Sons of Confederate Veterans split over leadership

<p>The Sons of Confederate Veterans, a group of descendants of Confederate soldiers, is embroiled in its own civil war that threatens to tear the organization apart.</p><p>A lawsuit has been filed, a temporary restraining order has ousted Commander-in-Chief Denne Sweeney and members have unceremoniously been kicked off the group's executive council.</p><p>"I'm aghast at this whole situation. It's basically a coup d'etat," said Brag Bowling, who was SCV national spokesman under Sweeney. "They are going to reap the whirlwind now," Bowling said of Sweeney's overthrowers.</p><p>Founded in 1896 and headquartered in an antebellum mansion in Columbia, the organization has more than 30,000 members worldwide.</p><p>Turmoil within the group has been brewing for years, as two factions _ traditionalists and activists _ skirmished for control.</p><p>The current crisis began Feb. 16, when a majority of the SCV's General Executive Council _ its ruling committee _ met and kicked Sweeney, plus three other supporters, out of the leadership. The next day, the council filed a lawsuit in state court against Sweeney in Columbia, alleging that he had violated the group's constitution.</p><p>The council then elected a doctor, C. Anthony Hodges of Chattanooga, to be the group's new commander. He could not be reached for comment, but in an open letter e-mailed to members, Hodges wrote that "extraordinary circumstances" required the council to act. He wrote that Sweeney violated the SCV's constitution by holding illegal meetings, illegally suspending opponents and trying to fire staffers.</p><p>"Never before have we faced such an atmosphere of intimidation and recrimination in the SCV," Hodges wrote.</p><p>The Chancery Court of Maury County granted a temporary restraining order, approving Sweeney's removal pending the outcome of the suit. The court gave control of "Elm Springs," the group's headquarters, to the council group for the time being.</p><p>Since then, the SCV executive councils in Georgia and 11 other states have passed resolutions calling for Sweeney's reinstatement.</p><p>Sweeney supporters have set up a legal defense fund and some have openly talked about creating a rival Confederate descendants' group. Sweeney opponents have rallied supporters from various camps across the country.</p><p>Sweeney, 65, of Ferris, Texas, calls himself "commander-in-chief in exile." He said his opponents decided to get rid of him in December, when he suspended two SCV officers for alleged misconduct. Sweeney said his attorneys, whom he would not name, are preparing a legal counterattack.</p><p>"The storm is gathering," he said.</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2866728)</p>

http://accesswdun.com/article/2005/2/150613