Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-07

is proceeding. Even the contract has
been let for the removal of the trees
which. the testimony shows. can be re-
moved in almost absolute safety. We
have condition existing today which
argues against the adoption of this reso-
luton and makes it appear unreasonable
in the extreme"
Removal of the Trees.
Representative Thomas of North Caro-
lima. democratic member of the library
committee. also defended his vote
against the Mann resolution, saying in
part:
"The gentleman from Georgia and l
did rot want to interfere with any trees.
We were unwilling. however, to vote any
money out of the federal Treasury for the
purpose of removing trees. We could not
Justify that before our constituents, we
thought, and declined to do so. We
found, however. that money was avalla-
be which would authorize the Grant
commission to remove the trees and
take care of them. and permit the Grant
memorial to remain upon the site in the
Botanic Garden selected by the tram
commission. The testimony was abun-
dant before our committee that the trees
could be removed by tree-moving ma
chinery without injuring them at all
Explains His Vote.
THE weight of the testimony before the
committee and the action of the Grand
Army of the Republic favoring the loca-
ton in the Botanic Garden. added to the
testimony of the Secretary of War. MI.
Taft, and former Secretary of War, MT.
Root. both of whom were in favor OF
keeping the location where it is. combined
with the fact that the trees could be re-
moved without injury or additional ex-
pense to the government, decided me 10
join in the report to keep the memorial
In the Botanic Garden. Personally.
could not see my way clear to vote lot
its removal to the White Lot. That is the
lot in which is located the executive man.
sion. which is occupied by all the Presl-
dents of the country of whatever political
faith
II was averse to placing the memorial
in front of the Union station because i
did not think that was the proper location
for many reasons which it is not neces-
sary for me to enumerate. and l do not
care to enumerate. Therefore. the trees
not being destroyed. because they could
be removed by proper machinery without
one dollar of further tax or expense upon
the federal Treasury. by using small
part of the money which is now appro-
priated. and the weight of the testimony
being in favor of permitting the Grant
memorial to stay where it is now located.
under the law. in the Botanic Garden.
voted with my colleague. Mr.. Howard
and other members Of the committee to
table the Sherey. bill and also the Mann
bill. / did not wish to put the memorial
on the White Lot occupied by our Presi-
dents
What Influenced the Committee.
Another republican member of the COM
mttee. Representative Hamilton Of Mich
igan spoke briefly Of his views on the
matter:
LAS committee" he said. 1--WE APP
preached this subject l think. all of us.
with absolutely unbiased minds and in
the short time at my disposal l would
like TO be able TO present to the House
some of the reasons which actuated the
committee in arriving at the conclusions
we have arrived at. In the first place,
MIR. Chairman. commission was origi-
nally created composed of the Secretary
of War. the chairman of the Senate COM
mittee on the library, Senator Wetmore.
and Gen. Dodge. That commission was
authorized to select a design for me-
mortal and to locate that memorial. First.
it was proposed that the memorial be
erected upon the ellipse between the White
House and the Monument. Objection was
made. Thereupon. after careful! consid-
Grafton. the commission decided that the
Botanic Garden was the best site for the
location OF this memorial
Representative Lowden Of Illinois. who
1dliS lFDI1I CtIl. 'Edlt Oiu uiStJlCt. SdSS
ne lad naturally been very much inter-
ested in the question of the Grant me-
mortal
Decision Of the Commission.
Il have read the testimony before the
committee" he said. land I have been
impelled to the conclusion that it would
be great mistake to move this monu-
ment from the Botanic Garden The
a unanimous vote. and this was not a
perfunctory commiss on, but it was
labor of love on the part o it's distin-
guished members. AS is perfectly appar-
ent from the testimony that was taken at
the hearings. Gen. Grenville NJ. Dodge,
chairman of that commission, a trusted
lieutenant OF Grants, lifelong friend of
Grants has given generously of his time
to the cause William n. Tat is a men,
Der OF the commission: Elihu Root was
member of the commission: Senator
Wetmore was the other member and these
distinguished gentlemen all unite in favor
of the site i'm the Botanic Garden. At this
late day to attempt removal would be a
great mistake.
Grant Suggestive of Peace.
1T is urged that the Botanic Garden
contains historic tree-the Crittenden
tree-which should be preserved as a sug-
StstloH VI peace " tic pSopit VI tIliS
country. I admire the history of the dis
tinguished senator from Kentucky whose
name is associated with this tree. How
ever submit that any memorial to Grant
suggests peace between the north and the
south more than any tree that was ever
grown. (Applause.) The efforts of Sen
ator Crittenden were abOrtive, because it
was destined that peace should not dawn
until Grant and Lee should meet at Apo
mattOx. The Crittenden tree can but sug-
gest the awful years of war in which
Americans faced their countrymen.
memorial to Grant, even though the
genius who created it should depict scenes
of war. as stated by the gentl eman from
Massachusetts, would speak of peace in
all sections of our common country
Strange paradox. The man who planted
this tree and who wrought for peace
failed. The man of war, whose memorial
we seek to erect, brought peace. No
monument to Ulysses S. Grant which hu-
man hands can make will ever stand for
aught but peace.
Il also observe from study of the
hearings that nobody except this commit
tee and few others know or can learn
which the Crittendan tree is For the
superintendent of the Botanic Garden
stated that If he indicated to the people
which it was the leaves would be plucked
from it. one by one, until the tree was
dead.
Il trust. Mr.. Speaker. that in view CT
the fact that the wishes of the commits
sion. the Army of the Tennessee-Which
first brought fame to Grant-the Army of