of Memphis, Term., the daughter of Raphael Semmes, of Confederate naval fame.
Permit me to refer you to the correspondence with Hon. W. H. Taft and the late Hon. Adolph Meyer, M. C. of Louisiana. Mr. Meyer had several conferences with Hon. W. H. Taft, then Secretary of War, in which Mr. Taft said it was in the province of the Secretary of War to order the name restored. Mr. Meyer was very hopeful of success, and no doubt would have succeeded, as Mr. Taft was favorably disposed, had death not claimed him. President Roosevelt has a chance here to write his name in imperishable lines. In view of the Lincoln Centennial this year, let us repair this act of injustice to the name of Jefferson Davis.
Yours very respectfully,
President.
Hon. Murphy J. Foster,
U. S. Senate, Washington, D. C.:
Dear Sir,—I have received a letter from Hon. Secretary of War, General Wright, dated January 4th, stating that he would be pleased to take up with the President the matter of restoring the name of Jefferson Davis to the tablet on "Cabin John Bridge." The time has come when men from the North and the South can afford to deal justly with each other, and should do all in their power to restore the friendly relations that should exist among such a great people. I beg of you to call on the Hon. Secretary in behalf of this movement. With this letter you will find a summary of what has been done by the Confederated Southern Memorial Association. The association is more far-reaching than its name indicates, as it is an association of organizations, not of individuals. One of the vice-presidents is the daughter of Senator Bankhead, of Alabama; another officer is the wife of Senator Clay, of Georgia; and another officer is the daughter of Raphael Semmes, of Confederate naval fame, and the sister-in-law of General Luke E. Wright, our Secretary of War.
