The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-26
PEACE CAPITOL"
OPENS ITS DOORS
Twenty-Five American Republics
Participate in Dedication of
$750,000 Building.
GATHERING Is NOTABLE
President Taft, Church Dignita-
ries. Statesmen and Diplomats
Present at Services.
GATHERING Is NOTABLE

WASHINGTON, April 26.-Twenty-
one American republics took possess
sion to-day of the new s750,000
building whic. Andrew Carnegie
erected for them overlooking Potomac
Park. President Taft was there ana
with the donor. planted a peace tree
in the patio or courtyard as a me-
mento of the suspicious event and
there was d distinguished crowd OF
diplomats and other notables. John
Barrett. director, presided.
Cardinal Gibbons delivered the in
vocation and addresses were delivered
by President Taft Secretary of State
Knox, former Secretary Elihu Root,
Andrew Carnegie and the Mexican
ambassador, Francesca de la Barra,
the latter on behalf of the Latin
American diplomatic corps. This
evening the governing board of the
bureau of American republics will
give a reception to Mr.. and Mrs An
drew Carnegie.
The new institution represents an
outlay of s1.0o0,0o0 the greater por-
ton of which was supplied by Mr..
Carnegie. 1t is a beautiful structure
Of white marble of a combined CLASH
cal and Spanish type. One of its
attractive features is the patio, filled
with tropical plants and flowers from
the various republics,
Upon the walls OF the building are
the escutcheons in colors OF the
American repuoIics with names or
their heroes of war and peace. An
drew Carnegie calls it "a temple OF
peace, commerce and friendship and
Senator Root once referred to it as
"a capitol In the capital Of the United
States of all the American nations"
Mr.. Knox Sounds Keynote.
Secretary of State, Knox Sounded
the keynote OF the exercises. He said:
mir. President, Ladies and Gentle
men: feel that / am especially
privileged in taking part in the
suspicious ceremony Of the dedication
OF the building to be devoted to the
cause OF peace and good will between
the republics of Latin America, 1t Is
more than IA privilege, 1t is a duty M
cumbent on me to voice the sympathy
of the United States in the great work
which it IS the mission of the Interna-
tional Bureau of American Republics
to accomplish and to give renewed
assurance, If such be needed, Of the
earnest and unselfish purpose of the
government and people of the United
States, to do all that lies within their
power towards the fulfillment of the
nigh task set before you,
Canadians Saught-
Andrew Carnegie, in his address,
practically extended an invitation to
Canada to join the brotherhood.
Nor would we exclude from friend
ly cooperation" he said, "our grow
ing neighbor of the North, who enjoys
like ourselves government of and for
and by the people, should she in the
course of time decide with the cor
dial approval of her illustrious par
entland to enter the brotherhood, thus
extending it over the entire CONT
nent, an area nearly four times at
large as Europe. Surely such a spec
tacle would soon lead the whole civ
iized world to follow"
Ambassador De la Barra explaine
the Pan-American idea.
Senator Root Speaks.
Senator Root dweit upon the oppor-
tunities of the bureau in promoting
International peace and arbitration.
and referred pointedly to type of trou-
ble-making dictator, of which former
President Zelaya Is an example.
Summing up, he said:
May men hereafter come to see
that here is set milestone in the
path of american civilization towarc
the reign of the universal public opin-
ion which shall condemn all, who
through contentious spirit of greed or
selfish ambition or lust p for power
disturb the public peace as enemies
of the general good of the American
Republic"