as
 much enthusiasm over the old flag as they ever saw in any city of the
 South. The Confederate veterans
 have never had more complete ar
 rangement made for their entertain
 ment than this year by the citizens of
 the District of Columbia, with the
 hearty cooperation of various de-
 partments of the federal government,
 Uncle Sam has spared no pains or ex-
 panse in embellishing the public biuld-
 ings with the national colors, while the public-spirited merchants hardly
 without exception have gaily bedecked
 their stores, and hundreds of homes are prettily decorated with flags and emblems.
 The innumerable activities of the reunion began today, when the na- tional headquarters were formally opened. Throughout the day the nu- rnerous committees were busy in reg istering the arrivals and assigning them to quarters. The services of large number of Boy Scouts are being utilized in guiding the veterans and other visitors about the city.
 The greater number of the early ar- rivals came from distant points, and, while weary from travel, joined with l the same spirit of old in the activitie$ of the day. Veterans who had not seen each other in many years held impromptu reunions in hotel Hobbies and other public places; there were ex pressions of joy to see old comrades again, and many moments of sorrow when some soldiers found their dear old friends had gone to their final rest.
 Of the thousand and one little in cidents that go to make a reunion such joy and delight to the old sol diers, there is one that is already arousing especial enthusiasm at the present gathering. This is the cord lal welcome that the G. A. R. veterans of the District of Columbia are ex- tending to the men against whom they fought in the eos. In every feature or the reunion program, from the time mat the gathering is called to order until the last wearer of the gray has taken his departure from the city, the old boys in blue are going to have part in the proceedings.
 Commander chief Harrison and the members of his staff are putting the finishing touches to the prelimi- narles incident to the opening of the reunion. Several committees of the sons of Confederate veterans and other auxiliary bodies are also com pietlng. their programs. The work of arranging for the big parade Thurs gay, always a great and difficult task, IS IS proceeding splendidly, according to virginia and the Carolinas are ex.. pc Rected to make up a greater part of tne Dig procession. Many of these are already here, but the larger num- per of them will not arrive until Sum- oay night or Monday.
 representative Frank Clark of Flor laa, has been selected to deliver the grafton at the Confederacy Memorial tD,ay exercises to be held tomorrow in tne Arlington National cemetery. The exercises will constitute the initial fea- .ure: ct the reunion program. The oratlon is to be delivered at the monu- ment me: which was designed by the late olr Moses Ezekiel, Confederate vet sran, who recently died in Rome, and who Is to be buried shortly near the monument. As tomorrow will be the anniversary of the birth of President oenerson Davis, the Southern crosses tl UL honor will be awarded as part of the memorial exercises.