The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-15
THE MONUMENT AND ARTIST.

Statue-Mr Franklin Simmons and His
Historical Works.
The Morton Monumental Association was or
ganized Immediately after the death of Senator
Morton. General Lew Wallace was made presi-
dent of the association, and there was member
to represent each congressional district in the
State 1t was at first decided to build a memo
rial hall, the edfce to be placed in the center of
Circle Park and to cost $780, 600 This memo
rial hall was to commemorate the deeds of Indi-
ana soldiers in the war for the Union, and be
monument not only to the great War Governor,
but to the Indiana soldiers who had given up
their lives for their country. This plan, admir-
able though it appeared to be, met with no re-
Spouse. Something personal to Morton alone
was wanted but the project languished. General
Wallace was appointed Governor of New Mex
leo, and Colonel William NJ Dudley was made
president. The effort to raise the fund
hardly under way before the yellow fever broke
out This put stop to the progress of the work
for some time, nothing of any consequence being
done for year and half Colonel Dudley per
fected system for raising the fund by visiting
the various counties of the State. and before
much had been done under this PLAN was com
PEELED to resign, having been appointed Commits
sioner of Pensions at Washington. Ex-Governor
Conrad Baker was then made president of
the association and it is under him
that the fund has been raised and the enterprise
been carried forward to successful termina-
ton. Mr.. Cyrus T. Nixon was appointed tinan-
cial agent, and instructed to visit each county in
the State. Though the figure has been stated
somewhat larger, the entire cost of the monu
ment is $l2, 800 all of which has been collected.
This includes the cost of an iron fence to inclose
the monument Nearly 500 has been raised
by personal solicitation of the financial agent
who went from town to town, and county to
county, not depending on the local committees
He has been nearly year and half in raising
this amount. In Marion county about So, 900 had
been raised before he engaged in the work, and
he has raised Marion countys contribution to
So OOO
When the great service done by Senator Nor
ton to the State and nation are considered it
seems strange that there should have been any
difficulty whatever in raising the amount
quired for this monument. If the matter had
been vigorously prosecuted Immediately after
his DEATH there is little doubt that $l5 900 could
have been raised in ten or fifteen days but the
opportune time passed, other interests inter
vened, and it has taken vigorous endeavor to ac
complish what, in its time, might have been
easily and speedily done 1t was not that the
people of Indiana had forgotten, no longer
appreciated Senator Mortons great services, but
the failure of the association at its organization
to take advantage of time and circumstances.
President Garfield died nearly four years
after Senator Morton Soon after his death
!
Indiana to collect money for the Garfield monu
ment and it is estimated that Indiana contribu-
ted to the Garfield fund at least twice as much
as to the Morton monumental fund, for the rea
son that one timely and prosecuted with
vigor and the other was not so managed.
In collecting the money for the Morton mOnu
ment the idea has been kept in mind that it is
to be popular tribute and for that reason the
small subscribers have been encouraged Every
county in the State except six has made contri
buttons. From the larger towns of the State
the contributions have been as follows; New
Albany, 800; Lafayette, $500; South Bend,
$500; Fort Wayne, $500; Richmond, $780,
Evansville, $780, Terre Haute 81, 900. OF the
Terre Haute contribution it should be said that
every dollar Of the amount was raised by the
personal effort of Mr.. Nicholas Filbeck.
Indianians in Washington were visited by a
young man named Catlin, who had been recon-
mended by General Brady, and paid their sub
scriptions into his hands. After collecting about
800 Catlin ran away with the money, General
Brady not only made this deficit good but con
tributed handsomely besides.
Among the men of national reputation living
outside the State who contributed to the monu-
ment are ex-President Hayes Hon. William A.
Wheeler Hon. D. NJ Key Hon. William NJ.
Evarts and Hon. William Mckee Dunn Among
the prominent Indiana Democrats who have
given are Hon Joseph E. Mcdonald Hon. T. A
Hendricks Hon. D. W. Voorhees,, Judge n. B.
Taylor, Hon J. H. Rice, Hon. j. J. Cooper Hon.
S, H. Sherin, Hon. w. r. Myers, and others.
THE STATUE AND PEDESTAL.
The monument is erected in the center of the
Governors Circle, the statue facing south-to
ward Kentucky, whose loyal people during the
war looked upon him as their Governor Dur
ing the rebellion he was known, in familir par
lance not alone as Governor of Indiana, but
Governor of Indiana and Kentucky" The ped
estal upon which the statue is placed is eight feet
high, and is of Clark's island Maine, granite the
one word Morton being cut in large, clear
letters on the south side The weight of the
statue, which is of bronze, is 3 100 pounds the
figure being eight feet and four inches high,
which, with the bronze base upon which it stands,
six inches high, makes the statuary work eight
feet and ten inches, and, with the eight foothigh
pedestal, makes the total height of the monu
ment sixteen feet ten inches, the two parts, the
bronze and granite, being firmly united by dowel
pins. The statue is in every respect heroic
one. The pose of the figure is admirable The
classic toga, which was first thought of the
artist, was abandoned, but the stiff drapery of
modern clothing has been gracefully handled.
The Senator stands firmly on his feet, head and
shoulders well thrown back, right hand extended,