The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-28
Some Objections Raised to Having
1t Placed in statuary
Hall. -. r. r. ~
Georgia Also Desires a Statue of
Alexander Stephens in
the Same Place,

New York Sun Special Service.

New 4ork Sun SPECIAL Service ~.
Washington, Jan. 2S.-Considerable dis
cussion is being INDUCED in regarding the
proposed presentation by the state of Vir-
ginia of statue of General Robert e.
Lee to be placed in Statuary hall at tho
capitol. There is some feeling in opposi-
ton to the plan on the part of the mem
bers of congress from northern states
While these members recognize General
Lees ability as a military commander,
they do not think it altogether fitting
that the statue OF &, man who fought
against the union fer four years should be
thus honored.
To this feeling members from the south
reply that nothing can be done to prevent
the passage Of the pending bill in the Vir-
GINA legislature and the installation Of
Lees statue in TIE capitol. The law,
which was passed in 1854, granting per-
mission to each Of the states to place two
statues Of distinguished citizens in statu-
airy hall, is explicit in its terms and the
only thing that can be done to prevent
fulflImcnt Of the scheme is for congress
formally to repeal the present law. 1t is
not believe that this will be done. TO
attempt to carry out such plan would
cause a revival of sectional ill-feehng,
which nobody wants to bring about. One
we'll known senator from the north has
announced that he never will give his con-
sent to Lees statue being placed In the
capitol, but it is not likely that he will
carry his opposition to the point of adj.
vocating the repeal of the law, and II he
should do so he could not get sufficient
support to change the statute.
In addition to the Lee statue bill, which
undoubtedly will be passed by the Vir-
ginia legislature in the near future. there
is a plan on foot in Georgia to place a
statue of Alexander Stephens, vice presi-
dent of the confederate states, in statuary
hall This also is objected to by northern
members. The DIRECTORS in both cases,
however, probably will confine themselves
to private conversations. There will not
be any organized attempt to block the
schemes advocated by Virginia and
! Georgia. 81 49,. d.. ~
1t is usually the custom for congress to
appoint day for. the unwilling of statues
erected in the hall, when amid the, flow OF
!. patriotic oratory the national legislature
| formally accepts the works of art In the
case of the statue Of Father Marquette
which was presented to the nation by the
state Of Wisconsin several years ago, this
custom was departed from. There was
| come complaint on the part of various
| anti-Catholic organizations against the in
stallation of the statue, but it was not re.
! iected. Congress evaded the issue by
! neglecting to accept the statue formally
1t stands to-day, however, in statuary
hall, where it was first placed. A similar
scheme is advocated by some persons II
! the case of the Lee statue They say thai
| its adoption would preclude the possibility
/ Of any state or person being snubbed
/ The Virginia members of congress- how
! ever do not regard the proposition in ina
/ light. They say they would consider sucf
j a proceeding as an insult