The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1909-04-09
SILVER SERVICE FOR
THE BATTLESHIP IDAHO,

SILVER SERVICE FOR
THE BATTLESHIP IDAHO
Senator Hepburn Suggests the Rails
ing OF From $500 to $4,000 by
Popular Subscription to Furnish
the Big Silver Service-J Joseph
Perault of Boise May Take the
IA Washington, d. c.,
~ March 20, 1909
To the Editor: The State of Idaho
has been selected sponsor for one
of the great battleships Of the United
States navy. For many years it has
been customary for the people of the
state thus represented to present to
the battleship silver service of ap-
propriate design and character. No
such step has as yet been taken on
the part OF the people of Idaho in
this matter 1t is entirely proper and
appropriate that steps should be
taken in recognition of the fact that
this vessel now constitutes part of
the fighting force of the United
States navy, having been in commits
sion for more than a year.
Idaho is proud of her representa-
tion in the navy. Her boys have
quickly won for themselves distin-
guished honor and high ranks as Off
GERS and whether the battleship Idaho
is commanded by Idaho men or not
we confidently count on the ship
sustaining the honor of the state
wherever and whenever called upon
ito defend or assert the same. 1t is
high time that the people took up
this question for action. An appro
pirate silver service could be pur-
chased for something between $500
: and $4,000. This sum should be
contributed by all the people from
childhood to old age. They should
be taught to have pride in the fact
that they had contributed, whether
the sum be very small or large.
Subscriptions boastful in size
should not be either solicited or re-
ceived. 1t is not an occasion for
= advertising any person, but one for
open-handed, patriotic participa-
tion. Every school in the state
should be advised that the move
ment is on and the purpose should
be- explained to the children and
they should be given an opor-
tunity, as 'in the case of the Wash
ington monument, to know that
they had contributed their mite to
this purpose. There are fifty
thousand school children in the
schools of Idaho. Five cents apiece
from them would realize $4,000. This
would be a splendid tribute to the
children and to the state and to the
occasion generally that the school
children should have contributed
such a proportion OF the necessary
sum. Individuals other than the
school children could readily make
up the sum of ten thousand dollars
without depending upon any large
subscriptions.
1t has seemed to me without seri-
GUS detraction from the fund an
acknowledgment OF these subscr1p-
tions, however small or large, might
be made upon an appropriate certifi-
cate that would be valued by those
who subscribed.
County, city or town organizations
should be formed at once on a bisis
of no exense for the collection of this
fund. There should be in each OF
these divisions, whether they be
cities, towns or villages, an Organiza-
tion that should be responsible for
the collection of the fund and several
organizations should report to CEN
'tyal state organization. The whole |
matter could be accomplished in sixty
days and the money raised If it were
seriously pushed.
Hon. Joseph Perrault of Boise, !,
Idaho, has taken much interest in
this question and has gathered much
information which would be useful
in carrying out the plans. While re-
Gently in Washington in attendance
upon the inaugural ceremonies he
took up the question of design and |
cost with several manufacturing sill |
versmiths and is supplied with much |
useful information. suggest that he
would be a most appropriate selection
as head of the state organization
and that correspondence be opened
with him with view of perfecting |
immediate organization and that the
state organization be first perfected
to be Immediately followed by the
several organizations in the counties,
towns, etc. The appeal to the schools
should be made as soon as possible
as the term Of schooI will soon end
and the children scatter to their
homes. A day could be set apart in
public schools of the state for the
purpose Of organizing and carrying
into effect this plan. If the children
were advised Of the occasion they
could bring their mites with them
and the occasion could be made one
of patriotic sentiment and influence