The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1920-05-08
GREAT REUNION OF
CONFEDERATE VETERANS
Heroes of the War for he independence of the
South Meet In Their Annual Convention In
the Game Cock City.

*
| Yesterday and today Sumter mas
had the honor and privilege of en- ts
tertaining more than 600 veterans OF
the war for Southern independence.
who assembled here in annual re un5
| ion of the South Carolina Division soI
the United, Confederate Veterans AS.
sociation. According to the declara-
tions of officers and members OF tne
Association, who have attended many
previous reunions this has been one oI
the most successful. enjoyable and
best attended meetings the South Caro-
lima Division has ever held. The pee7
1p,e of Sumter have enjoyed having
| the veterans as their guests and II
they have found their stay here pleas
ant the satisfaction is mutual. -
A majority of the veterans arrived
on the evening trains Tuesday, but
many more came in wednesday morn !
ing, and by private conveyance from
all adjoining counties in the eastern
part of the State. Wednesday MORN
ing when the formal opening of the
reunion was held there We're more
than 900 present.
The exercises were held In the court
house. which was packed to capacity
when the meting was called to order
with DR.. II. J. McLaurin, Command
er Of Camp Dick Anderson, u: G. ",
presiding. The opening session be-
gan promptly at 10 O'Clock, following
selection by the. band.
Opening Session.
The DoxoIogy was beautifully sung
by a. selected choir, under the direction
of Misses Louise and Ellen SiddaH.
The Invocation was asked by the Rev.
J. P. Marion Of the Presbyterian
church, after which l.. D. Jennings,
mayor Of the city, extended a gracious
and heartfelt welcome to the men who
wore the gray. To this Cen. D. IA.
league, honorary commander OF the
South. Carolina division. made a re-
sponse. An address of welcome on be-
half of the business men OF the city
was voiced by DR.. e. S., Booth. presi-
dent Of the Chamber Of Commerce.
who has been working without
ceasing to make this reunioa
a success. Response to this was
delivered by DR.. j. O. Wilson, presi-
dent Of Lander College, in the absence
of John n. Wharton Mr.. Wilson re-
minded the business men present that
the veterans had been businessmen too,
in their day, and told something Of
the difficulties of rebuilding the South
after the war.
Senator John T. Clifton. represent
ed the people of Sumter in another
address of welcome, and this was re-
spondcd to by Gen. J. Fuller Lyon,
commanding the First Brigade OF
South Carolina Veterans. On behalf
of Dick Anderson Chapter. Z. D. c..
of Sumter, Miss Armida Moses spoke
a welcome to the veterans and to the
! visiting members Of the United Daugh-
tiers Of the Confederacy. This was
responded 10 by the president of the
South Carolina Division, U. D. c., Mrs.
/! st. John Allison Lawton, Of Charles
ton, who told Of the love Of the Daugh-
! ters for the veterans Of the Confeder-
acy and the work done in their behalf.
iCapt ". L. McCutcheon. a veteran OF
the World War. commander Of James
D. Blanding post of Sumter, extended
the welcome of the Sons Of Veterans.
/, Col. Arthur L. Castor, Of Chester. re-
sponded to this.
! General Clark Retircs
| The afternoon meeting was devoted
to business After song offering by
| the Alexander MCQUEEN Chapter.
| Children of the Confederacy, under
the leadership of Miss Truitt, General
! Clark, commander of the South Caro-
lima veterans, gave full report. re-
viewing the years work and giving an
account of the Greenwood and Allan
i ia reunions. He explained fully the
provisions OF the last pension act. He
! endorsed the Confederate College of
/ Charleston: Miss Mildred Rutherford s
work for spreading true history abroad
and at home, and the way the Thir-
tieth Division and other boys ,of the
South had conducted themselves over
seas. General Clark has announced
that he will not stand for reelection,
as he thinks the honor of being South
] Caro,ina's division commander should
be shared by some Of his comrades.
+, Elections, however, do not take place
until Thursday afternoon.
/ Dinner was served in the Peoples
| Tobacco Warehouse where all the vet
! erans were served at one time. tables
having been laid for more than 500.
! Last evening the meeting was held
in the Peoples Tobacco Warehouse
with an attendance Of nearly 5000.
/ The distinguished guests of the reun-
! ion, including Cen. Julian S. Carr, Of
North Carolina, Cen Williams, of
Florida, the sponsors. maids and mat
i rons of honor were presented TO the
assembly. Then followed the grand
march, led by the commander. Gen.
/; Clark, and the sponsor. Miss Henri
eta Eoykin. The program of the eve
ming was concluded with dance for
! the veterans.
Today's meeting opened at 10