Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-09
Calumniating Honorable Men.

Calumniating Honorable Men.
II has been stated in behalf of the per
sons guilty of the disreputable trick by
which. In brazan defiance OF the restrc-
ton OF Congress. they have placed the
site for the Grant monumen Mt in swamp
upon ground fully occupied by grand old
historic trees. that their mischlevous ac-
ton will be sustained by the President
and the members of the monument COM
mission.
In this connection II is ass rted that
Secretary Root is deeply Interested in
the plans. and gave hearty approval TO
them after considering the same in every
phase. Cen. Dodge of the monument
commission is understood to be unalter-
ably opposed 10 any change of site. Pres
ident RoOsevelt's action in directing that
the matter be held in allegiance until his
return. did not. by any means. commit
him to the opposition view, and ne is now
counted upon to prevent. 80 far as is
within his power, any interference with
OF departure from the general parking
plans.
II Is quite certain that these calumnies
upon honorable men like President RoOse-
Welt. Secretary Root and Gen. Dodge have
no foundation in fact. 1t is certain that
Secretary Root will promptly repudfate
the charge of having had anything to do
with this disCreditabe plot.
1t Is extremely unlikely that Gen.
Dodge. the bravest of the brave in the
Civil War and whose services in behalf OF
the Union were of inestimable value. will
now declare himself as ''unalterably OPP
posed to any change of the site" of the
monument to hts great captain. that has
been placed in his absence In morass on
do rlI-ip
quicksands; planted ignominlously on the
lowest ground in the city, scarcely above
ttdewater level: while the monuments of
all the other distinguished soldiers and
statesmen the nation has delighted to
honor. have been placed on high ground
in conspicuous positions.
II is certain that Gen. Dodge will not
permit himself to be used as a catspaw to
enable the so-called self-appointed uncom-
Udssioned park commission to pull their
chestnuts out of the fire; thereby sullying
an honorable reputation and earning for
himself the deserved excavations of the
Grand Army Of the Republic and of every
man IN the country having a spark OF re-
gard for the great soldier whose memory
It Is proposed TO dishonor by placing his
monument in this degraded position.
AS for President Roosevelt his bitterest
enemy could not make a more offensive
assault upon his character than this in
timatton that despite his prompt and Wig
orous action In calling a halt upon the
work of the tree-butchers be can now be
counted upon to prevent any Interference
with the plans of the so-called uncom-
missioned park commission 70 plant the
Grant monument in this dishonorable DO
sition. involving the destruction not only
of the noble historic trees in the Botanic
Garden but the downfall of all the fine
trees on the Mall from the Capitol to the
river.
It Is quite likely that President Roose-
welt Will have something to say after his
usual vigorous fashion in regard to this
oarefaced attempt to bring discredit upon
him.
As for Senator Wetmore, it is quite
probable, from his previous actions. that
ne entertains the same Contemptuous re-
gard for Gen. Grant and grand old trees
held by the so-cailed self-appointed un-
commissioned park commission; but he is
d candidate for reelection and il Is not
very likely that he Will want 20 encounter
me herce hostility of the members of the
Grand Army OF the Republic who are
citizens OF his state. by continuing his Of
forts TO dishonor the memory of their he
loved commander
And Col BromYelI Will probably find ~
worth his while 70 explain how no c.p,s
to betray his trust as custodian or tbe
trees in the public grounds and consent to
their wholesale destruction and to tho
placing of the Grant monument In a mud
dfTtafinn nf no
appointed. congressionaIly repudfated.
unauthorized. uncommissioned nark com
mission-a body discredited by all persons
of taste, and mathematical by all lovers
OF the grand and beautiful forms of nature
.oi. broinWeH seems TO think that his
duties as superinteni lent of public grounds
are confined to acting as master OF cere-
monies At the White House and to the
cultivation of the pretty little flower beds
that adorn the pet little West End circles
and parkings, and that the great Peoples
fark may go to n ides for all he cares
He will probably find that Congress enter
tains quite a different opinion as to his
duties and responsibilities.
Finally, every man implicated in this
dlsreputable plot to place the Grant monu-
ment on unfit and interdicted ground may
prepare himself for a stern overhauIing
by Congress for the contemptuous viola
ton of the act restricting them t. the use
of "unoccupied ground" in the Botanic
Garden. They can from the vigor-
Gus action and utterances OF Speaker
Cannon. Representatives Tawney and
champ Clark and numerous others that
Congress Will handle them without gloves
They had better get under cover in sea
son 10 escape the storm.