Evening star., 1901-09-21
THE M'KINLEY ARCH
Proposition to Have It Erected in
Washington. -a5s
AN APPROACH TO MEMORIAL BRIDGE
Views of Leading Citizens Inter-
ested in the Subiects
OF THE PLAN

Sentiment for a memorial arch to COM
memcrate the public service of William
Mckinley to the nation, and to be erected
in WASHINGTON. is crystallzing here as well
as in many other sections Of the country.
A movement looking to the accomplish
ment of this purpose has been set on foot
in both New York and Chicago. and the ef-
forts in these and other cities are heartily
echoed today by officials and prominent citi-
zens of this city.
The suggestion made in The Star yes
terday that the Mckinley arch be made
an architectural part of the proposed Me-
mortal bridge which, 1t is hoped, will span
the Potomac between Washington and
Arlington cemetery, has met with ap-
prova1 from every source. President Nc
Kinley was heartily in favor OF the con-
struction of this bridge, and particularly
patriotism of the whole Union. It was his
expressed idea that the bridge should
stand as a monument alike to north and
south 1t is held by all that President
Mckinley'S greatest work resulted in
bringing the two sections of the nation
closer together, and this would be rec
ognized in the construction of the arch to
his memory as an approach to the bridge.
The Popular Feeling.
1t is apparent that the proposition will
soon take other form than In the express
sons of sentiment, as it is apparent that
the popular tide of feeling will soon be
manifested in the form Of a national SUBJ
scription to which all the people can con-
tribute their mite toward the erection of
an enduring testimonial both to the love
which Mckinley bore to the individuals
of the nation, and their individual regard
for his memory
The Star has obtained expressions of
hearty Endorsement of the project from
Commissioners Macfarland and Ross; from
Israel w. Stone, commander department
OF the Potomac, G. A. r: from Mr.. B. H.
Warner and others, for the appointment of
a national committee, with Controller Of
the Currency Mr. Charles G. Dawes as
chairman, Is recommended.
Mr.. MacfnrIand's Suggestion.
as follows:
'The Memorial bridge to Arlington and
arch over the main approach to
it would, l think. be the best commemo-
ration of President Mckinley. From what
he said to me- as well as from his public
utterances, 1 know that he took a
deep personal interest in the Memorial
bridge project, and was looking forward to
the time when the bridge would be con-
structed as tribute to American patriot
ism. AS the foremost American patriot of
his time, who brought the hearts of the
people together as no other man had ever
done, he certainly deserves that Congress
should carry out his desire in this matter,
and the result would be that the people
could call it the Mckinley bridge feeling,
as they do, that he was the very incarna-
tion of American patriotism. Then, having
first given their support to this greater tes-
national in character let the
cities which desire a Mckinley memorial
arch place it in an appr6priate position
with relation to the Memorial bridge. 1t is
greatly to be hoped that the unparalleled
affectionate desire of the people to honor
the memory of President Mckinley may not
be dissipated or misdirected, but may be
on worthy project"
Views of Commissioner Ross.
Commissioner Ross indorses the plan in
the following words:
"Every citizen in Washington would well
come and give encouragement to the plan
of erecting in Washington memorial arch
In honor of the memory of the universally
beloved late President The propriety Of
placing it in Washington would not be
questioned by any one.
IF in any way that arch can architec-
turally be made a part of the proposed
Memorial bridge, that would be peculiarly
appropriate, in view of the fact that the
bridge Is intended to be a perpetual COM
memoration of the reunion Of all sections
of the replbic.
''The life work of the late President and
his tragic death have united the hearts of
his countrymen as nothing else could ever
have effected it; and they furnish strong
reasons for uniting the two great national
Suggests Two Arches.
Commander Stone indorsed the idea of
connecting the proposed arch with the me-
mortal bridge as particularly appropriate.
He is secretary of the National Reunion
Monument Association, which has as it's
object the erection of substantial me-
mortal in this city to the private soldiers
who fought in the war of the rebellion He
at once saw the appropriateness of making
the Mckinley arch part of the memorial
bridge, and suggested making the use of
the approach to the bridge on the oppo-
site side for an arch to the soldiers of the
war. He believed the members of the
Grand Army would heartily indorse the
Mckinley arch and from the at
titude of the organization in the recent
Cleveland convention in indorsing the me-
mortal bridge project he was sure the two
memorials ought to be connected archi
tecturally.
Names MIR. Dawes for Chairman.
Mr.. B. H. Warner approves the plan, and
said:
II heartily approve of the project of
SASS1H6 III lhiS CITY d HleIuOTldl " 4ni.
Mckinley by popular subscription. If the
work of raising funds were placed in charge
of the proper committee / think there
would be no difficulty in raising the neceS-
sary amount. Some man ought to head
the committee who will devote his time to
the work. or enough of it to supervise it
and make 1t success. / know of no man
who could so well do this as Mr.. Charles
G. Dawes. He has had large experience in
raising money for the Lafayette memorial
which was erected in Paris, and duplicate
of which will be placed In this city. The
details of the work were carriedton by Mr..
w. j. Thompson of Chicago, Mr.. Thomn-
son has evinced wonderful, ability for this
kind of an enterprise ,, 49,
This memorial arch might well be erect
ed in such location as WOULD harmonIze
with the memorial bridge. O. Certainly th.re
is no man in history who rhas 80 endeared
himself to all classes as did Mrs. Mckinley.
He is even greater dead ,thant living, he
cause all political differences have disap-
peared, and those whose views were In
opposition to his policies now ljoin IN his
laudation. Fs 8
II have great hopes Of the success Of this
project.
Tell Time by 1jghtf.
From the Worcester (Mass) Gazette. u
Some Boston people are, much interested
in project to establish system Of record
ing time by means Of flashing lights on the