The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1899-04-17
A GRUDGE
FOR FRANCE
Exists Among Amer
lean Women.
--------
WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE FUNDS
Toward. the Washington Statue
Gift intended for the
French Republic.
WILL NOT CONTRIBUTE FUNDS

WASHINGTON. Aprl iT.-tf any
one doubts that the war With spain
aroused a fierce enmlty among our
people toward those 81 France let
him ask the patriotic women Who
are endeavoring 10 raise funds TO
present statue % George Washing
ton to the people Of that country.
This enterprise was launched ten
years aso and for the first few years
the cash came In rapidly - At the
OLD Orchard revival. About two
summers aEo Mrs. James MCMILLAN.
Of Michigan. who is one q the most
enthusiasts % the national vice
presidents. with other leading
members OF the Daughters - the
American Revolution concluded II
would be an appropriate occasion 20
make this presentation on July 4,
1899. during the progress Of the
French Exposition.
The money then collected amount
ea 10 nearly sso.ppo. ana about twice
that sum WAS necessary 70 carry cat
the plan selected. An appeal wa&
made 70 the women Of America. ash =
Ing them % contribute something %
this statue. II only 10 cents apiece.
About 5000 was raised In iess than
q year and success sceeined assured
when the Spanish American var
broke out. What happened Mrs.
Mcmillan has told a correspondent
Last year. she said. eur project
was absolutely al a standstiil Nine
tenths % the American women were
fully convinced that France was ae-
ing uafrlenaly toward their beloved
nation. and they refused to give even
the 10 cents which We asked. IL
Looked as though our patient ten
years struggle was To De in vain.
I'VE need only tts.eoo. but unless
we can make up for lost time am
afraid that our cherished plan Of
having the memorial presented In
1890 will fail. I attribute Il all q
the fact that so many women stiil
believe that France does not feel
for us the same friendship and SYM
patty which existed in the days Of
Washington and Lafayette.
Il think that this IA n mistake. We
stlu owe deep debt OF gratitude u
France for her aid during our rcvo-
intionary struggle. and think that
80 long as the women Of America set
about this task they should eomplste
It."
The women who are IN charge Of
this project are among tho mos,
DISTINGUISHED OF this country. Mrs.
Stephen J. Field. wife Of the ex-
chief justice. IL the president. The
vice presidents are Mrs. Garrett A.
Hobart. Mrs. James A. MCMILLAN,
Mrs Phoebe A. Hearst ard Mrs,
Calvin 4. Brice. on the list Of those
actively engaged In promoting the
work Of collecting are the names Of
Mrs. william Mckinley and the
wives and daughters Of the cabinet
officers. together with n numerous
showing Of women prominent IN on.
ciaI. social and literary life. Mira
Hearst showed her interest Ia the
speedy success Of the undertaking
by forwarding from France a few
days ago a check for 5000.
The sculptor chosen to make tEis
statue u Daniel French % New
York. He has submitted his model
10 tho French Academy and u has
been fayorably received. The statue
IL equestrian and represents wash
sngton In the act 81 unshsathinK his
sword Just before the charge al
Yorktown. The total cost VIII be
about $4,000. The ladies IN charge
Of the fund received not long ago a
letter from their Paris agent. saying
that the French government had
designated q site for the aift and
that Il would be received with cere-
monial display IN 1900.