Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-28

There is a movement afoot to erect a
monument to Alexander Hamilton in
Washington. While this
Success in movement. is. not new. the
CT. project nevertheless W
0SAs' stands upon one of the
highest hills Of hope It has yet reached.
In fact, there remain but a few hills to
be crossed before the contamination OF
the aim shall be, reached. "A bill appro-
priating 100000 each for the erection Of
statues to Thomas Jefferson and Alexan-
der Hamilton passed the Senate at the
last session. and is probably to be brought
up for vote in the House during the pres
emit session.
The present hopeful state In which the
organisation finds itself IL the result OF
fourteen years Of work. Ten Of those
years represent the labor OF single in
dividual almost entirely. while the last
four stand for the united effort put for
ward by the Alexander Hamilton Ma
tional Memorial Association as whole.
q body which comprises large member
ship scattered throughout the United
States.
Franklin w. Collins. secretary Of the
present organization. is in reality the In
L
bly, had a beginning unlike any other
similar movement, which started many
| years ago, to use Mr. Collins own term,
| when he had heated debate with Will
i Thomas Jefferson vs.. Alexander Ham,
ilton.
Mr.. Collins was in Lincoln, Neb., his
home state, when the debate took place.
erary society to which he belonged to pre-
pare an article on Thomas Jefferson
| In so doing he was surprised by what
| he cleaned Of HamiltOn's life, and de-
termined to study his works and nfe
That begun. his admiration and respect
for the great statesman deepened until he
| looked upon him as one Of the greatest
figures which have played a part in the
also convinced by his own ignorance Of
Hamilton that there were probably many
| others in a similar state. And SO. at a
meeting of the Association of United
| Workmen. of which both Mr.. Bryan and
himself were members, the debate took
place.
And then Mr.. Collins came to Wash
ington. That was fourteen years ago
and one of his first acts was to inspect
the various statues about the city in a
search for one of Hamilton. Needless to
say, he found none, whereupon he imme-
diately wanted to know why. He took
steps to satisfy his curiosity. but was
left somewhat in the dark regarding
| the matter. Then he made up his mind
to. enlighten his fellow-countrymen re-
| garding Alexander Hamilton, states
man. general and patriot. At present Mr..
Collins is frank enough to admit that his
| ambition in this direction was a large
one, and that 1t has proved a greater
task than was imagined in the first flush
of enthusiasm.
But enormous as was the task which
| plish. he kept on. He has
| Association sent out thousands Of let
/ tiers and booklets upon the
! EOImeo. subject Of Hamilton and
the statue His reward was an interest
ON the part Of many persons, VINO sent
back scattering volleys OF encourage
tment BY 1903 enough interest had been
aroused to warrant an organisation be-
ling formed. and in February Of that year
1.-THE association was organized and CHAR
/ tered under the laws of the District OF
Columbia. At the first meeting addresses
were made by Ambassador Bryce, Sen
alter Lodge the late Justice Harlan and
the late Justice Brewer. At the sugges-
! ton Of Justice Brewer, Justice Harlan
was made the president OF the associa-
ton, and SO remained until his death.
| At the present time the presidency OF
1.-The association is vacant. The vice presi-
dents, however, are George b. COrteIyou,
Henry b. F. Mcfarland. John F. Dillon.
| Henry Cabot Lodge and Joseph ID.
Choate Mr.. Collins Is the secretary. Paul
tE. Sleman, the assistant secretary. and
Milton E. Allies, the treasurer. The board
of trustees is composed Of thirty-nine
men and women. all of them prominent
who live in practically every STATE s'.a,n IN
| residents of the District are Henry 3. r.
! Mcfarland, Milton F.. Allies. Samuel w
| Woodward. Adds B. Browne, George W.
Evans. George A. King. Tnomas y.
/ Noyes. stanton ]. Peeile. Paul E. sleman.
/ Justice Josiah A. Van Orsdel and FRANK
/ lin W. Collins.
! Like the majority of memorial assOcia-
tons, the funds which the Hamilton AS
ISOLATION is raising are obtained through
subscriptions, ranging from 81. which is
the smallest amount accepted. up to
| 81 600. which is the highest so far re-
ceived. At the present time the assoc'a-
| ton has $4,000 in cash and $1,000 more
| in subscriptions, with the amount con-
tinually swelling. A ten-thousand-doilar
appropriation was also made by congress
q year ago for the foundation ana
subscriptions to the fund constitute
membership, and certificates to this effect
are issued by the association, confirming
| the fact that the person therein Named
| is a member Of the association.
T.
~
When the statue to Hamilton Is un-
yelled II will not mean that the nations
capital boasts the only statue
uam;l<on erected to his memory
There are seven others,
| SCatueS. three of which are in New
Work. CITY. Boston, Paterson, n. j.;
Brooklyn and Cleveland each has erected
a statue to Hamilton. OF those in New
York one is in Central Park, one on the
| c,,,nrohar ~ Commerce building and
another in front Of Hamilton Han al
Columbia College. That in Brooklyn Is
In front OF the Hamilton Club. OF the
\ Hamilton clubs which are In existence
two. in Chicago and Brooklyn, have SUBJ
scribed nearly $500 to the fund for the
statue for Washington.
| The location for the Hamilton monu-
ment has already been chosen and passed
upon favorably by the fine arts commits
| sion. The statue will occupy the center
| of the paved entrance way OF the south
side of the Treasury building thus COM
manding view Of Pennsyvan ,..a nye ,,',,
be- passed upon by the chairman Of the
library COMMITTEES. Senator We'more;
II I4 AZ