Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-30
The George Washington Memorial.

From every point of view 1t IL desirable
that success should crown the efforts Of
those who are seeking to erect in this city
q building to stand as memorial to
George Washington and to supply at the
same time the need of the National Capt.
tai for a meeting place for the many or
Eanizations which annually assemble In
this city. It Is worthy project as a
stimulus to a patriotic sentiment. The
Washington Monument, standing nobly
erect In it's impressive isolation on the
river side is beautiful tribute to the
first President But the proposed memo
nal hall will express in a definite manner
washington's eminently practical charac-
ter, his sense of the useful and his con-
cept OF the union Of states. centering In
their manifold interests here In the fed
eral city, to which his own name was
bestowed by a grateful country.
That there Is a widespread and genuine
national sentiment favoring this projected
memorial hall Is proved by the success
which has already met the efforts OF those
who are unselflshly and unremittingly en-
deavoring to raise the necessary $2.50.OOO
for the building and its maintenance. One
single instance sufflces to demonstrate
this interest. About four weeks ago cir
culars were sent to the 5000 members Of
the National Association for the Advance
ment Of Science scattered throughout the
states. asking for small contributions.
There has already been received from this
source, with no further urging than the
mere suggestion. 81, 100. which may be re-
gartled as a guarantee that the American
people. when the project is properly put
before them. will generously answer the
ne unit
The local interest in this enterprise is
keen and direct. Washington sorely needs
a large meeting place for the many con-
ventions which prefer to assemble here
for their national sessions. 1t has tried
heretofore to organize a business propo-
sition to meet this need. and without
success. for the reason that Unless there
Is an endowment feature of some kind
convention hall or auditorium cannot be
successfully established a mere money
making venture. 1t must rest upon the
basis OF a practical patriotism. Here.
then, is an exceptional opportunity to OBJ
tain the required equipment The scien-
tihc societies of the capital, with ma
tional Affiliations, have already pledged
SEQ. 600 to the fund. with prospect of in
creasing this amount to 100000. They
are directly interested In securing per
manent. adequate meeting hall. and they
regard the present project as offering the
best prospect Of such a result.
Through the sale OF ten-cent buttons to
the school children OF the District some
5000 has been raised. That. with the
pledge of the scientific societies. repre-
sents the extent of the local contribu
tons. 1t Is now hoped that the subscrip-
lions to the old auditorium enterprise,
amounting to 100000. will be secured by
transfer and that in addition the $4,000
subscribed to the now not needed aviation
meet fund may also be obtained in
similar manner No more practical act OF
good citizenship could be recorded than
the full assignment of every dollar of
these two funds, to insure the erection
here Of An auditorium which will do
Washington an unmeasured amount of
good In encouraging the assemblage here
of even q larger annual array OF conven-
tons II Washington will pledge $4,000
by these transfers and through other sub
scriptions, the success of the enterprise Is
virtually assured. 1t will then be possible
for the promoters Of the plan to point TO
the fact that the city where it is proposed
to erect the memorial hall will pay one
tenth Of the cost.