The Washington herald., 1910-05-01
MEMORIAL TO THE INDIAN
Plan to Erect Statue of AbOriginie in the New YOrA
HarbOr Makes Progress.

On the soil OF America there is no
monument or memorial Of any kind in
honor Of the original owners. the Van
ishing Race" the North American Indian.
No tribute has been paid to the noble
RED Man." although many individuals.
chieftains, warriors. and statesmen in
bronze, friends of the white Invader. have
been honored by statues and other forms
Of monuments in different parts of the
country
If the bill which is now pending before
be but a tardy separation to the original
occupants OF our land. The bill. which
he's just been reported out OF the Com
m!ttee on Library OF the House Of Repre-
sentatives, was introduced in the House
by Representative Goulden. of New York,
and in the Senate by Senator Depew. and
provides for the erection OF a national
monument in New York Harbor as a
memorial to the "Firs; American" The
memorial will be erected without expense
10 the government by Rodman Wana-
maker and others on site in New York
HarbOr. which viii be selected by the
Secretary OF War and the Secretary of
the Navy.
The movement for the great bronze
statue TO the Indian in New York HarbOT
started last May. Mr.. Wanamaker gave
dinner In New York in honor OF Col.
William f. Cody. better known as Buffalo
Bill. The dinner in itself was a remark
able gathering 1t included such dlstin-
guished Indian fighters as Gen. Nelson A.
Miles. Gen. Leonard Wood. Buffalo Bill
and Pawnee Bill. Side by side with them
sat Chief Ironshell and his son. Harry
Ironshell. Frederick Remington. the great
Indian artist. was present. and many
prominent public men.
Want Heroic statue.
At this dinner the speakers took up the
idea which Mr.. Wanamaker had Ions
entertained. that Of erecting "a heroic
statue 10 the Indian in New York Har-
bcr. Every speaker strongly approved It,
the press took Il up. and now there Is
scarcely a State In the Union from which
favorable sentiment has not been evoked
President Taft is friendly TO the idea
OF such statue. Vice President Sher-
man In a letter approving the idea.
says: 7 am very glad to know that
Mr. Wanamaker has conceived this idea
l trust that Congress. IN its wisdom. viii
designate a suitable place. and one that
will entirely meet the views OF Mr. Wan
amaker."
The Cabinet members generally are
favorable 10 the suggestion. Members
of the House and Senate have written
Mr. Wanamaker favorable letters. So
have leading soldiers and Indian fighters,
and many public men. Gen. Miles. who
was one OF the ablest OF the country
Indian fighters. in a letter to Mr.. Wana-
maker, said: "A monument such as you
propose would. IN my opinion. be emf
nently just and proper. and 1t canno;
be otherwise than a credit 70 your gener-
Osity and liberal humanity AS your
mind seems 10 be devoted 20 that splen-
did enterprise, would suggest that II
be carried into execution without Unnec-
essary delay"
A National Monument.
While tho ways and means OF provid-
ing money to finance the enterprise have
not yet been decided upon. Il is expected
that the statue will be a national lnonu-
ment 10 perpetuate the memory OF the
first American, and an opportunity will
be given TO every one who desires TO con-