Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-14
Detroit and the Capital.

Citizens of Washington heartily applaud
the proposition to name the grounds sur
rounding the new filtration plant Mcmillan
Park" in honor of the late senator from
Michigan, who did so much to bring the
capital to it's proper stage Of development
as the nations city. Those best acquainted
with Senator McMillans ideals for the Dis
trict and his efforts to attain them are
aware of the debt which Washington today
owes to his memory.
In this connection a suggestion just made
by an eminent citizen of Detroit, Mr.. Nc
Mnlan's home city. is OF especial interest to
the local community. Says ex-Mayor May
bury in an interview in the Detroit News:
The great work of the senator's later
years was in the building and the beautifi-
cation of Washington, outside. of course, of
the great industrial enterprises that will be
monuments to his memory for generations
10 come. He was for many years the chair
man of the District of Columbia commit
tee. and in that position he exercised his
splendid foresight and judgment in plan
ming for the future of the national capital
in such way that for all time to come 1t
will bear the unmistakabie imprint OF his
genius and work. 1t would never have
been the magnificent city 1t is destined to
be but for him.
Now that the city of Washington has de-
cded to name one of its finest parks after
MIN. IL is very nttlng tndt the people OF
Michigan should ask the privilege of plac-
ing his statue there. And there is no time
10 lose, for I am sure that Washington
intends to do that very thing itself. 1t
seems to me II should be done, not by
Detroit, but by the people of Michigan, and
81 had anything TO say about 1t 1 should
suggest Charles L. Freer as the man TO
take the lead. The most notable sculptors
in the country were the personal friends of
both the late senator and OF Mr.. Freer and
Tfndpr the direction Of the latter thew wOOld
undoubtedly strive to produce the finest
specimen OF their art possible--a statue
that the people of the state and the friends
of the senator would always be proud of"
While the people OF Washington stand
ready to carry out the best plans proposed
TO put their sentiments toward Senator Nc
MILAN into artistic and significant form,
they are also glad to know that his fellow
townsmen are now considering such a
move that suggested by Mr.. May
bury. It would be highly significant for
the DetroIters to erect statue here, In
recognition of the services rendered by Mr..
Mcmillan to the whole country through his
efforts to bring Washington up to the true
standard Of a federal city. 1t is this spirit
on the part of the residents Of the states
that will eventually work out the best re-
suits for the District and make of It the
luOutl CITY which II SIOulu tOiR ago nave
become. Appreciation such as this will in
evitably stimulate the national Legislators
10 take pride in their work as guardians of
the national seat of government as mu-
nicpality. 1t will accelerate the capital
making movement to which Mr.. Mcmillan
gave great force by his constructive efforts.
The suggestion that Mr.. Charles Freer
OF Detroit be placed in charge of the enter
a,riSp IS qsppriaIly Mr. ir
man of marked artistic taste. as his nota-
BILE collection, recently accepted by the
Smithsonian Institution. attests. His inter-
est in the capital city was strongly evil
denced by that gift. and his participation
IN the work now proposed by MIR. May
bury Will be a guarantee that what Detroit
contributes TO the District as token of
fits gratitude to the late senator for his
valuable work a capital builder will be
creditabie not only to the donors. but to
Washington and to the nation at large