Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1904-03-23
PROPOSED HALL OF FAME.
Memorial Building for the Reception
of the Distinguished Dead
of America.

The arrival of the remains of James
Smlthson in this country recently has di-
rected attention again to the fact that in
this country there is no national me-
mortal hall where the remains of the
great soldiers, statesmen or scholars can
be laid away and their tombs visited
by their friends and followers There
are many national cemeteries for the
burial of the soldier dead, but there is
no place where the bodies of the great
men of the country whose claim to fame
does not come through force of arms can
repose where all ages and all people can
sec them. says the Washington Star As
rule, the famous men of the country
are buried in some place designated by
them or their relatives Thus, Washing
ton rests peacefully on the banks of the
Potomac, below this city; Lincoln sleeps
| In Springfield, ILL.,; the body of Garfield
is in Cleveland; James Monroe's re-
mains are at Richmond Va, and the
| other dead presidents are inferred in
| other sections of the country. Many men
and women who have given much to the
| United States are inferred in graves un-
! known. The body of Mary Washington.
mother of George Washington, for a
time rested beneath a tangled mass of
weeds in a lonely spot in Westmoreland
county, Va; the last resting place of
the remains of Francis Scott Key, au-
thor of 'The Star Spangled Banner"
are not known to this day, although sew
eral persons have claimed to know the
spot. And so on through long list of
men and women who hold conspicuous
places in the history of the United
States will be found the names of those
whose tOmbs are unknown
The question of the disposal of the re-
mains of James Smithson seem to offer
some solution of the problem, and will
probably lead to better adjustment of
things. The United States government
has the body on it's hands, and is not in
terfered with by relatives. 1t will be
compelled to provide place for it's re-
ceptiOn, and a place that will be COM
| mensurate with the greatness of the
man and his deeds. James Smithson
was not an American citizen. He was an
Englishman, and the British people will
look to the United States to give the
| remains of her distinguished son as con-
| spicuous place in its mortuary records
as she would give one who had done as
much for her.
A proposition has been advanced to
use the Smithsonian Institution as
memorial building, and to place therein
| the remains of the distinguished dead
| of the country. 1t has gained many
| friends throughout the country. 1t is
| proposed to make the institution build
ing something akin to Westminster alb
hey, and to place therein the bodies of
the great. The matter was advanced in
| connection with Smithson's body, and
naturally it has broadened to much
; wider scope.
The consideration of providing a fit
ting receptacle for Smithson's remains
has directed attention to the Smithson-
ian building itself as a fitting mauso-
leum to inclose the body of such man.
1t has been suggested that no other tomb
is necessary, and that the body could be
placed in the chapel or under the floor
of one of the public rooms of the build
ing. To build tomb, erect mausole-
UNI or shaft in honor of his memory
would be an unnecessary expenditure,
it is claimed, when the plan of placing
the remains permanently in the build
ing could be carried out economically.
without disturbing the order of things.
These suggestions have been made to
the proper authorities, it is understood.
and will be given proper considera-
ton