The Washington times., 1912-01-14
CANNON NOW URGES
ADOPTION OF PARK
PLAN FOR CAPITAL
Congressman, Once Oppo-
nent of Beautification,
Changes Views.
AUTHORIZES BURNHAM
TO MAKE STATEMENT
Chairman of Commission Which
Made Report in 1902, Advo-
Gates Legalizing of Project. .'

Congressman Joseph G.. Cannon OF
Illinois, former Speaker of the House
OF Representatives, has come out for
the Park Commission plan. Mr.. Cam
non has had the reputation for the last
ten years of being the chief opponent
TO It's adoption and execution
Ihe announcement is contained in n
story written exclusively for The Timss
today upon the outlook for the famous
plan by Daniel H. Burnham, of Chit
cago, chairman Of the Park Commis-
sion.
Mr.. Cannon has authorized Mr.. Burn.
nam to make this announcement. Ac-
cording to Mr.. Burnham, Mr.. Cannon
SAID to him: The plan you men made
IN lsOl may be good one. Indeed,
think 1t is a good one, and / wifi go
further and say that think it will be
carried out some day."
MI. Burnham makes a strong argu-
ment also for legalizipg the plan at
this time.
BY D. H. BURNHAM. :.
In the spring of 1901 Senator Nc
MILAN asked me by wire to take up
plan for Washington. agreed To
do 1t provided l were allowed to ap-
agreed to, chose Olmsted, because
the American Institute of Architects
recommend him. 1 then went to
New York and saw McKim and got
MIN to join us. Some time afterward
We added st. Gaudens. and I took the
chalrmanshfp. Both McKim and ST.
Gaudens. as well as Olmsted's father
ana brother. had been under me in
the Sn,eago cane he,1. worlds Fair. and 1 knew
Inc pian OF Washington as finally
pupilshed by us was vague and insuf,
neeefs the Maii: as s to ssxssrythihg ss outside OF
otner great cities has made II evident
ehough; As to the Mall. however, the
plan or 1901 was quite thorough ami
subseaueint bi shd; eanerjsnciai IN the light Of much
oser period of ten years, no i'm.
portant changes can be suggested for
H. d was founded on General Wash
paper by. his engineer, Major len.
rant rant which plan was for the terri
Tory lying between the Capitol and
Monums Me- site e., on which the Washington
ing L'Enfant's unchanged, hut add
ing 10 II a continuation for the spece
between the Washington monument
s. arc the Potomac river toward the
Stooo Lest OF Time.
ihe pian OF the Mall as It now stands
In the report made by the Commission
OF 1901, may be said to have stood the
test Of time, 1t has been carefully
studied by most of the men of this
In broad, formal landscape planning,
ana who are especially quaIified to
udge OF its merit, and among these
EXPERT people not voice has been
IN 10 h.
hand. It has received unqualified and
even enthusiastic praise whenever II
mas been mentioned. 1t has justified IT.
SELF In the eyes of the whole communi-
will be fully carried out in the course
OF very few years. Almost up to the
present time little material progress has
been made in this direction, but much
has been made In the estimation In which
the plan has been held.
1t was sure at the start that the
leading men In the National Legislture
would take time to look into any new
tent and greater significance, and II
was equally sure that some Of them az
least would be opposed to II first.
This was as II should be; the thing
ly adopted because a few If lis artists
advised 1t. A conscientious legislator
should look into the thing for himself
could acr with conviction. Then, too,
the plan had to be tested ana time
alone could do that; no great thing Is
ever accomplished until II has fought
it's way through much opposition, rs
has been the case with the plan OF
Washington.
Much opposition has come. Principally
from the House OF Representatives, but
II has never been aggressive. nor has
there been at any time an unwillngnsss
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