The Washington times., 1901-11-04
FOR THE ARCH PROJECT.
Popular Interest Stimulated by
Comprehensive Organization.
The National Memorial Plan Now
FnirIy unchrd-TeieErnph Conn
pnnies Offer FrnnlxinE Privilege
Support of the Veterans Pledged.

! FnirIy i.aunchcd-TcIeGrn Com
pnnies Offer FrnnlSinE Privileges
support Of the Veterans Pledged
The Mckinley National Memorial Arch
| Association has accomplished so much OF
the preliminary work of organization dur
ing the past two weeks that the under
taking may now be said to be thoroughly
launched, under the most favorable aus
pices that could be desired. The unquali-
fed interest which has been shown. not
only in Washington. but in every centre OF
population. as soon as the purpose of the
plan was mentioned. gives some little in
dication al least of what generous re
sponse may be expected when the details
Of the plan are made known fully through
out the country.
The successful men Of business and af-
fairs. who are at the head Of the national
movement TO perpetuate the memory Of
the late President have recognized the ad-
visibility Of thorough organization in or
der to secure the very best results, and
have spared 20 pains to develop every
possible line Of work which promises aid
toward the project With this thought
in mind, the matter Of expense in proper
ly organizing the movement has not been
permitted to cause any cessation Of en-
deavor or TO place any limitation upon
the scope Of the arch movement.
At the same time. however. the officers
Of the Association and members Of the
Executive Committee have been fully ap-
preciative OF the fact that there should be
the greatest possible diminution of the
general necessary running expenses. to
such an extent as would not hamper the
carrying out Of the vast project in hand.
The greatest items of expense at the pres
ent time are as VIII be readily UNDER
stood postage and telegraph tolls. The
necessity Of using the wires in securing
the responses of citizens In distant parts
Of the country to whom vice presidencies
had been voted. has been imperative, and
the possible sum to be drawn from the
general funds before the completion of
the work for which the Association has
been organized has somewhat appalled,
those members of a mathematical turn
of mind
1t Is with much satisfaction to the mem
bers Of the Executive Committee. there
fore, that they We're able to authorize the
announcement yesterday tina. both the
Western Union and Postal Telegraph
Companies have agreed to extend to the
National Memorial Arch Association the
free use of the wires Of both systems.
within reasonable limits. This generous
assistance in promoting the arch project is
very conclusive evidence OF the interest
which is universally felt in the erection
of the memorial as a national work. and
has met with much favorable comment
from those who have been informed Of
the action Of the two companies.
The support of the local posts of the
Grand Army of the Republic, though
fully assured through patriotic impulses,
was formally pledged by Commando r
Israel w, Stone in an address on Fridav
night at the meeting Of U. S. Grant Post,
No. 6
In responding to n call for a speech
pledged the Grand Army Of this depart
ment to do its fun duty In contributing
toward the erection Of an arch to the
memory OF the late President, and that,
irrespective of cost or grandeur, the irO-
posed memorial in its completeness would
represent in part the fitting tribute of
the old soldiers. who loved Mckinley as
a comrade and reyered him as the Chief
Magistrate of the Ntion. Much enthusi-
well as by his statement that efforts
would he made to have the next national
encampmcnt Of the Grand Army Of the
Republic held In this city.
The possibility Of repeating. If possible,
the magnificent spectacle of $1,000 soldiers
Of the of 81 to Go marching along
Pennsylvania Avenue as in 1892 aroused
ment. The effect on the stimulation Of
interest throughout the country by
having the veterans come here and learn
Of the enthusiastic support of the citi
Zens Of Washington for the arch project
was favorably commented upon