Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1918-09-25

veterans still displaying much of the spirit of '61 in vieing with each other l in vigorous displays of agility and grace.
 More than 5000 veterans alone din ed at the big mess tent specially maintained for them, considerably larger number than ever before have attended the mess on the first day, it was announced.
 Based on this and the registrations already tabulated, the local commit tee announced that more than ten thousand veterans already were in at tendance with a correspondingly large number of Sons of Veterans and oth- CT official guests.
 The convention was called to order tonight by Brant H. Kirk, commander of the Oklahoma division of the Sons of Veterans and a fervent prayer was pronounced by the Rev. Henry w. Battle of Charlottesville. Va, chap lain in chief of the younger organi- zatiOn
 War welcomes were extended to the visitors by Governor Robert l.. Will Hams. of Oklahoma, E. B. Howard, in behalf of the Stand Waite camps of the Sons of Veterans to which a re- sponse was made by Lieut.. Governor James Pulliam. of Colorado.
 Congressman Scott Ferris pleaded for an unstinted support for Presi- dent Wilson, vigorously criticising those whom he declared, said through partisanship or disloyalty that the president was clothed with more au- thority than any president should have.
 My answer to this charge" said he, "is that 1t is islander and an untruth, and the one who makes such charge hates his country more than he loves it, retards it more than he helps 1t and worries more about poli- tics and partisan advantage than about the success of the boys at the front.
 TO have it otherwise would sub 1ect the republic to the only critisism that has ever been successfully wap- ed against republican form of gov ernment, which is that a government by the consent of the governed can- not assemble itself quickly in the hour of great stress
 Il prefer to have it said of us as a nation that in time of stress. we first dared give our chief executive full power to act and second, with the valour and courage of a true Ameri- can ne dared to use sufficiently and well the power so conferred upon him.
 President Wilson is today the fore most citizen of all the world
 He has fought his way to the ton by skill and ability and he is looked up to by every nation of the earth. i"
 Congressman Ferris talked of the development of the army and navy. lie presented tables showing that at the end of President Wilson's admin istration 1917. there were in all branches of army service, 323, 3,OOO of hcers and men,
 On August 24, 1918, he said the United States had an army of 2,5S7.- 393 officers and men, one million and half of whom are now in France The total number of men in the navy at the close of Wilson's first admin pStratlon, inEluding naval reserves, was S3,325.
 At the present time, after seventeen months in the war, there is a navy composed of 561,735 officers and men Wlth corresponding increase of ships
 During the early days of the war" lhe continued, folks were heard to say. this is rich mans war and a, poor mans fight
 Under the income tax law and the excess profit tax, the rich are largely bearing the financial burdens of the war.
 Tn the selective draft law, the rich mans son is standing side by side With the poor mans son fighting the battles of the country"
 The chief official action of tonight's session waas the presentation of the o1hclal ladies of the reunion, spon- sors, matrons and maids of honor and chaperons. the presentation being made by Governor Brough of Arkan- SaS.