The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-09-07
How About That McCleary
Trip to Europe?
HE WAS AFTER A DESIGN.
History of That Lincoln Statute Model
Journey; the Congressman Is as
Silent as an Oyster.
Especial to The Free Press.l


Washington, d. c., Sept. 5.-Ever
since Representative James II. McCleary
of Minnesota returned from an extended
European trip during the spring and
summer of 1905, there has been consid-
cradle comment relative to the object
and purpose of his prolonged travels
abroad.
From time to time there have been
statements sent to the Minnesota papers
to the effect that Mr.. McCleary, accom-
panied by his son, travelled abroad for
several months.
When Mr. McCleary and his son re-
turned to Washington from the continent
of Europe, the former stated that he
had been very busy during the protract-
ed journey, looking up plans or designs
Tor memorial or monument to the
memory of Abraham Lincoln Congress
in June, 1902, passed an act whereby a
commission was created for the purpose
of securing plans and designs for this
memorial or monument. The bill was
introduced by McCleary and after con-
siderable debate it was passed.
AT the time it came up for considera-
ton in the house of representatives it
was strongly opposed by Joseph G. Can
non, then chairman of the committee
on appropriations, and now speaker of
the house. Cannon thought that the
amount appropriated, $4,000, was alto
gether too large, for the purpose speci-
fed
Mr.. Cannon took occasion to question
the wisdom of passing the bill in the
form reported, but of course the name
of Lincoln is one which inspires nothing
but the best of motives in the breasts of
every true and good American citizen.
The commission named in the bill con-
sisted of the chairman of the senate and
"
tary of state; the secretary of war, SEN
ator George G. Vest and Representative
James ID. Richardson Now it so hap
pened that none of the commission ever
served or did anything with the excep-
ton of Mr.. McCleary, the chairman of
the house library committee and Mr.
or ho I'll
senator, whom Senator Nelson w. Aid
rich elected to the United States senate.
1t appears that McCleary was desig-
mated as special discussing officer" of
the commission, and that on the requisi-
ton of Senator Wetmore the sum of
$4,000 was paid to j. T. McCleary in
the month of April, 1905, just about a
month prior to the departure of Messrs.
McCleary and son for continental Eu-
rope.
Secretary of State Hay died in July,
1908, while the McClearys were in Europe
Secretary of War Taft did not 90 abroad
to look for design; Senator George G..
Vest died before the commission ever
met. congressman j. ID. Richardson
did not deem it best to travel in Europe
seeking for a design for memorial to
Abraham Lincoln. Senator Wetmore as
stated above is millionaire with a
yacht of his own, and had he seen fit to
take an active part could have paid the
expense of the whole trip ard never felt
it. This left McCleary and son clear
field, and they spent the summer abroad.
Many people were favored with beautiful
souvenir postal cards from all over Eu-
rope during the summer of 1905, coming
fro mMcCleary.
Although the act creating the commits
sion and appropriating the money was
passed in 1902, and section of the act
provided that the Commission shall re-
port the result of their action to con-
gress as soon as practicable. McCleary
has never made any report whatever"
Two of the commission are DEAD and
the others have never taken an active
part in the matter.
In fact the general sentiment both in
and out of congress is that a suitable
plan or design for Abraham Lincoln can
be procured in the United States of
America
McCleary who had himself elected
special disbursing officer" of the $25, 1000
fund thought different and had fine
summer in Europe.
Nearly year has passed since Me-
Cleary and son returned from their long
continental trip. Why has not McCleary
made a report? This is a fair question
and the public awaits reply.