Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/146

 Enders Robinson, a delegate from the Confederate Memorial Literary Society of Richmond, Va., offered a resolution to this effect: "That the Confederated Southern Memorial Association take the necessary steps to have the United States Government replace the name of Jefferson Davis on the tablet of "Cabin John Bridge," and that the United Confederate Veterans and all other Confederate organizations be invited to unite with the Confederated Southern Memorial Association in its efforts to accomplish this patriotic object. The President of the Confedrated Southern Memorial Association was authorized to appoint a committee, which was done, and the committe was as follows: Hon. Adolph Meyer, M. C. from Louisiana; General Stephen D. Lee, Mississippi; Mrs. Lizzie George Henderson, Mississippi; Mr. Jno. W. Apperson, Tennessee; Mrs. J. Enders Robinson, Virginia; Mrs. Alfred Gray, Virginia; Mrs. George S. Holmes, South Carolina; Miss Mary B. Poppenheim, South Carolina; Mrs. W. J. Behan, Louisiana, chairman.

Shortly after my return to New Orleans from Richmond, I had a personal interview with Hon. Adolph Meyer, who declared himself in hearty sympathy with the movement and promised to do all in his power to bring it to a successful issue. In July, 1907, he wrote as follows: "I feel satisfied that we will succeed in the movement to restore the name of Jefferson Davis to 'Cabin John Bridge'—a confidence warranted by the results of several conferences I have had with Secretary of War Taft, whose voice will be practically potential in the matter. However, we must indulge ourselves in patience and proceed tactfully, in order to meet conditions on all sides. It cannot be forced immediately."

In the year 1908 it became necessary to change the personelle of the "Cabin John Bridge" Committee, owing to the death of Hon. Adolph Meyer, who died in March, 1908, and of General Stephen D. Lee, who departed this life on May 28th, same year. Those two vacancies were filled by the appointment of Hon. Murphy J. Foster, United States Senator from Louisiana, to succeed Hon. Adolph Meyer; and General Clement A. Evans, to succeed the late General Lee. Mrs. Henderson's term of office having expired in December, 1907, she resigned; and her successor, Mrs. Cornelia Branch Stone, was appointed to fill the