Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-27
LACEY OBJECTS TO STATUE
Thinks Virginia Would Do Better to Honor
President Monroe.
NORRIS is LOOKING AROUND CAPITAL
Congressman stark Defends New Mil.
itia Bill from Criticisms Made
by New York Militia
officers.
(From a stan Correspondent)

cidedly opposed TO permitting the erection OF
the statue OF Robert e. Lee in Statuary hall.
Grahd Army posts throughout the west are
their members against permit
ing the statue of Lee to be erected by
the state OF Virginia in the American par
thenon. Representative Lacey, replying TO
resolutions o; Cloutman post OF Ottumwa
says IN his letter
with James Monroe still unprovided for,
his name being in the mouth of every
loyal American, north and south and 4
household word in every part of the globe
connected with the living doctrine on
which we all unite, It seems to me that
Virginia cannot afford to sidetrack him
and put up Lee instead, whose presence
alongside of President Lincoln and Grant
in the National Hall of Fame might be
considered as a statement to posterity that
there VS. no distinction in merit between
those who fought on the side of the union
and those who fought against it,
Being of Virginia BIRTH Major Lacey be-
lieves he has a right to take up this
question with Virginians in the house of
representatives in a much more personal
manner than would a man born outside
of the Old Dominion. Continuing his argu-
ment against placing the statue Of Lee in
tain w. H. II. Asbury Of Ottumwa:
81 do not believe that congress will ever
accept this statue, for it ought not to go
into the capitol People are asking why
Monroe's. statue Is not there. They will
always be asking why Lees is there, should
it be erected. There are already statues
OF Jefferson in the capitol, though not
placed there by VirginiAns. There Is none
Of Madison or Monroe. l said to one Of my
friends in the house, II this statue is
erected. then there ought to be inscribed
on the pedestal as showing the net results
OF General Lees life the following debit
items:
First. one lost cause.
Second, one great parental Lee
e1tate at Arlington turned into a cemetery
Allied with $1,000 union dead
Third, one peculiar institution (human
slavery gone into oblivion. The grand old
state OF Virginia divided, with its coal
and timber land transferred to a new
state and the debts Of the Old Dominion
still remaining. AS a recognition of these
results this monument is erected to a pure
minded soldier and general, Robert e.
Lee.'
Teaches wrong idea.
''To teach coming generations there Is no
difference between fighting under a flag and
ighting against it would be a very great
mistake. The Statuary hall is one for
the teaching of the nation. II should not
be used to commemorate the actions OF
those who only fought to overthrow the
national government. There should be for
giveness and fraternity, but that does not
involve national abandonment of all dis
tinction between taking up arms for the
nation and fighting on the other side, how
ever gallant the fight may have been"
working for Rosebud Treaty.
Senator Gamble and Representative
Burke have had several conferences with
Speaker Henderson and Representative
Cannon today regarding the Rosebud
treaty. The members OF the South Dakota
delegation today stated that they were
greatly encouraged and now have strong
hopes that they can secure favorable action
upon the amended treaty.
Norris Looking Around,
Judge G. w. Norris, congressman elect
from the Fifth Nebraska district has ar
| rived in Washington. to remain until after
the adjournment Of congress. Judge Nor
ris will take run around the departments
with a view of familiarizing himself with
service. He will get his supply OF sta
tionery and generally Ak himself so that he
may properly begin his work as congress
man after March 4. Mr.. Norris had little
to say in regard to the political situation
in Nebraska. AS for Washington, he said
1t was interesting to him and he looked
forward with much pleasure to spending
the next two years at the national cap
ital.
Senator Gamble today made a favorable
report on his bill to permit second entries
in cases where the first entry has been
commuted.
Agree on Western Items.
The conferees on the Indian appropria-
| tion have agreed and all items in which
Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota we're in
terested are retained in the bill
B. H. Sullivan of Planhngton, S. D., is
in Washington for a few days.
Representative Martin accompanied Can
tain Bullock to the Interior department
this morning and conference was had with
Secretary Hitchcock regarding the man
agement OF the new Wind Cave National
park in South Dakota. 1t is desired to Sc
cure an appropriation OF S2,5OO for the pur-
{ pose of erecting certain fences around en-
! trance TO the cave. secretary Hitchcock is
engaged in the preparation Of a general SET
| Of regulations for the government OF the
/ new reserve and says he expects to promul-
| gate them early in the spring, so that they
| may become effective before the summer
! food of visitors to the park sets in.
| Representatives Burke and Martin have
made the following appointments to West
! Point: William Elliott Selbie, principal
Deadwood; Lyle Hair, Keystone, and
Homer l.. Riggs. Edgemont, alternates, by
| Mr. Martin; and Robert Arthur, principal
| Webster. S. D.; Beatty e. Crippen, Wa
konda. and Clyde H. King, Arteslan, alter
mates, by Mr. Burke.
stark Defends Militia Bill.
Ohicers in the lJew York National Guard
/ are considerably wrought up over whal
I they allege has been gross neglect on tht
( part OF congress to legslate intelligently
on the new militia bill. They state thai
the bill makes no provision as to the man,
! ner OF enlistment and that in some states
| the militia desires to retain the Springfield
| rife instead OF the Krag- Jorgensen, which
is provided for as the universal arm in tn,
new bill, and as this is OF vital interest I,
every state in the union. Congressman W
l.. stark. who has had as much as anyon,
10 do with the drafting OF the new measure
II not more so. was seen today In regard {,
the charges made by the New York stat,
| officers He was asked as IN the fafl,,ra n