Omaha daily bee., 1909-02-07

- armies, the great emancipation.
Many efforts have been made to erect a
monument to President Lincoln on the
state capitol grounds, but every effort has
been futile. Old soldiers who followed the
flag through the great war of the rebellion
tried 1t. State legislatures have tried It.
Appropriations ave been made for the
purpose, but always and every time there
has been in these appropriation bills some
proviso whereby the attempt has been de-
feated.
Once the work proceeded sufficiently far
that the stone was delivered to the state
house grounds and there for years served
as a bench for capitol visitors. Until finally
one day, about three years ago. the State
Board of Public Lands and Buildings con-
cluded to clean up and the marble blocks
had to go. A horse was hitched to them
and they were dragged over the grass to a
place in the rear of the boiler house, where
they now lie. forgot probably by most peo-
pie and recalled only by those who have
In season and out of season labored for a
lasting recognition OF the martyred war
president.
The marble blocks were a present from
the state of Tennessee and they were de-
livered to Nebraska. and out OF them the
Lincoln monument was to have been CHS
eled. The gift signified truly the union of
the blue and the gray. Some little cutting
was done. some effort made to collect
funds to complete the work. and John
Curry, a local sculptor. engaged to make
the statue. That was back in 1898, and for
all these years the marble has rested on
the capitol grounds, understurbed except
the once.
The first organized effort to secure a
monument to Lincoln was undertaken in
1887, when Mr.. Sargent, a member OF the
Abe Lincoln post, Grand Army OF the Re-
public. Of David City, proposed that $4,000
be raised among the old soldiers for the
erection OF the MONUMENT on the grounds
of the state. 1t was intended then to have
the monument on the grounds of the State
university. The department commander
promulgated his order in conformity with
the resolution, but It was never pushed be-
yond the starting point.
Then came the John Curry project In 1893.
Mr.. Curry negotiated with the state OF
Tennessee for the marble from which Ia
cut the statue and the southern state made
Nebraska a present Of two immense
blocks.
The legislature OF 1908 made the third at
tempt. John M. McC1ay. a member of the
forse from Lincoln, introduced a bill ap.
propriating SO. 1000 for a monument to Lin.
coin to be erected on the state house
grounds. In It's meanderings through the
legislature there was attached to the bill
an amendment providing that this ap-
preparation should become available only
wien the city OF Lincoln contributed a like
sum. Notwithstanding this amendment
was sufficient to kill the bill. its sponsors
never gave up hope and even carried the
r.easure to the supreme court TO establish
its legality. when It was attacked. The
bill passed both houses regularly. but IL
the confusion incidental to final ajouru.
ment. the bill failed to receive the sig
nature OF the speaker OF the house. and thu
president OF the senate. When Governor
Mickey signed the measure he made a no
tation to this effect. but he held It lega
and after him the supreme court also es
tablished Its validity. But the city Of Lin
coin was too busy with other matters 4
raise it's share of the money necessary. q
Nebraska never had to make good on IL
part Of the bargain.
Since that Failure there has been Z
quiet agitation going on among the oil,
soldiers and others and this took fina
shape at the banquet given by the Youni
Mems Republican club OF Lincoln just on
year ago-LAncoln's birthday.
Addison Wait. deputy secretary OF state
introduced a resolution which was adopte'
by the club. providing for the incorpora
ton Of the Abraham Lincoln C~entennia
Memorial Association OF Nebraska. Tn
governor OF the state at that time, Georg
I L. Sheldon, was made president, and tn
state treasurer, l. @. Brian, the treasure
OF the association. with M---AVait as sec
rotary. Following is the plan adopted b.
this association;
First. This monument TO be erected o
the state house grounds in the city 0
Lincoln. the site to be designated by tn
officers OF the association,
Second. The funds for the erection o
the same shall be raised Jointly by indi
vidual contribution and appropriations b
the legislature.
Third. The state treasurer Is hereby mad
, the custodian OF all funds subscribed en-
paid for this purpose and said funds are .