The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-10
DOLLARS VERSUS SENTIMENT.

Every aid should be given the Mount Vernon
Ladies Association in their opposition TO the
establishment of penal settlement at Belvoif.
or the White House Tract. three mics from the
home and tomb of WASHINGTON. BY the commits
sion-fs of the District OF Columbia.
Many years ago the Federal Government was
importuned 10 purchase and preserve the man,
sion and estate of the Father of our country.
Congress pleaded poverty and Washington's
beautiful manor seemed destined TO decay for
want of kindly thought. Seemingly gifted with
more patriotism and reverence for deeds of ne
roism and generalship than the mascuhnity OF
the country. women throughout the length and
breadth OF the land contributed their dollars and
cents and purchased the estate. More than that.
they acquired personal belongings and furniture
once owned by General Washington. and arrang-
ed these articles in the patriots home as they
had been seen or pictured there To-day travel
ers from all nations make pilgrimages to Mount
Vernon and find inspiration in their visit This
should be the shrine of ell Americans, but un.
happily. II is not II is q singular fact that for.
eigners are more enthusiastic over the home OF
Washington and CONNIE 1datory in their praise
of the women who restored it than are Amerl.
cans.
Citizens of Washington have long objected TO
the penal institutions in the eastern section of
the National Capital and the commissioners or
the District of Columbia, wishing to rid inhabi.
tants Of the city beautiful OF the nuisance and
menace of hordes OF criminals have purchased
the White House Tract and intend rearing on
those proud and sacred heights indelibly linked
with the early history of our State aud country
several criminal institutions
1t would seem that innate reverence would
have stayed the hands of the owners of this hal.
lowed SPOT from deciding it over to the commits
sioners for the purposes which the latter intend
making Of IT. Incidents such as these tend to
sustain the indictment against us that we are a
mercenary nation and the almighty dollar" il
held above all else,
Work OF erecting the penal institutions for
the housing of the desperate and vicious Grim.
inas Of Washington. mostly blacks. has begun.
and several score convtcts are now at work on
the White House Tract A convict camp has
been established and several Of the striped sin,
ners have escaped and spread terror throughout
the Pohick section.
The Mount Vernon Ladies' Association is Justly
indignant over the proposed dissertation of this
revered section of the state and have lodged a
protest with the District Commissioners and
each and every senator and member Of Congress.
While the Federal Government NAV have the
right TO purchase property in any State in which
It chooses and exercise jurisdiction over the
territory proper sense of the prophecies should
have guided them elsewhere than in the vicinity
Of the .nohle heights of atount Vernon and IL IA
to be hoped that when the matter of completing
and maintaining these proposed criminal instj.
tutions comes mp that Congress will refuse 10
have any part In this dissertation