The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-09-25
Monster Banner Weighing 11O Pounds and Containing
 167,000 Stars Unfurled
OFFICIAL PROGRAMME
 BEGAN LAST NIGHT
Convention Called by Commander Kirk of Oklahoma Division of Sons of Veterans-Warm Welcome
 Extended by Governor

Tulsa, Okla, September 24.-The rebel the outward manifestation tonight of a great surge of patriotism which fol- lowed the presentation to the United Confederate Veterans and to the Sons Of Veterans of a gigantic service flag.
 The flag, which weighs more than 110 pounds, contains l67,000 stars, each rep resenting a direct descendant of a Con- federate soldier who is now offering his life for his country in the war for world liberty It was presented by the Colorado delegation
 The veterans and their families were in high spirits tonight when the twenty eighth reunion officially opened, despite the busy day they had spent under the hot September sum- The official pro- gramme did not begin until tonight. but half dozen bands, score of speakers and 8 thousand and one individual re- unions of friend and camp mates of for mer days made the day a busy one. The continuous arrival of new delegations kept new throng constantly pourin g through the headquarters in the hotels, and each veteran on his arrival made himself a reception committee of one to seek out his old friends and acquaint- ducSS diiu lSlp tHefu lO get Selticu
 IMPRUMPTU DANCES
 Impromptu dances followed in the wake of the bands and in the lobby of the chief hotels Virginia reels, schottiches and old-fashioned~ square dances were hastily organized, the veterans still dis playing much of the spirit of '61 in vie- ing with each other in vigorous displays of agility and grace.
 More than 5000 veterans alone dined at the big mess tent specially maintained for them, a considerably larger number than ever before have attended the mess on the first day, it was announced. Based on this estimate registrations already tabulated, the local committee announced that more than 10000 veterans already were in attendance, with correspond . ingly large number of Sons of Veterans and other official guests.
 The convention was called to order to- night by Brant H. Kirk, commander of the Oklahoma division of the Sons of Veterans, and a fervent prayer was pro- nounced by the Rev. Henry W. Battle of Charlottesville, Va, chaplain in chief of the younger organization.
 WARM WELCOME
 Warm welcomes were extended to the visitors by Gov. Robert l.. Williams of Oklahoma and E. B. Howard in behalf of : the StdnQ a~N dtiS SoiHipS VI lhC Ncoio cA Veterans to which a response was made by Lieutenant Governor James Pulliam ! of Colorado. &S< s Conaressrnan Scott Ferris pleaded for an unstinted support of President Will son. vigorously criticizing those whom he declared said, through partisanship or disloyalty, that the President was clothed with more authority than any President should have.
 My answer to this charge" he said, Z lis that it is a islander and an untruth, and the one who makes such charge hates his country more than he loves 1t, retards it more than he helps it, and worries more about politics and partisan advantage than about the success of the boys at the front. The constitution laid down the doctrine that the President Of the United States should be commander