Evening star., 1907-11-02
SENATOR M'MILLAN
he DID so MUCH FOR WASH
INGToN.
Should Have a Monument Erected to
Him Here-Some of the
older Monuments

older Monuments.
The fight made and won by The Star
for the preservation of historic trees in
our park reservations" remarked a local
artist. brings up incidentally he question
of monuments and statues in the capital
and I am reminded of several facts Of In
terest.
I'm the first instance it should not be
forgotten that while our military ana
naval heroes appeal to US as proper SUD-
jects for statuary perpetuation. neverthe-
less there are those in other walks of life
whose deeds should commend them to
similar honorary distinction
.If any one deceased statesman Is
worthy of such an honor in this city 1t
Is the late Senator Mcmillan OF Michigan,
than whom no one member OF elther the
uper or lower halls of Congrtss worked
harder for our local institutions and Tor
the interests of the citizens of the Dis
trict.
Senator McMillan's Work.
eft is nv recollection that he was chair
man of the Senate District committee for
terest in the welfare of the District was
almost personal, and one of the pleasures
of his life He was man OF e1treiheiy
liberal views as to the expenditure ol
money for District needs. and countess
uare tho instances where his personal
efforts and insistence saved to US many
individual appropriations Of
Indeed 1t was largely through MS e.
forts that we enjoy clear. hitereo "a.e
today as against the mixture winch IN
flowed through our water mains. anu tiie
appropriation of the millions secured loi
this purpose came about largely through
his efforts The filtration plant became
one of his hobbies. and while 1t mas oeeh
said that in this great plant senator VI. -
MILAN has a lasting monument ever III
the sight and minds Of our citizens, yet
from my standpoint. this Is begelng lne
question, and his work ana MS interest," III
us and our future should De coinheiiio
rated f1ttingly in bronze. , o..
Here was one man who leglslated Ior
us whose thoughts for our welfare were
more than merely passing ones. and VINO
did not see the well-known at nome con-
gressional sentiment to the exclusion OF
the capitals needs. While the question
Of site NAV be left for future determine
ton. a commanding position on tne
heights at the filtration plant, overlooking
the city which Jared so we'll when ne
partially controlled the purse strings OF
it's expenditures, would not DE ihappro-
pirate.
Our Older Monuments.
speaking about statues In this city 70
our former Presidents. when one refers 10
a statue Of Lincoln the mind reverts TO
the one In bronze In the square on Capitol
Hill bearing the martyred Presidents
name. There Is, however. another monu-
ment of Lincoln. which may be said to be
almost forgotten. .and If not forgotten 1t
is practically lost sight of In the TO iage
of the trees which surround 1t.
II refer to the small marble figure OF
Lincoln on its long. slender pedestal which
stands at the south front of the court
house on Judiciary Square. 1t was erect
ed by the Lincoln National Monument
ton, of which Mayor Richard Wal
lach was president and Mr.. Crosby 8.
Noyes secretary. The sculptor was Lot
FIannery and the date Of Its unvefling
was April Is. 1868. The trees which prac-
t'cally hide the figure from view should
be pruned. to the end that 1t may be more
clearly seen.
And this brings up the question as to
some of the older monuments in this city.
particularly that of Jackson in Lafayette
Square and of Washington in the circle
bearing his name, at Pennsylvania avenue
and 22d street.
There have been suggestions from time
to time both from local and visit ing crit
les. that these older monuments be re-
moved and newer and perhaps more ar
tistfc statuary efforts take their place.
Such a question is destined to be a moot
ed one. open to various expressions of
opinion pro and con. and all of which have
merit, however the subject may be viewed
However 1t may ultimately be decided
II 1t should ever come up actually for
decision and not for mere comment and
criticism. 1t is unquestionable that In
hn oy,jf
m monuments to those former Presidents
which cause those in the capital to suffer
by comparison. though 1t should be stated
that these latter products of the scuIp-
tors art are of a more recent date than
those under discuss on.
Mr.. Tawney's Views Upheld.
LAS to the Grant statue. Representa-
tive Tawney's views recently quoted at
length in The Star will be received with
satisfaction. not only among the artistic
contingent of the capital, but in all quar-
ters.
In bringing this highly important mat
ter to the fore The Star has rendered
public service which should long be
remembered. Viewing the question from
an artistic standpoint alone, and not en-
tering into the collateral issues, a more
inappropriate place for the Grant statue
than the Botanic Gardens could not be
selected, and the artists of this city are
a unit that these beautiful grounds, with
their historic trees. shall not be de-
stroyed, particularly when there are so
many more suitable and avaiIab BILE places
for the site of the massive memorial in
question.
with most artists here the ellipse
south of the White House has always
been considered the best site for such
a large and commanding memorial as is
shown in the Grant monument designs"