Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-27

In pursuance to a call signed by
Gems. Joseph Wheeler. J. Warren
Keifer. j. p. S. Goblin. Col. George NJ.
Studebaker, Mais. Russell Il. Har-
rlson and Edward c. Davis. and Will
liam C.. Liller, delegates representing
% States and the District of Columbia
met in convention in the National
Guard Armory, Washington, Septem-
Der S and 9.
o'clock am. September at the
Ebbitt House for preliminary work
and adjourned to meet at 1870 am.
in the National Guard Armory, when
the meeting was called to order by
Gen. J. Warren Keifer, acting com
mander-in-chief. who briefly outlined
the purposes of the meeting. Gen.
Keifer was made perma nent chairman.
When the delegates assembled at the
evening session Gen. Keifer declared
the election of officers TO be in order.
and the convention proceeded to the
election OF comma nder IN chief.
James G. McMurray nominated Col.
Theodore Roosevelt and William H.
Hickey of the District of Columbia
nominated Gen. keifer. When the
ballots were counted. Gen. keifer hav-
ing the larger number of votes, the
election was made unanimous.
Maj. Frederic S. Hodgson OF the
District of Columbia was elected COM
.nissary general and Capt. J. Walter
Mitchell of the District Of Columbia
was elected chief signal officer.
Following the election of officers ad.
journment was taken to meet at 1890
o'clock am. September 9, when the
convention was called to order and
proceeded to elect a council of admin
istration.
President William Mckinley was
elected the first honorary member
Helen Miller Gould of New York was
elected national sponsor.
r
THE organization was Incorporated
in Washington. November 20, 1899,
under the title National Army, Span
ish War Veterans" The incorporators
were George H. Harries, M. Emmett
Urell. Frederic s. Hodgson. Leroy w.
Heron and r. d. Mayer.
Maj. Frederic s. Hodgson, who was
elected commissary general at the con-
vention. is a native of the District Of
Columbia. He is direct representa-
tive of six generations of his family,
all born in the city of Washington.
each of the six generations having
rendered military service to the Ma
tion--in the War CT the Revolution,
the War of 1872, the Mclean War,
the Civil War and the War with Spain,
while his nephew, Mai. Joseph F.
Hodgson, served on the battle front
in France during the World War, and
while engaged with his regiment in
the ST. Mihiel drive.
Maj. Hodgson has been one of Wash.
ington's prominent business men for
many years, engaged in the metal
and heating industry, recently retir.
ing from business at the age Of IS
years.
The late Capt. J. Walter Mitchell,
who was unanimously elected chief
signal officer, was the organizer and
first commander Of the first camp or
ganized in the United States 49, Cen,
Nelson A. Miles Camp of Washington.
He was a newspaper writer of long
standing at the National Capital, and
during his career in the profession Of
journalism he had ccessfully filled
every position on a newspaper from
printers devil" to managing editor.
During the war with, Spain Capt.
Mitchell served In the Signal Battal-
ion of the 7th Army Corps, comma nd.
ed by Gen. Fitzhugh Lee. He died in
Washington February s, 1922.
Helen Miller Gould of New York
tnow Mrs. Finley J. Shepard), elected
national sponsor of the Spanish War
Veterans at the first convention, is
one of those characters in life whose
sweet spirituality and applied philan-
thropy soar far above wealth and sta
ton. She is a type or American WON.
anho9d which adds increased luster to
our national character. She gave
500 900 for war purnoses at the mt
break of the Spanish American War,
and at its. close gave her personal at
tention to the care of sick and conva-
descent soldiers at Camp Wikoff, n.
Y, and contributed $4,000 for needed
supplies.
The provisional department Of the
District Of Columbia Spanish War
Veterans was organized September 18.
1899. Col, M. Emmett Ureli. q veteran