The Caucasian., 1910-01-13
WASHINGTON LETTER
BY CARL scHoFIELD. Special corrs-
sDondenf


1t is too early yet to form any idea
as to how far certain element among
former Union soldiers will go in their
opposition to the reception on the part
OF congress of the statue of General
Robert E. Lee. which already has its
place in statuary hall. There is not
likely to be any organized movement
among the Union veterans. Only here.
and there do the more fiery ones let it
be known that they do not relish such
statue being in the collection.
Objections to Confederate Uniform.
Lately complaint has been made Of
the fact that the Confederate uniform
is shown in the figure, and those who
do not like this say they could prob
ably overcome their objections If this
feature had been omitted by the sculp-
tor and those who accepted the design.
They forget entirely that General Lees
fame was won as a commander of the
Confederate forces, However, there
are not many Of these complaining ex-
soldiers of the Union, and pretty much
everybody has settled down to the be-
lief that the statue which Virginia has
proffered TO the nation will in due
time be accepted by congress wheD
the formal ceremony is arranged.
RaHpus About Over.
The rumpus that Is being raised Is
expected to blow over, just as. it did
when a lot of anti-Catholic politicians
endeavored to work up religious SEN
timent that they hoped might make
! congress refuse to place in the hall the
statue of Father Marquette.
That movement was led by certain
congressman up III the northwest, who
imagined that they would win favor
with the Protestants out in the rural
districts If they tried to rule out this
statue Of the great pioneer priest, but
the Protestants did not appear to think
the proposition was what the politi-
clans tried to make it, and hence the
matter was dropped.
Congress invited each state to send
two statues of fayorite sons, and when
| the legislatures make the selection that
ends 1t.
Calhoun Statue In Place.
AS is well known, tie last statue to
reach the hall was that of John G. Cal
houn of South Carolina 1t was given
its place at the opening of the present
session of congress, and visitors to the
capitol take keen interest in gazing
upon the marble figure that perpetu-
ates the fame of that renowned states
man Of antebellum days.
Compared with others among the
older states, the south has fewer stat
ues in the hail, but within the next
year quite number will be contrib
uted. One of the earliest expected to
be put in is that of the late Senator
Zeb Vance of North Carolina.
First Governor of Idaho.
OF the newer states, Idaho is the
| only one that has presented statue
of one of her distinguished citizens,
that of the late United States Senator
George L. Shoup. He was the first
governor of Idaho after the state was
admitted and was one of the first SEN
ators elected. He was one Of the pio-
neers out in the far west and was a
noted Indian fighter when the red men
used TO give trouble to the white set
tiers. Senator Shoup was a native Of
Pennsylvania and is remembered here
as one of the most liberal hearted men
who have served in congress during the
past quarter of century.
Delvinu Into History.
Several employees Of the senate have
had a task cut out for them which will
in all probability keep them at work
for several months. Senator Lodge is
responsible for their labors, and he is
responsible because OF his unQuench-
able thirst for knowledge of history.
The senator is something Of histo-
rian himself. The list of books he has
written on historical subjects takes up
quite bit Of space in Who's Who"
Documents From FiIlmore's Time.
Mr.. Lodge discovered during the
hours when he was unmoleSted by pol
iticians that he desired greater knowl-
edge of the manner in which the Unit
ed States became interested in the
Austria Hungary revolution. One of
the first things he did upon returning
TO Washington was to introduce res
olution asking the president to send to
the senate a report on the subject
which had been made to the state de-
partment many years ago By a special
investigator of that department. The
following reply was received from
President Taft:
referring to senate resolution No.
48, beg leave to say that the papers
asked for were forwarded to the SEN.
ate by President Fillmore. :
Members OF the senate proceeded to
have some fun with the Bay State his
torian, but the latter was more deter
mined than ever to find the papers.
and the secretary of the senate was
ordered to institute search for them.
Inasmuch as there are hundreds of
boxes filed with papers, said boxes
having no marks of Identification and
being stored away in a hundred cor
ners Of the capitol, Senator Lodge un-
II. Il 81 H..