The Washington herald., 1911-02-12

serted that Pennsylvania would almost
Immediately extend the government s
highway to the Ohio line, and set an eX-
ample which the Western States would
Immediately follow.
A Mighty Campaign Planned.
The Lincoln Memorial Road Associa-
tion. which has headquarters in New
York, is planning a mighty campaign.
countrywide in proportion, to impress
upon the memorial commission just Gre
ated by Congress the plan of construct
ing the Washington-Gettysburg Lincoln
highway as fitting monument to the
memory of the great emancipation. Peti-
tions are to be prepared by Grand Army
posts and agricultural granges-n fact,
they are already flowing in-urging the
commission to adopt this plan. In every
city and hamlet in the United States the
expressions of patriotic citizens will be
sought 1t is believed that the additional
scheme of placing memorial structures
at each end of the great highway will
add impetus to the popular feeling that
tiS to be aroused.
Will Disarm Opposition.
The inclusion of this feature, il is
thought, will have the effect of break
ing down such opposition as states
men in Washington have offered to the
highway scheme. The suggestion that
! n memorial to Abraham Lincoln should
be within easy view of the masses, and
not confined to those who can afford
to travel into the country. was put for
ward by Speaker Cannon and Senator
Cullom, both of whom knew Lincoln
and who will hold places on the me
mortal commission. Imbucd with the
feeling that a hitting memorial to Lin
coin should be erected well within the
4 City-possibly in the space between
the Capitol and the Union Station-Mr.
Cannon and Mr.. Cullom. up to yestcr-
day, were prepared TO frOwn upon the
highway idea. \ proposal for a mag
nihcent arch or column, far out Six
teenth street as marker for the com
menCement of the Washington-Gettys
highway, it is believed, will meet their
objections to the original plan. At any
rate they will have an opportunity to
consider the new scheme and 10 read
petitions for it by the thousand.
Representative Lafean's Views.
1t is confidently asserted by Represen-
tative Lafean. of Pennsylvania. and 9TH
er members of Congress who have been
pushing the plan for a Lincoln road that
| when the possibilities for a memorial
| road connecting the two oceans and pas
sing through many States OF the Union
anxious to show their patriotism, are
| realized by the commission, plans for
the governments end of the great project
will be straightway ordered drawn up.
The construction of a highway along
the very route that Lincoln Travelled when
he went to Gettysburg to deliver his
great speech that fairly gripped the heart
of the nation and the world. ought to
appeal to every citizen who hOnOrs the
| memory Of the great President" said
Representative Lafean yesterday. start
ing from the Capital of the nation and
ending at the spot where the blOodiest
| battle in history was fought and the
greatest principles Of liberty were enun-
ciated. the road will he monument
which all time cannot Obliterate
Let it start at the home Of the Presi-
dents and leave the city by way of Six
| teenth street, at a point where the most
| beautiful structure artists and artisans
can create shall mark the way for the
! traveller Let it be direct No round
about detours Of privately owned land
! should be permitted to lessen its dignity.
Let it be massive and complete. Let the
! nation set an example to the States. and
great Lincoln highway across the
| country will be the result.
AdOrninE the Highway.
Surrounding the definite plans as to
| building the Washington-Gettysb
| highway are many fine features which
will appeal to the lover Of roads and the
patriotism of the country. For instance,
! it is proposed that there shall be two
| paralleling rOadways, one given over 10
automobiles and the other TO slower
| vehicles. The narrow strip between
these paths it is proposed to cede to the
various States. each Commonwealth own
ing its proportion OF the Seventy-two-
mile stretch to decorate and adorn as it
may please, whether by the erection of
fitting statues or the maintenance of
beautiful flowers and shrubs BY this
means, it is suggested, the whole nation
can share intimately in the great project
| OF immorLalizing the famous statesman.
Representative Lafean yesterday called
attention to the opportunity the gov
ernment would have in its good roads
experimentation in the building of the
national highway to Gettysburg.
The plan of increasing the govern
ment's proposed good roads appropra-
tion from $4,000 to 100000 has just been
put forward in the House" said Mr..
| Lafeau. Let the SovCrnmenu devote
its energies to the building of a highway
in memory of LincOld. and the good
roads undertaking will have all the i'm
petus it needs Let these experiments
be made where they shall count"
The Lincoln memorial bill awaits the
signature of President Taft. The com
mission it provides. and for whose Use
$4,000 has been appropriated. consists of
President Taft, Speaker Cannon. Sena-
tor Culom. Senator Wetmore. and Rep
| resentatiVeS Mccall and Clark. 1t is
expected that the commission will meet
for the consideration OF memorial plans
Immediately after Congress adjourns.