The Washington herald., 1912-02-19
CARE Of MOUNT VERNON.
iResentment Against State Interfer.
ence Is Very Deep Seated.

IResentment Against State Interfer-
ence Is Very Deep Seated.
Prom the Christian Science Monitor.
Some feeling appears to have been
aroused in Virginia over a proposition
made to the legislature Of that State to
investigate the conduct OF the Mount YER
non Ladies' Association OF the Union with
the view to discover the use made OF
the surplus funds arising from admission
fees TO Mount Vernon and 10 the reduc-
ton or abolition OF these fees. An anti
admission association, among other move
ments, is alleged TO have been formed
by the opponents OF the present manage
ment.,
Not only In Virginia, but throughout
the entire country. strong sentiment,
born of the patriotic, unselfish, and sue
ctssful Efforts OF he ladies' Of nearly
sixty years ago TO preserve the Washing
ton homestead, cIings to the association.
The organization was formed in 1854. and
its object was to teach the people OF the
United States to remember Washington
and his achievements. An attempt had
been made to have the national govern
ment take over the property. This failed,
dS dAsO ulu dAltAllpN " nave AAAE oAalG
of Virginia obtain possession of the place
and assume the responsibility of Its care.
These failures and the neglect that
threatened the Washington home at
Mount Vernon led Miss Anna Pamela
Cunningham to organize the ladies' asso-
citation. The great GRAFTON delivered by
Edward Everett on Washington, which
he repeated seventy times for the benefit
of the movement, gave the association
its first great start. Masonic bodies and
other organizations came forward with
liberal donations, and the association was
soon able to purchase from John A.
Washington 200 acres of the Mount Ver-
non estate including the tomb, the man
sion, outlying buildings, and the wharf
The legislature of Virginia thereupon
granted a charter TO the association. CIV
ing it permission to charge a fee mot
exceeding % cents" to all visitors for the
care and maintenance of the property.
Originally the washington estate COM
prIsed a grant OF 5000 acres. Jay Gould
presented tlIirty-seven acres adjoining
the associations purchase; and thus ~
acres is the present extent of the land
holdings Of the association. BY 1859 aft
were taken to create an endowment fund
Of $4,000 1t is with reference to the
surplus moneys at present in possession
Of the associs ton and the disposition that
Is being made of them that recent de-
mands for investigations and .accountings
have been made.
1t would seem that this entire master
might be adjusted easily and satisfac-
torily. The ladies' association must, of
course, recognize the fact that it is an
organization Of a quasi-public character,
and therefore accountable to the public
for its conduct. On the other hand, the
service IL has rendered the country must
not be forgotten. and this should shield
it in large measure from unnecessary in
terference. The legislature OF Virginia
should be able to get at all the facts
through the instrumentality OF a tactfuI
committee, and with these I'm hand IL
should be able to throw any safeguards
that may be necessary in the future
around the association and its invaluable
possessions.