The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-02-11
HUGE BIRTHDAY GIFT
People Plan Huge Memorial Building
For Educational Purposes, To
Fulfill WashingtOn's Wish

New York, Feb. S-Planning for
the biggest birthday present in his
tory to be given by the American peo-
pie for the father of their country, on
the 22nd of this month, leaders of
| the national movement to build a
$2,500,000 George Washington Mem
orial hall at Washington, d. c., are
completing their campaign, to assure
the project, in this city today. With
the active support of every national
patriotic and learned society as well
as thousands of public spirited citi-
zens already secured, the George
Washington Memorial association is
now confident that the people of this
country will join to celebrate Wash
ington's birthday this year by Offer
ing this living monument to carry out
Washington wish for the general
diffusion of knowledge" If every
American will lend hand during
the next few weeks, it is declared,
this great auditorium that is sadly
needed by all the national organiZa-
tiOns of the country may be reai
started on the 178th anniversary of
the birth of the first president.
Hundreds of members of the
Washington Academy of Sciences,
the National Federation of Art, the
National Academy of Sciences and
the American Medical association, as
well as of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, the United Confederate Veter-
ans, the Daughters of the American
Revolution, the United Daughters of
the Confederacy, the Sons of the
American Revolution and other pat
riotic bodies are today actively work
ing to enlist the support of the peo-
pie in every section of the country
for this Washington memorial. Thou
sands of children in the schools of
every state in the union are also re-
ported to be calling upon their play
mates to give dime to buy one brick
in the great structure that will carry
out Washington last wish. Preach
ers, teachers and public speakers are
volunteering from many communities
to rally their tOwnsmen for the big
Washington's Birthday project. In
every town in the land it is proposed
to hold mass meetings and raise
funds for this birthday gift of the
American people to George Washing
ton.
To promote institutions for the
general diffusion of knowledge" ac-
cording to the parting admonition of
Washington to his people, Is the OBJ
ject of the proposed headquarters and
that is to be built for all |
the learned societies of the nation in |
his name. Leaders in scientific and |
educational work today assured Mrs.
Henry F. Dimock, president of the
George Washington Memorial associ
alton, who is leading the movement
at rs East Goth Street in this city,
that the present lack of adequate con-
vention facilities at Washington is
seriously hampering their progress as
we'll as shaming this country in the
eyes of the learned societies of other
nations. Nothing could further the
spread of science and knowledge bet
ter than the erection of such an in
stitution as the George Washington
hall, they declare.
Every American owes moral
debt to George Washington whose
last request of his people was for
Just such an institution as we hope
20 see raised in his name" said Mrs.
Dimock today. "It Is to carry out the
dearest wish of orr first president
hat we are asking all loyal Ameri-
cans to contribute to the establish
nent of the George Washington
Memorial hall which we are assured
s the thing most needful to promote
in the nation today. Every
contributor will receive certificate
Is a holder of a perpetual interest in
he big building as well as souvenir
button from our headquarters at rs
East 60th street. where substantial
support is already being received
rom all over the country"