The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-02-26
COMMANDER OF
 SPANISH WAR VETS
 WS|TSLOCAL CAMP
National Commander in Chief Urges Better Organization of Veterans - Given Auto
 mobile Trip and Banquet

Making plea for better organiza- tion and more membership in the local camp of the United Spanish War Vet. erans J. K. Witherspoon, commander in chief of that organization, spoke to Birmingham Camp No. l last night at the city call.
 MT. Witherspoon told of the methods s employed by the camp at Seattle, Wash, for the mastering in of veter- ans of foreign wars, and also of the activities indulged in by that organi- zation. He stated that the same could be done here if the camp could be or ganized more efficiently, and the mem bership increased Mir. Witherspoon pointed out the benefits reaped by members of the organization through their connection with it, and told of some of his experiences in various cities with the camps there
 Following the talk by Mir Wither- spoon, E. E. Spangenberg of the local camp emphasized the statements made by the commander in chief and also told of some of the activities of the local camp since its comparatively re- cent reorganization in 1917. He stated that several camps were in process of organization in this district, and that greater interest was being taken in the Organization than ever before.
 BETTER ORGANIZATION
 w. E. Ellis also made plea for better organization here, citing the ease of San Antonio, Tex, as an ex- ample of what could be done, the camp there having grown in a short time from three men meeting in a tailor shop to body of over 500 veterans of the Spanish war
 The meeting was brought to close by. the presentation by MT. Wither- spoon of the past commander's badge to George Hartford, the former com mander of the camp. Tnis is the frs, visit to Birmingham by national officer of the Spanish veterans, and great results are expected thereby.
 The next regular meeting of the Birmingham camp will be held March x, and many new comrades will be mustered in at that time. Two mem bers were mustered in last night, Sid Cowan and E. G. Smith of Seattle Wash
 AUTO. TRIP AND BANQUET
 Commander in Chief J. K wither- spoon and his wife were entertained yesterday by the local camp with an automobile trip through the city of Birmingham, followed by dinner at the Tutwiler hotel last night. Mr. Witherspoon expressed his apprecia- tion of the hospitable treatment &C., corded him and his wife during their visit to the city
 After the auto trip was completed MT. Witherspoon was the guest of honor at a dinner The guests .n- cluded beside the visitor and his wife, J. A. Wellingtonoand wife, E. E. Span genberg and wife, F. J. Coyle and wife, George Hartford, H. L. Weeks. E. G., Smith, c. R. Byrne.
 MT. Witherspoon said that he was very favorably impressed with Bir- mingham. stating that business condi- tions in Birmingham seemed better than in many cities he had visited dur ing his extended trip.
 In his capacity of commander in chief he is taking a national tour of inspection of the organization He will visit all the cities of the eastern part of the country. having just completed trip through the western states. He leaves at a. m. for Atlanta.