Evening star., 1901-10-10
THE M'KINlEY ARCH
Project Enthusiastically Endorsed by
Citizens in Mass Meeting.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION FORMED
Support Pledged by Local Asso-
II
Citations of Veterans.
PATRIOTIC RESSES

The project for William Mckinley me-
mortal arch in Washington was success
fully launched at mass meeting of citi-
zens held in the Masonic Temple last even
ing under the auspices of the National
Memorial Bridge Association. Speeches
eulogistic of the dead President and in
dorsing the proposed memorial were made
by number of distinguished persons. A
permanent organization was perfected,
with H. B. F. Macfarland as president;
Lyman j. Gage, treasurer, and an execu-
tive committee consisting of John Joy Ed
son, Mitchell Dyrenforth, Chaplin Brown.
c. ]. Bell, s. W. Woodward, w. S. Knox.
R. E. Doane, I. W. Stone, J. T. Callahan,
Lee M. Lipscombe and A. w. Gould.
The meeting was called to order by
President Robert E. Doane of the National
Memorial Bridge Association. The Marine
Band played the Star Spangled Banner"
and the Rev. DR.. Frank NJ Bristol Of
fered prayer.
MIR. Macfarland's Address.
Mr.. Doane spoke briefly and introduced
Commissioner Macfarland, who said:
William Mckinley lives again, will al
ways live. in lives made better by his liv
ing. His greatest memorial will be the
hearts of his countrymen, in which he is
enshrined. His fame will there be kept as
immortal as his spirit. But the affection
which the many millions whom he served
and loved feel for him naturally seeks ex-
preston In monumental form. Men, wo-
men and children here and all over our
country are waiting for a suitable oppor-
tunity to contribute to material memorial.
We are met here tonight to suggest an
appropriate object for this universal de-
sire. We believe that whatever may be
done elsewhere the memory of Mckinley
can be best honored here in the District of
Columbia, where he lived so much, wrought
his greatest work and achieved his great
est results.
I'VE have a right to expect that Con-
gress, remembering President McKinley's
deep personal interest in the National Me-
mortal bridge, which he aptly termed "a
monument to American patriotism, will
hasten at the coming session to provide for
it's construction in tribute to his memory
on behalf of the national government.
But there should be, besides this, monu-
mental structure to be erected here in the
national capital by the subscriptions, large
and small, of the people at large.
RMS, 1t seems to me, should take the
form of memorial arch of size and char
acter behtt1ng it's purpose. 1t seems to
me also that this arch should be con-
structed over the Washington approach to
the Memorial bridge. Such a project will
appeal strongly, l believe, to all the citi-
zens of the republic. We of the national
capital, the official home of the late Presi-
dent, who knew him and therefore loved
him. will be justified by the rest of the
country in taking steps to organize the
general purpose and give it fitting direc-
tion and impetus. We shall doubtless do
so tonight in a way that will prove our
own interest, and Worthily set before 9TH
ers plan for adequately representing to
the ages to come the honor and glory Of
William Mckinley"
Pledge of sympathy and Support.
Thn MoriY nj x31,y
Light" after which Israel w. Stone, COM
mander of the Department of the Poto-
mac G. A. R., was introduced. He pledged
the sympathy and support of the old sol
diers for the project, which, he said, should
be pushed to completion Immediately.
Acting Commander of the Confederate
Veterans Association John T. Callaghan
was called upon by the chairman. He
said that he was in hearty sympathy with
the movement, and that he believed all
former confederates in Washington will
also indorse it.
II say. let the names of Grant, Lincoln
and Mckinley be emblazoned on this side
of the Memorial bridge, and then let the
names of our great generals, Lee, Jack
son and others, be emblazoned on the other
side. This will result, I believe, in forever
oblterating the line which has so long
separated the two great halves of our ma
tion."
He praised Mckinley for causing the re-
moval to Arlington cemetery Of the bodies
of confederate soldiers who died on the
field of battle. He prophesied that the en-
tire south would join in the movement for
the arch.
C. s. Davis, acting commander of the
local branch of the Sons Of Veterans,
pledged the support of that organization,
as did Lee M Lipsconbe, corps commander
of the Spanish War Veterans.
Favors National Memorial.
Lost Chord John Joy Edison was intro
duced. He said in part:
1T seems to me that it is not a dehat
able question whether a memorial arch
will be erected to William Mckinley at
the national capital. 1t is appropriate that
a monument to his memory be erected at
his old home in Canton, Ohio, but it is
essential that national memorial be
erected to his memory in Washington,
where he accomplished the greatest and
most wonderful of all his life's great and
wonderful works. The memorial arch will
have my own personal support, and l be-
lieve the support Of every member of the
and in the United States 1 believe every
one will work for it with greater pleasure
than he ever felt in working for any other
cause"
Business Mems Association, pledged the
support Of 700 business men to the oro-
posed memorial arch.
Senator Haw1ey's Eulogy.
Senator Joseph R. Hawley Of Connecticut,
after heartily indorsing the project, euio-
gied the dead President.
I'm every relationship of life" he said,
che was perfect. His death was a loss, but
it was also gain, for it was benediction.
knew Mr.. Mckinley perhaps better than
most members Of Congress, and I want to
tell what I consider his most wonderful
characteristic. In all the times I saw him,
In all the times I went 1tof him about mill
tary matters, when I was chairman of the
Senate committee on military affairs in all
the times 1 went to him when he was a
member of the House, in all his great
speeches, never saw upon his face the yes-
tige Of an unkind expression never a scowl:
nothing but love and kindness-an express
sion which 1 never knew any other man TO
bear and one which ! might say was bor-
rcwed from divinity. ] sympathize with the
plan for memorial arch, and think 1t will
be well to place. it where the memorial
bridge leaves Washington. but it must be
grand and beautiful and of necessity cost
ly. but I'm glad af thS latter-we don't
want any cheap AFFAIR."
DR.. T. De Witt Talmage also eulogized
the dead President and pleaded that some
thing symbolic Of homesshould be carved on
the proposed arch. sr
Resolutions Adopted.