Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1920-06-04
MAI. WHITMAN
HAS RESIGNED
Quits as Commander of Browne.
Harman Camp Because of
Criticism in Article print.
ed in News Last Week.

".
tended by a large crowd of >peopl,
from the country and town. The
program as printed in this paper was
carried out. The procession was
formed on Main Street at ten o,clocl,
sufficient number of automobiles be.
ing provided to take the veterans to
and from the two cemeteries; where
brief exercises were held. At the
Mapl Viw Cemetery, the Rev. w. w
Arrowood offered prayer, and the
graves of the soldiers were decorat-
ed. At the Jeffersonville Cemetery
the graves were also decorated, spe
cial attention being paid to the last
resting place of Mrs. Minnie Cox
Graham, the old soldiers friend. Rev.
c. R. Brown offered prayer.
At the conclusion of these cxercis-
es, the procession returned to. town
and the meeting of Browne-Harman
Camp of Confederate Veterans was
held in the chapel of the High School,
and officers elected for the coming
year.
1t wns in this meeting that Major
James p. Whitman, commander of
the camp, offered his resignation as
commander. His resignation was oc-
casioned by the criticism of Daughters
Of the Confederacy and others be-
cause of the article appearing in the
last issue of the News, in which Ma
ior Whitman took issue with an al
legged address of President Wilson
delievered in France, his construction
Of tn address being criticism by the
President of the confederate soldier.
Major Whitman read his resignation,
at the conclusion of which he left
the meeting. The resignation is as
follows:
II appear before you this morning
to tender my resignation as your
commander, with the deepest regret.
have been pleasantly associated with
you for many years and l trust dur
ing that time that have so demean-
ed myself as to deserve your respect
and commendation, for faithful SER
vice. 1 have appreciated the honor
you have conferred upon me. And
time can never efface these sacred
memories, and l trust my successor
will take the same interest in your
welfare as I have endeavored to do.
and / wish to say to you that | will
always bet at your service to da any
thing in my power to serve you.
The reason for my rcsigning is
we'll known to some of nv comrades,
but as l wish that the camp may
know, will state the facts.
In the lats weeks issue of the
News, there appeared over my sigma
ture an article relating to the publi-
cation of an article rejecting upon
President Wilson's Memorial address
in the Confederate Veterans, and
which my article was based upon, and
the criticism made thereon by the
editor of the Veteran and others. TAX
ing this article in the Veteran as true
because l could not believe the editor
of the Veteran, the only paper pub
lished in the interest of the Confeder-
ate Veterans, would publish anything
rejecting upon Mr.. Wilson, or any
one else without just cause, and, that
was the reason for my article ap-
pearing in the News. The Confeder-
ate Magazine is taken by large
number of the Confederate Vetcr-
ans in the United States, and is rec
ognized by the Grand Camp as au-
thority for matters concerning the
interests of the soldier. And the pub
lication of the article in question has
not been discussed or denied, so fan
as know, by the Grand Camp. and
certainly, not by the meeting OF th'
Camp at Harrisonburg, Virginia.
But as my motives have been i'm
pugned by members of the camp thai
/ wished to bring it into politics.. i:
as far from the truth as anything
could be, no such thought ever en-
tered my mind, but if it were true
which I emphatically deny. it woult
not be greater violation of the char
ter under which we act, and whici
forbids politics, for at the meeting
of the Grand Camp, they always pas
resolutions endorsing the administra
tion of President Wilson, which is
violation of the charter.
/ regret exceedingly that some o
the Daughters of the Confederac,
here have taken this view of it. an
thru their representatives mIlmaCee
if I used or referred to the article i
the Veteran in my address to tn
camp, it would break UP the camI
and as cannot accept the dictum o
others as my own mature opinion:
and have no desire to destroy tn
camp, I hereby tender my resigno
ton, and in conclusion nothing tina
has been said or done in connectio
with this matter will lesson my hig
regards and appreciation of Daught
ers and noble women of the South
land"
Judge Graham Says Major Whitma
Was One of the Bravest Soldier
Who Ever Shouldered Musket.
Th, Majors resignation was az
cepted. Judge Graham, in shol