The Washington herald., 1907-10-01
NO FEB PROTEST YET
Patriotic Sons Resolution
Not Received.
MT. VERNON QUESTION PUZZLE
Many Organizations Interested in
Problem President May Have TO
Decide-POOr Said to BE Barred
from Tomb OF Washington Through
Inability 40 Pay Admission.

The resolution adopted al the annual
meeting Of the Patriotic order. Sons OF
America, which was recently In session
at Richmond Va, asking President
Roosevelt to have the custom Of the pay
ment Of admission fees 10 Mount Vernon
abolished, has not Yet been received at
the White House. II is difficult TO say
what course the President will direct in
the matter until he has familiarized him
self with the question.
The problem OF aboHshIng the admis-
sion fee has been discussed at recent
meetings Of patriotic and other organiza-
tions of this city, and William h Low
der, a member Of Gen. Nelson A Miles
Camp No. ], United States War Veterans,
at a smoker held at Costeilo's Hall,
had the following TO say about the mat
ter:
1T is to be deplored that this place
(AIount Vermont which was bought by a
number OF women years ago, is managed
on the principles of a dime museum.
Why should we be obliged to pay an ad-
mission fee TO see the place where Wash
ington rests in eternal sleep? The Gov
ernment should own the place and throw
st open to the public free OF charge, the
same as Arlington, or Grants monument.
The more people visit WashingtOns tomb.
the better for the nation. The poor.
under the present circumstances, are
practically excluded from performing the
patriotic duty Of visiting the grave of
the Father Of his Country. Foreigners
must have a peculiar idea Of American
patriotism when an admission fee is
charged to gain admission TO the nations
most sacred and hallowed spot"
How shrine Was Preserved.
When, in 100. John Augustine Wash
ington, being without means TO maintain
the Mount Vernon estate, offered it for
sale, a patriotic daughter Of South Caro-
lima, Ann Pamela Cunningham, resolved
20 save the Washington home as "a per-
manent shrine of patriotism With high
Courage, which in its very daring augured
success, she devoted herself to the task
of raising $3O0.O10 for the purpose. In 1858
the Mount Vernon Ladies' Association of
the Union was organized. with Miss Gun
ningham as regent and vice regents rep
resenting twelve States.
Contributions were solicited. and pop
ular support was enlisted Edmund Ever
EFT gave the proceeds Of his lecture on
Washington and Of certain writings. and
thus put into the associations treasury
the handsome sum Of S69, 600 as his per
sonal contribution. Washington Irving
contributed 500; thousands upon thous-
ands Of school children gave cents each
The fun sum was in hand before the
end Of 1853 and in 1850 Mount Vernon be
came the property of the association. 4
further fund was provided for permanent
care and maintenance of the place. Por-
tions Of the original estate, which had
been sold. have been acquired again
Buildings which had fallen into ruin have
been restored; the deer park, under the
hiN has been re-st1cked; the mansion
has been repaired, many articles Of fur
pitUre and adornmeuts have been restor-
ed 20 the several rooms. and numbers Of
valuable relics and memeutGes Of George
and Martha Washington and of their
times have been deposited there. The res
toration, equipment and keeping Of the
respective rooms have been entrusted to
the care of the women of the different
States represented on the board Of vice
regents