Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 38.djvu/155

 113 Third Street, South, December 7, 1908.

Washington, D. C.:

Dear Sir,—It having come to the knowledge of the officials of the Confederated Southern Memorial Association of New Orleans, La., that you intend to introduce a bill in the ensuing Congress of 1908-1909 demanding to know of that body why the name of Jefferson Davis, Secretary of War, was erased from the "Cabin John Bridge," we, the officials, inform you with pleasure herein of the progress made by the C. S. M. A. to restore the name of Mr. Davis..

And we plead with you to withhold your bill, believing that by its absence our hands will be strengthened, and an advance will be made toward restoration; while the presence of such a bill as we understand you propose to offer, or in fact the presence of any bill bearing the name of "Cabin John Bridge" in relation to Mr. Davis, will tend to create confusion and misunderstanding. Furthermore, the worst passions of the Grand Army of the Republic, and in turn, of the Confederate Veterans, will be engendered, and our good work checked for many years to come. Now we implore you, as a Representative from a seceding State, as a friend of Confederates, as a citizen wishing harmony and peace in all sections for the betterment of the United States—we implore you to withhold your bill for a year, or more, until the C. S. M. A. has time to develop their plans for restoration. Relying upon your aid, we submit a summary of the facts:

June 1, 1907. Resolution to restore name of Jefferson Davis adopted. President instructed to appoint a "Cabin John Bridge" Committee. This she did.

July, 1907. President C. S. M. A. wrote to her Congressional Representative, Adolph Meyer, who took the matter up at once, reporting to Mrs. Behan that he had several interviews with Mr. Taft, Secretary of War, that were most satisfactory.